It was, therefore, decided to use the princely states as firm props of British rule in India.

As the British historian P.E. Roberts remarked: ‘to preserve them as a bulwark of the Empire has ever since been a principle of British policy’.

Their perpetuation was, however, only one aspect of the British policy towards the princely states.

The other was their complete subordination to the British authorities. While eve before the Revolt of 1857 the British had in practice interfered in the internal affairs of these states, in theory they had been considered a subsidiary but sovereign powers. This position was now entirely changed.

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As the price of their continued existence the princes were made to acknowledge Britain as the paramount power. As the paramount power, the British claimed the right to supervise the internal government of the princely states. They not only interfered in the day to day administration through the Residents but insisted on appointing and dismissing ministers and other high officials.

Sometimes the rulers themselves were removed or deprived of by the British desire to give these states a modern administration so that their integration with British India would be complete.