Policy of Paramountcy

Paramountcy Policy

Under Lord Hastings, a new “paramountcy” policy was put into place (Governor-General from 1813 to 1823). The business claimed that it could annex or threaten to annex any Indian state since its power was superior or paramount. This was seen as the foundational model for various British initiatives that came later. According to the Policy of Paramountcy, the East India Company claimed that its powers were greater than those of Indian states and that they were supreme or paramount. The British established an indirect company government in Afghanistan as a result of the protracted war they fought there between 1838 and 1842. Sindh was taken over....

Initial Phase

The ‘Ring Fence’ or non-interference policy was in place between 1757 and 1813. They made every effort to remain inside a ring fence throughout this time. In other words, they avoided interfering with other people’s concerns in an effort to boost their position in a certain area....

Phase II

During the second 45-year phase, the subordinate isolation policy was put into effect (1813-1858). They rose to the position of absolute authority at this time and asserted their supremacy over all native states. However, they did not include Princely India in their claim to the Indian subcontinent. Additionally, there was a steady transition from subordinate partnership to annexation policy as the need for British imperialism increased....

Phase III

The British started the sub-ordinate unity program after the uprising of 1857, and it continued until 1947. The British choose to stop annexing states after the uprising of 1857 in favor of defending the original states. The vast majority of native leaders supported the British during the revolution and even helped them put it down. The British discovered an important lesson as a result of the revolution: maintaining the original nations would be much more advantageous to them than annexing these kingdoms. The British will now use the fact that they now control an empire in India that comprises both British India and princely India to defend their new strategy. Therefore, there is no purpose in annexing something that is already theirs. Another significant reason for not annexing any additional land was the absence of any more useful land in India. This new subordinate unity doctrine was articulated in the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858 and formally accepted by the Government of India Act, of 1858. The local leaders were now promised in writing eternal life in return for their allegiance and efficiency. 160 of the 562 native monarchs of the era were given special permission to undergo adoption because the naturally born male successors failed to succeed them. Furthermore, in the significant cases of Baroda (1874) and Manipur, the English showed their reluctance to conquer any native state (1881). They nevertheless intervened in both instances to show that they would not put up with inefficiency or treachery....

FAQs on Policy of Paramountcy

Q 1. What do you mean by the British paramountcy?...