The Doctrine of Lapse

What was the Doctrine of Lapse?

The Doctrine of Lapse was an example of how the British introduced British laws to India, which went against Indian traditions.

What was the policy of Doctrine of Lapse?

The British used the Doctrine of Lapse to increase its control over India.

• ❖ The law, introduced by Lord Dalhousie, banned an Indian prince from adopting a successor if he had no natural sons.
• ❖ In India, adopted sons had the same legal rights as natural sons, but this was not the case in England. The law, therefore, ignored Indian traditions.
• ❖ The Doctrine of Lapse was used to justify the British annexation of Oudh, in 1856.