The correct option is (b).
Explanation
The annexation of Punjab was the final step in the British East India Company's consolidation of power in Northern India, occurring a decade after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in June 1839. The British did not annex Punjab immediately upon his death. Instead, the region witnessed a decade of political instability, succession struggles, and deteriorating relations with the British before the final takeover occurred.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The annexation was preceded by two prolonged military conflicts:
- First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846): Ended with the Treaty of Lahore, which reduced the territory of the Sikh Kingdom but did not end it.
- Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849): Resulted in the decisive defeat of the Sikh forces.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Punjab was formally annexed to the British Empire on March 29, 1849, following the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Sikh War. This occurred under the Governor-Generalship of Lord Dalhousie.
Key Takeaway: Punjab was annexed in 1849 by Lord Dalhousie after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, ten years after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1839).