The correct option is (b).
Explanation
The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was a significant political development under the tenure of Lord Dalhousie. It is distinct from other annexations of the period because it was justified on the grounds of internal maladministration rather than the Doctrine of Lapse.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Awadh was not one of the first territories to be annexed; it was, in fact, one of the last major territories annexed by the East India Company before the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857. The annexation occurred in 1856.
- Statement 2 is Correct. Governor-General Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh in 1856 on the pretext of "misgovernance" (maladministration). He claimed that the British government had an obligation to the people of Awadh to free them from the alleged mismanagement of the Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. The Subsidiary Alliance system was imposed on Awadh much earlier, in 1801, by Lord Wellesley. Under this alliance, the Nawab was forced to disband his military force and maintain British troops within the kingdom. In 1856, the state was fully annexed and integrated into the British Empire, ending the protectorate status.
Key Takeaway: Awadh was annexed in 1856 specifically due to alleged misgovernance, whereas the Subsidiary Alliance had been imposed on the state decades earlier in 1801.