Question

UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?

1. To maintain a large standing army at other's expense
2. To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
3. To secure a fixed income for the Company
4. To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3: To secure a fixed income for the Company

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The Subsidiary Alliance System was a “Non-Intervention Policy” used by Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General of India (1798-1805) to establish the British paramountcy over the Indian states and to address the concerns of Napoleonic invasion over India.
Key points of the Subsidiary Alliance are as follows:
- The allies of the Indian state’s rulers were compelled to accept the permanent garrison of the British Army within their territories and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance.
- The Indian ruler could not employ any European in their service without prior approval of the British.
- They could not negotiate with any other Indian rulers without consulting the Governor-General.

Therefore, option (3) is the answer.

Subject: History | Advent of Europeans in India

Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Last updated on Sep, 2026

→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

Tags: factual UPSC Prelims 2018 UPSC Prelims 2018 Question

Prafulla Vats

Prafulla Vats is an experienced SEO and content strategist with over 4 years of expertise in driving organic growth across education and service niches. He specializes in crafting data-driven content strategies that help students and professionals access accurate, well-researched information. Through his work, he focuses on improving visibility, engagement, and trust through high-quality, SEO-optimized content.