The East India Company was established in 1600 by a group of English merchants who received a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I.

The main purpose of the East India Company was to trade with India. The company was granted a monopoly on trade with India by the British government.

Surat was the first headquarters of the East India Company in India. The company established a factory in Surat in 1612.

The East India Company gained political power in India after the Battle of Buxar in 1764. The company was granted the diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa by the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.

Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal in 1793. The settlement fixed the land revenue for a period of 10 years and made the zamindars the permanent owners of their lands.

Lord Munro introduced the Ryotwari Settlement in Madras in 1820. The settlement fixed the land revenue for a period of 30 years and made the ryots the direct tenants of the government.

Lord Hastings introduced the Mahalwari Settlement in the North-Western Provinces in 1822. The settlement fixed the land revenue for a period of 20 years and made the village communities the collective owners of their lands.

Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848. The doctrine stated that if a princely state did not have a natural heir, it would be annexed by the British government.

Lord Dalhousie introduced the policy of Annexation in 1848. The policy stated that the British government would annex any princely state that was misgoverned or that posed a threat to British interests.

Lord Wellesley introduced the policy of Subsidiary Alliance in 1798. The policy required Indian princes to accept British protection and to pay a subsidy to the British government. In return, the British government would guarantee the security of the princely state.

Lord Dalhousie introduced the policy of Direct Rule in 1849. The policy stated that the British government would directly administer any princely state that was annexed or that was misgoverned.

Lord Hastings introduced the policy of Non-Intervention in 1813. The policy stated that the British government would not interfere in the internal affairs of Indian princely states.

Lord Dalhousie introduced the policy of Paramountcy in 1848. The policy stated that the British government was the supreme power in India and that all Indian princes were subordinate to the British government.

Lord Dalhousie introduced the policy of Divide and Rule in 1848. The policy stated that the British government would divide Indian society into different groups and then rule them separately.

Lord Macaulay introduced the policy of Westernization in 1835. The policy stated that the British government would introduce Western education and culture in India.