Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?
- (a) To maintain a large standing army at other's expense
- (b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
- (c) To secure a fixed income for the Company ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
Why the answer is (c)
• The question asks which statement does NOT apply.
• Under Subsidiary Alliance (1798), an Indian ruler kept a British force in his territory and paid for it or ceded territory — so the Company maintained a large army at others' expense (a), excluded French influence during the Napoleonic wars (b), and established paramountcy by controlling the State's foreign relations (d).
• Securing a fixed income for the Company (c) was not an objective; the payments only covered the subsidiary force, and defaults often led to annexation.
• Hence option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) To maintain a large standing army at other's expense
- This applies: the army was maintained at the States' expense.
- (b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
- This applies: it countered French/Napoleonic influence.
- (d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
- This applies: it established British paramountcy.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.