The answer to this question is c because punjab was ruled by Maharaja rana pratap singh. he was a mighty ruler and britishers were scared of his power. after his death the company fought many long wars and after many years punjab was annexed.

I hope it cleared your doubts.

Annexation of Punjab by the British
The British annexation of Punjab was a significant event in Indian history, resulting from a series of conflicts with the Sikh Kingdom during the early 19th century.
Background of the Sikh Kingdom
- The Sikh Empire was a powerful state established under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 1800s.
- It encompassed a large area of North India, including Punjab, which was rich in resources and strategically important.
Wars with the Sikhs
- The British East India Company sought to expand its territory and influence in India, leading to tensions with the Sikh Empire.
- Two major wars, known as the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845-1846 and 1848-1849), were fought between the British and the Sikhs.
Consequences of the Wars
- The First Anglo-Sikh War ended with the Treaty of Lahore in 1846, which ceded significant territories to the British, but the Sikh Kingdom remained nominally independent.
- The Second Anglo-Sikh War decisively weakened Sikh resistance, leading to the annexation of Punjab in 1849.
Significance of the Annexation
- The annexation marked the end of the Sikh Empire and brought Punjab under direct British control, integrating it into British India.
- This event led to significant changes in governance, land revenue systems, and social structures in the region.
Conclusion
The annexation of Punjab was a crucial turning point in British colonial expansion in India, showcasing the military prowess of the British and the eventual decline of regional powers like the Sikh Kingdom. This historical event laid the groundwork for the subsequent political landscape in the Indian subcontinent.