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SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025

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British Expansion in India

Reference: Lucent GK, NCERT Class 6–12

1. Initial Establishment

  • East India Company received Royal Charter in 1600
  • First factory at Surat (1613) with permission from Jahangir
  • Fort St. George (Madras), Bombay (dowry from Portuguese), and Calcutta established as presidencies

2. Major Battles that Enabled British Expansion

Battle Year Fought Between Outcome / Importance
Battle of Plassey 1757 British (Clive) vs. Siraj-ud-Daulah British victory → Start of political control
Battle of Buxar 1764 British vs. Mir Qasim + Shuja-ud-Daulah + Shah Alam II Confirmed British supremacy in Bengal
3rd Battle of Panipat 1761 Marathas vs. Ahmad Shah Abdali Created a power vacuum exploited by British

3. Major Treaties

Treaty of Allahabad (1765):
  • Signed after Battle of Buxar.
  • Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted Diwani rights (revenue collection) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to British.
  • Beginning of British administration.
Treaty of Salbai (1782):
  • Signed after the First Anglo-Maratha War.
  • Recognized Madhavrao II as the Peshwa of the Marathas.
  • Brought 20 years of peace between the British and Marathas.
Treaty of Seringapatam (1792):
  • Concluded the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
  • Tipu Sultan ceded half of his territories to the British and their allies.
  • Paid a large indemnity and surrendered two of his sons as hostages.
Illustration of British Expansion in India
Illustration of East India company Rise and fall

4. British Expansion Methods

Through Wars

  • Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799): Fought between British and Hyder Ali/Tipu Sultan of Mysore.
    • Fourth war (1799): Tipu Sultan killed, Mysore under British control.
  • Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775–1818): 3 wars in total.
    • Third war (1817–1818): British defeated Peshwa Bajirao II.
    • Marked the end of Maratha Empire.
  • Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–1849): After death of Ranjit Singh.
    • Second war (1849): Punjab annexed by British.

Through Policies

  • Subsidiary Alliance – Introduced by Lord Wellesley:
    • Native rulers had to maintain British army at their expense.
    • Example: Hyderabad, Awadh, Mysore.
  • Doctrine of Lapse – Introduced by Lord Dalhousie:
    • If ruler died without a male heir, territory annexed by British.
    • Example: Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur.

5. Important Governors-General & Their Role in Expansion

Governor-General Contribution to British Expansion
Robert Clive Battle of Plassey, dual system in Bengal
Warren Hastings Regulating Act (1773), Rohilla War, 1st Anglo-Maratha war
Lord Cornwallis Permanent Settlement (1793)
Lord Wellesley Subsidiary Alliance
Lord Hastings End of Maratha power (1818)
Lord Dalhousie Doctrine of Lapse, Railways, Telegraph

6. Territories Annexed by British

Territory Method Used Annexed Under
Bengal Battle of Plassey Robert Clive
Awadh Subsidiary Alliance Lord Wellesley
Punjab Anglo-Sikh War Lord Dalhousie
Jhansi Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie
Mysore Anglo-Mysore Wars Tipu Sultan defeated

7. Timeline of British Expansion in India

  • 1600 – British East India Company formed.
  • 1608 – First British ship docks at Surat.
  • 1613 – First British factory established at Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
  • 1757 – Battle of Plassey: British establish political control in Bengal.
  • 1764 – Battle of Buxar: Confirms British dominance in Bengal.
  • 1765 – Treaty of Allahabad: British granted Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
  • 1767–1799 – Anglo-Mysore Wars: Mysore defeated by British (Tipu Sultan dies in 1799).
  • 1775–1818 – Anglo-Maratha Wars: Marathas defeated, British supremacy in Deccan.
  • 1793 – Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis.
  • 1798–1805 – Lord Wellesley's Subsidiary Alliance expands British control.
  • 1845–1849 – Anglo-Sikh Wars: Punjab annexed by British.
  • 1848–1856 – Doctrine of Lapse policy: territories like Jhansi annexed.
  • 1857 – First War of Independence / Sepoy Mutiny challenges British rule.
  • 1858 – End of Company rule, British Crown takes direct control (start of British Raj).
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