Lord Hastings initiated the ______ where the East India Company claimed that its authority was supreme and hence its power was greater than that of Indian states.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Policy of ‘Paramountcy’.
Lord Hastings initiated the Policy of ‘Paramountcy’. Under this policy, the East India Company asserted that its authority was supreme and that its power was greater than that of the Indian states. The Policy of Paramountcy allowed the British to intervene in the affairs of Indian princely states, asserting their control over the administration and political matters, often leading to annexation or consolidation of territories under British rule. This policy played a significant role in expanding British influence in India.