The Peshwa was removed and sent away to Bithur with a pension.
Explanation
The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1819) was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire. It was instigated by the British operations against the Pindaris and resulted in the complete dismantling of Maratha power.Option Analysis:
- The Treaty of Salbai was signed. is Incorrect: The Treaty of Salbai was signed in 1782, concluding the First Anglo-Maratha War. It restored the status quo and established peace for twenty years.
- The Peshwa was removed and sent away to Bithur with a pension. is Correct: Following the defeat of the Maratha forces, the British abolished the Peshwaship. Peshwa Bajirao II was deposed and exiled to Bithur (near Kanpur) with an annual pension. His territories were annexed to form the Bombay Presidency.
- The British gained control over Orissa and territories north of the Yamuna. is Incorrect: The acquisition of Orissa and territories north of the Yamuna (including Delhi and Agra) occurred after the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805), primarily through the Treaty of Deogaon and the Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon.
- The Maratha Confederacy was strengthened. is Incorrect: The war resulted in the dissolution of the Maratha Confederacy. The remaining Maratha chiefs (Holkar, Scindia, Bhonsle, and Gaekwad) were forced to accept British paramountcy and subsidiary alliances.
Key Takeaway:
The Third Anglo-Maratha War established British paramountcy over India by abolishing the office of the Peshwa and annexing the Maratha heartland into the British administration.