लॉर्ड डलहौसीच्या साम्राज्य विस्तार धोरणासंदर्भात पुढीलपैकी कोणती विधाने बरोबर आहेत ?
(a) दत्तक वारस नामंजूर करुन सातारा व नागपूर ही राज्ये खालसा केली.
(b) युद्धमार्गाचा अवलंब करुन शिखांचे राज्य जिंकले.
(c) गैरकारभाराच्या कारणास्तव औंधचे राज्य खालसा केले.
(d) लष्करी कारवाई करुन पेशव्यांचे राज्य जिंकले.
(1) (a) फक्त
(2) (a), (b) आणि (c) फक्त
(3) (b), (c) आणि (d) फक्त
(4) (a), (b), (c), आणि (d)

The correct answer is Option B (Only (a), (b), and (c)).

Key Points:
• Expansion of British Rule - Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856):
• The official answer key designated Option (2) as correct.
• Evaluation of statements:
• Statement (a) is TRUE: Dalhousie applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854).
• Statement (b) is TRUE: Following the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49), Dalhousie defeated the Sikhs and annexed Punjab into the British Empire in 1849.
• Statement (c): In MPSC exam history questions, Awadh (Oudh) is often rendered as 'औंध' or 'अवध'. Dalhousie annexed Oudh (अवध/औंध) in 1856 under the pretext of misgovernance (गैरकारभाराचे कारण) based on Sleeman/Outram's report. Hence, (c) is considered in the official key grouping.
• Statement (d) is FALSE: The Peshwa's kingdom was eliminated and annexed by Lord Hastings (Marquess of Hastings) in 1818 after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, decades before Dalhousie arrived.
• Consequently, Option (2) 'Only (a), (b), and (c)' is the validated answer.
• Key Takeaway: Dalhousie annexed Satara & Nagpur (Doctrine of Lapse), Punjab (warfare), and Awadh (misgovernance), whereas the Peshwa state fell in 1818.