Consider the following statements about the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) : 1. The Treaty fixed the Sutlej as the boundary between the Punjab and British India 2. It was after this treaty that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was able to annex Jammu, Multan and Kashmir to his domains Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The Treaty of Amritsar (1809), signed between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Charles Metcalfe representing the British East India Company, established the river Sutlej as the formal boundary between their respective dominions [1]. By this agreement, Ranjit Singh renounced his claims over the Cis-Sutlej territories, while the British pledged non-interference in his affairs north and west of the river [4]. This diplomatic settlement provided Ranjit Singh with a 'free hand' and a 'carte blanche' to consolidate his power in the trans-Sutlej region. Consequently, he directed his military energies westward, successfully annexing Multan in 1818, Kashmir in 1819, and later Peshawar in 1834 [4]. Jammu also became part of his expanding empire during this period of consolidation following the 1809 treaty [4]. Thus, both statements regarding the boundary and the subsequent territorial expansions are historically accurate.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Treaty of Amritsar > p. 115
2. [4] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 2: Indian States and Society in the 18th Century > The Sikhs > p. 28