The British took control of India through a combination of military conquest and political manipulation. In the 18th century, the British and French fought a series of wars for control of India. The British emerged victorious from these wars, and by 1765, they had become the dominant European power in India.
The British East India Company also used political manipulation to expand its control over India. The company formed alliances with local rulers, and it often played one ruler against another to weaken their power. The company also used its economic power to influence local politics.
By the 19th century, the British had become the dominant power in India. They ruled India through a system of indirect rule, in which they controlled the country through local rulers. The British also introduced a number of reforms to India, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of a modern legal system.
The British rule in India ended in 1947, when India gained independence. India's independence was the result of a long and complex struggle, which was led by a number of Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.