Arrange the following in chronological order 1. Third Carnatic War 2. First Burmese War 3. First Mysore War 4. Second Afghan War Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the above ?

1. Rise of British Power: Anglo-French Rivalry (basic)

To understand how the British became the masters of India, we must first look at their struggle against their most formidable European rival: the French. This conflict played out in the Carnatic, a region in South India located between the Eastern Ghats and the Coromandel Coast, covering parts of modern-day Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 16, p.255. While both started as trading entities, their relationship turned into a high-stakes political battle for supremacy between 1746 and 1763.

The French, though latecomers compared to the British, were highly ambitious. Under the leadership of Joseph François Dupleix (Governor-General from 1742–1754), they pioneered strategies that would change Indian history forever. Dupleix was the first to realize that European discipline could dominate local politics. He began training Indian soldiers in European military techniques—creating the first sepoys—and used indirect rule by intervening in local succession disputes to install puppet rulers Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter: The Colonial Era in India, p.90.

This rivalry manifested in three distinct Carnatic Wars. The First and Third wars were essentially local versions of global conflicts happening in Europe, such as the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 16, p.257. The Second Carnatic War, however, was fueled by local dynamics, highlighted by the Capture of Arcot (1751) by Robert Clive, which signaled the rising political identity of the British East India Company Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Chapter 30, p.603. By the end of these wars in 1763, the French were reduced to small trading enclaves like Pondicherry, leaving the British as the only dominant European power in the subcontinent.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans, p.255, 257; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), The Colonial Era in India, p.90; Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Chapter 30: The Indian States, p.603

2. Struggle for the Deccan: The Anglo-Mysore Wars (basic)

To understand the Anglo-Mysore Wars, we must first look at the map of 18th-century South India. While the British were busy consolidating Bengal, a powerful new state emerged in the Deccan: Mysore. Under the leadership of Hyder Ali and later his son, Tipu Sultan, Mysore became the most formidable obstacle to British expansion. Unlike many other Indian rulers, the leaders of Mysore were modernizers; they strengthened their economy through state-controlled trade and updated their army with Western technology and French assistance Modern India (Bipin Chandra), The British Conquest of India, p.72.

The conflict was not just about territory; it was a high-stakes game of diplomacy involving the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad. Initially, the British tried to isolate Mysore by forming alliances with these powers. For instance, in 1766, the Company allied with the Nizam to attack Hyder Ali Modern India (Bipin Chandra), The British Conquest of India, p.72. However, Hyder Ali was a master diplomat who often managed to turn the Nizam or the Marathas to his side, leading to a humiliating British defeat in the First Anglo-Mysore War.

By the time of the Third and Fourth wars, the tide turned. Lord Cornwallis and later Lord Wellesley viewed Tipu Sultan as a "cruel tyrant" and a dangerous ally of Revolutionary France. To crush him, the British formed a Triple Alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam History (Tamilnadu State Board), Early Resistance to British Rule, p.281. The struggle finally ended in 1799 at the Battle of Seringapatam, where Tipu died defending his capital. The British then placed a puppet ruler from the old Wodeyar dynasty on the throne under a Subsidiary Alliance, effectively turning Mysore into a protected dependency Modern India (Bipin Chandra), The British Conquest of India, p.79.

Sources: Modern India (Bipin Chandra), The British Conquest of India, p.72; Modern India (Bipin Chandra), The British Conquest of India, p.79; History (Tamilnadu State Board), Early Resistance to British Rule, p.281

3. Tools of Expansion: Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse (intermediate)

To understand the rapid expansion of British power in India, we must look beyond the battlefield. While the British won many wars, they consolidated their empire using two ingenious, albeit predatory, administrative tools: the Subsidiary Alliance and the Doctrine of Lapse. These mechanisms allowed the East India Company to control vast territories without the immediate cost of direct administration or the risks of open warfare.

1. The Subsidiary Alliance: The 'Golden Cage' (1798–1805)
Refined by Lord Wellesley, this was essentially a protection racket disguised as a military treaty. An Indian ruler who signed this alliance had to disband his own army and instead maintain a permanent British contingent within his territory THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, REBELS AND THE RAJ, p.266. The ruler paid for this force either in cash or by ceding territory. Crucially, a British Resident was stationed at the ruler's court, effectively acting as the 'power behind the throne.' The ruler lost the right to employ non-British Europeans or negotiate with other states without British permission Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.120. While the ruler felt 'protected,' he had effectively surrendered his sovereignty and became a British puppet.

2. The Doctrine of Lapse: The Legalistic Scissors (1848–1856)
If Wellesley used diplomacy to trap states, Lord Dalhousie used a legalistic loophole to swallow them. Under this doctrine, if a ruler of a 'protected' state died without a natural (biological) male heir, the state would not pass to an adopted son—as was the age-old Indian custom—but would 'lapse' or revert to the British Modern India, Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.), The British Conquest of India, p.85. Dalhousie was determined to expand direct British rule, famously stating that the extinction of native states was only a matter of time. This led to the annexation of Satara (1848), Jhansi (1854), and Nagpur (1854). Interestingly, Awadh was annexed in 1856 not because of a lack of heirs, but on the pretext of 'misgovernment' Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.125.

Feature	Subsidiary Alliance	Doctrine of Lapse
Key Architect	Lord Wellesley (1798)	Lord Dalhousie (1848)
Mechanism	Military 'protection' and loss of foreign policy.	Annexation due to lack of biological male heirs.
Result	Indirect control; ruler remains on throne.	Direct control; state is completely absorbed.

Sources: THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), REBELS AND THE RAJ, p.266; Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.120; Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.125; Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT], The British Conquest of India, p.85

4. The Northern Frontiers: Anglo-Sikh and Anglo-Nepal Wars (intermediate)

As the British East India Company consolidated its hold over Central and South India, it turned its attention toward the Northern Frontiers—the Himalayan foothills and the fertile plains of the Punjab. These regions were strategically vital because they formed the 'gateway' to India and controlled lucrative trade routes. The expansion into these areas wasn't just about territory; it was about establishing a 'scientific frontier' to protect the empire from northern incursions. The Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16), fought during the tenure of Lord Hastings, was sparked by the aggressive southward expansion of the Gorkhas into British-protected territories like Gorakhpur. While the Gorkhas were formidable fighters, the conflict ended with the Treaty of Sagauli (1816). This treaty was a turning point: Nepal ceded large tracts of the Terai and hill stations like Shimla and Mussoorie to the British, and significantly, the British began recruiting Gorkhas into their army—a tradition that continues today Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, After Nehru..., p.817. Further west, the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh had been a strong, stable buffer state. However, after his death in 1839, the Punjab fell into political chaos. The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46) was triggered when the Sikh army, driven by internal power struggles and suspicion of British intentions, crossed the River Sutlej—the agreed-upon boundary Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.116. Despite the bravery of the Sikh soldiers, internal treachery by leaders like Lal Singh led to their defeat in battles at Mudki, Aliwal, and Sobraon Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.117. The resulting Treaty of Lahore (1846) severely limited the Sikh state, eventually leading to full annexation after the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849.

Conflict	Key Treaty	Strategic Outcome
Anglo-Nepal War	Treaty of Sagauli (1816)	Gained hill stations (Shimla); Gorkha recruitment began.
First Anglo-Sikh War	Treaty of Lahore (1846)	Annexation of Jalandhar Doab; British Resident at Lahore.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India, After Nehru..., p.817; A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.116; A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.117; A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.119

5. British Imperialism Beyond India: The Burmese Wars (intermediate)

In the early 19th century, the expansion of the British Empire in India met another rising imperial force: the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. While the British were consolidating Bengal, the Burmese kings—starting with Alaungpaya and followed by Bodawpaya—had successfully unified Burma and begun expanding westward. By the late 18th century, the two powers shared a common, yet ill-defined, frontier. This geographical overlap turned into a flashpoint for conflict as Burma conquered Arakan (1785) and Manipur (1813), bringing their armies directly to the borders of British-held Bengal Bipin Chandra, Modern India, p.169.

The First Burmese War (1824–1826) was triggered by several factors: Burmese incursions into the Brahmaputra Valley (Assam), the threat to the British frontier in Bengal, and the friction caused by Arakanese fugitives seeking shelter in British Chittagong Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, p.126. Under Lord Amherst, the British declared war in February 1824. Although the Burmese forces, led by the legendary General Maha Bandula, put up a fierce resistance using guerrilla tactics in the dense jungles, the British advantage in naval power and resources eventually prevailed. After the British occupied Rangoon and approached the capital at Ava, the Burmese were forced to sue for peace.

The war concluded with the Treaty of Yandabo (1826), which fundamentally altered the map of North-East India. The terms were significantly heavy for the Burmese monarchy:

Category	Provision of the Treaty of Yandabo
Territorial	Burma ceded the coastal provinces of Arakan and Tenasserim to the British.
Indemnity	The Burmese government agreed to pay one crore rupees as war compensation.
Frontier Claims	Burma abandoned all claims to Assam, Cachar, and Jaintia, and recognized Manipur as an independent state.
Diplomatic	A British Resident was to be stationed at the capital (Ava), and a Burmese envoy at Calcutta.

Beyond the First War, the British sought to counter French commercial and political influence in Southeast Asia. This geopolitical rivalry, combined with commercial interests in Burma's timber and minerals, eventually led to the Second (1852) and Third (1885) Burmese Wars, ultimately resulting in the total annexation of Burma into the British Indian Empire Bipin Chandra, Modern India, p.169.

Sources: Modern India, Bipin Chandra (Old NCERT), India And Her Neighbours, p.169-170; A Brief History of Modern India, Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum), Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.126-127

6. The Great Game: Anglo-Afghan Wars and Frontier Policy (exam-level)

To understand British policy toward Afghanistan, we must first visualize the “Great Game”: a 19th-century geopolitical chess match between the British Empire (fearing for the safety of India) and the Russian Empire (expanding steadily into Central Asia). Afghanistan was the ultimate “buffer state” between these two giants. British policy fluctuated between two extremes: the aggressive Forward Policy, which sought to control Afghanistan’s internal affairs, and Masterly Inactivity, which preferred to leave the Afghans alone as long as they remained neutral.

The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842) was the first major disastrous attempt at the Forward Policy. Under Lord Auckland, the British feared Russian influence on the Afghan ruler, Dost Mohammad. They signed a Tripartite Treaty (1838) with the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh and the exiled Afghan King Shah Shuja to forcibly restore Shuja to the throne Modern India, NCERT 1982, India And Her Neighbours, p.175. While Kabul fell easily in 1839, the Afghan tribes soon rose in a fierce rebellion. The British retreat from Kabul in 1842 was one of the greatest military humiliations in colonial history, leading to the eventual restoration of Dost Mohammad and a temporary shift toward a more cautious frontier policy.

By the late 1870s, the pendulum swung back to aggression under Lord Lytton and his policy of “Proud Reserve.” This triggered the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880). When the Afghan Amir, Sher Ali, refused to accept a British envoy while having welcomed a Russian one, Lytton invaded Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.131. This conflict concluded with the Treaty of Gandamak (1879), which gave the British control over Afghan foreign policy and several strategic frontier districts. Eventually, to stabilize the volatile border, the Durand Agreement (1893) was signed, establishing the Durand Line as the boundary between British India and Afghanistan Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.135.

Sources: Modern India (NCERT 1982 ed.), India And Her Neighbours, p.175; Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.131; Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.135

7. Consolidated Timeline of Colonial Wars (1750–1900) (exam-level)

To master the history of British expansion, we must view it as a progression from eliminating European rivals to subjugating regional Indian powers, and finally securing the frontiers. In the mid-18th century, the British were primarily focused on the French. The Third Carnatic War (1756–1763) was essentially the Indian theater of the global Seven Years' War. This conflict was decisive; it broke the back of French influence in India and cleared the path for the British East India Company to act as the primary European power on the subcontinent History, Class XI (Tamilnadu State Board 2024 ed.), Chapter 16, p. 257.

As the British consolidated Bengal, they encountered fierce resistance from internal states. The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) represents this phase, where Hyder Ali’s tactical brilliance forced the British into a humiliating peace treaty. However, by the early 19th century, with the Marathas and Mysore neutralized, the British gaze shifted toward the borders to protect their "Jewel in the Crown" from external threats Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Chapter 5, p. 135.

The later half of the 19th century was defined by the "Great Game"—the strategic rivalry between Britain and Russia. This led to conflicts like the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826), which ended with the Treaty of Yandabo and the annexation of Assam and Manipur, and the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880). The latter, fought during the viceroyalty of Lord Lytton, was a direct result of the Policy of Proud Reserve, aimed at preventing Russian influence from reaching the Khyber Pass Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Chapter 39, p. 817.

Sources: History, Class XI (Tamilnadu State Board 2024 ed.), Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans, p.257; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.135; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Chapter 39: After Nehru..., p.817

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question masterfully connects the various phases of British imperial expansion you have just studied. It requires you to synthesize the transition from the mercantile-political struggle against European rivals to the territorial consolidation within India, and finally the frontier defense of the late 19th century. By viewing these conflicts not as isolated dates but as stages of empire-building, you can see how the British first eliminated the French threat, then tackled internal regional powers like Mysore, before finally pushing toward the natural geographical boundaries of the subcontinent in Burma and Afghanistan.

To arrive at (B) 1-3-2-4, use a phase-based reasoning approach. First, identify the Third Carnatic War (1756-1763) as the earliest event, as it was the final blow to French ambitions in India during the Seven Years' War, as noted in History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.). Once the French were sidelined, the British turned to regional challengers, leading to the First Mysore War (1767-1769) against Hyder Ali. Moving into the 19th century, the British expanded eastward during the First Burmese War (1824-1826), which concluded with the Treaty of Yandabo. Finally, the Second Afghan War (1878-1880) occurred much later during the Great Game era of the late Victorian period, a timeline detailed in A Brief History of Modern India (Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum).

UPSC often uses traps like Option (A) or (D) to see if you confuse the sequence of 18th-century internal wars with 19th-century frontier wars. A common mistake is placing the Afghan or Burmese wars too early because of their 'First' or 'Second' labels. The key is to remember the geopolitical context: the British could only afford to fight expensive frontier wars in Afghanistan and Burma after they had fully secured their core Indian territories and revenues. By recognizing that the Carnatic and Mysore wars were foundational 18th-century conflicts, you can immediately narrow your choices and avoid the distractors.