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Subsidiary Alliance
Which of the following native states was the first to conclude a formal Subsidiary Alliance with the East India Company?
Explanation and memory cue
The first native state to conclude a formal Subsidiary Alliance with the East India Company was Hyderabad under the Nizam in 1798. This system was introduced by Lord Wellesley as a method of indirect control, where Indian rulers accepted British protection and stationed British troops in their territories, ceding control of foreign affairs to the Company. Although Awadh (Avadh) had treaties with the Company earlier, these were not formal Subsidiary Alliances as introduced by Wellesley. Hyderabad was the first to enter into this formal arrangement, followed by other states like Mysore and Awadh later.