According to the _________, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces by the East India Company.

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Subsidiary alliance system.
· Under the Subsidiary Alliance System, Indian rulers were not allowed to maintain their independent armed forces. Instead, they had to accept British forces stationed in their territory, and in return, they were to pay for the upkeep of these troops. This policy was introduced by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India (1798–1805), and became a significant tool for British expansion in India.
Information Booster:
· Policy of Paramountcy : Aimed to establish British dominance over Indian princely states.
· Doctrine of Lapse: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, allowed the British to annex any princely state without a male heir.
· Divide and Rule Policy : A British strategy to weaken Indian unity by promoting divisions based on religion and ethnicity.