What were the motives that led the British to follow an expansionist policy in India?

The East India Company, which came to India as a trader, in course of time realised that in order to obtain maximum profits from Indian Trade, it has to secure political power, backed by force. The motives that led the British to follow an expansionist policy in India were:

1. The British needed to counter the claims of rival Portuguese, French and Dutch companies.
2. They needed to have political power as well as army in order to safeguard and further the company's commercial interests.
3. The deplorable political situation in India favoured their expansionist policy.
4. They needed to counter the imperialistic designs of other Indian powers and to fulfil their own imperialistic pursuits.