Write down answer in comment section below 👇. Correct answer in description.

**Correct Answer: A) Lord Dalhousie**

**Explanation:**
The "Doctrine of Lapse" was a policy introduced by **Lord Dalhousie**, the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. This doctrine allowed the British East India Company to annex Indian princely states if the ruler died without a direct male heir. According to this policy, adopted or indirect heirs were not recognized, and the state would "lapse" into British control.

The doctrine was a significant factor in British territorial expansion in India during Dalhousie's tenure, and several states, including Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854), were annexed under this policy. This led to widespread discontent among Indian rulers and contributed to the growing resentment against British rule, which eventually played a part in the outbreak of the **Revolt of 1857**.

Dalhousie’s aggressive annexation policy and the Doctrine of Lapse were seen as unjust by many Indians, further fueling nationalist sentiments.