The army-focused princely states of India provide a contrast with the naval competition among European powers. No state faced a local naval rival capable of triggering a maritime arms race. Because none began building a major fleet, the others concentrated resources on their armies instead of matching a naval example. Force structures can reflect competitive imitation as much as geography or abstract need.
Notable Point · 17:33-18:00
Why Indian princely states did not build large navies
Without a local naval competitor to imitate or counter, princely states concentrated their military resources on armies.