Home / Event / Subsidiary Alliance
Event Subsidiary Alliance
Asked 4 times across 2 UPSC exams over 4 years (2018–2022), peaking in 2018.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 4 PYQs
- Most asked in 2018
- Recurs across 3 years (2018–2022)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2018 → CDS 2021
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 4) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2022
Which one of the following was not included in the terms and conditions of Subsidiary Alliance System of Lord Wellesley ?
- A The British would protect their ally.
- B The ally was free to enter into agreements with other rulers or engage in warfare. ✓
- C In the territory of the ally, a British armed contingent would be stationed.
- D The ally would have to provide resources for the maintenance of the British armed contingent.
✓ Correct answer: (B)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
CDS2021
Which Maratha statesman signed the Treaty of Bassein on December 31, 1802?
- A Baji Rao II ✓
- B Vithuji Holkar
- C Daulat Rao Sindhia
- D Madhava Rao Narayan
✓ Correct answer: (A)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
CSE2018
Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?
- A To maintain a large standing army at other's expense
- B To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
- C To secure a fixed income for the Company ✓
- D To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
✓ Correct answer: (C)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
Study how UPSC repeats — not just the papers
₹199 / 1 year · Founding Member
Full access unlocks the three things no PYQ PDF gives you:
① Cross-exam learning — see the same idea recur across CSE, CAPF, CDS and NDA.
② Topic evolution — how each idea is framed, year by year.
③ Question intelligence — every PYQ + answer, linked to related concepts and similar questions.
e.g. Round Table Conference: CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → … → CAPF 2024
15 days free, no card required — then ₹199 for 1 year.
Start your 15-day free trial →