Question

write a brief note on the doctrine of lapse.

Answer 1

Doctrine of lapse is a rule that the British had in which if an Indian King died without leaving a rightful hire, the kingdom is ought to be annexed by the British. The British did not consider an adopted child to be a rightful hire.
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Hope this helped! 

Answer 2

Doctrine of Lapse was devised by Lord Dalhousie when he was the governor general of India from 1848-1856 to occupy the independently Indian states.
This doctrine was based on the idea that if a ruler of particular Kingdom died child less than that particular Kingdom would be made as a part of British territory.
Famous kingdoms like- Satara, Jhansi and Sambalpur got annexed under this doctrine
(an adopted child was not considered as a true heir)