Doctrine of lapse: The Doctrine of Lapse

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy extensively applied by East India Company in India until 1859. The doctrine stated that any princely state under the vassalage of the company will how its territory annexed should the ruler of the said state fail to produce an heir. The doctrine and its application were regarded by many Indians as illegitimate. The Doctrine of Lapse dictated that if an Indian princely state lacked a surviving male heir or if there was a succession dispute, the British would annexe the state's territory. Doctrine of Lapse is a crucial event in the history of law, economics, and international relations. These are the effects of this doctrine on the countries that adopted it. The doctrine of lapse was a policy of annexation initiated by the East India Company in the Indian subcontinent for the princely states , and applied until the year 1858, the year after Company rule was succeeded by the British Raj under the British Crown.