GOVERNORS-GENERAL & VICEROYS OF INDIA:
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THEIR RULE
Governor of • First - Robert Clive
Bengal (1757 - 74) • Last - Warren Hasting
Governor General
• First - Warren Hasting
of Bengal (1774 -
1833) • Last - William Bentick
Governeor Genral
of India (1833 - • First - William Bentick
1858) • Last - Canning
Viceroy of India • First - Canning
(1858 - 1947) • Last - Mountbatten
Governors of Bengal (1757 – 1774)
Robert Clive (1757 – 60 and 1765 – 67)
▪ He is also known as Babar of British India
▪ He was one of the founders of the establishment of British supremacy in India
▪ Came to India during 1743
▪ He was called back to India in 1755 to ensure British supremacy in the subcontinent against
the French.
▪ In 1757, Clive along with Admiral Watson was able to recapture Calcutta from the Nawab of
Bengal Siraj Ud Daulah (Battle of Plassey 23 June 1757)
▪ Established dual government in Bengal (from 1765 – 1772)
Vansittart – Battle of Buxar 1764
Governors General of Bengal (1774 – 1833)
Warren Hasting (1772 1785)
▪ Abolished dual government of Bengal by the Regulating Act of 1773
▪ Pitt’s India Act of 1784
▪ Introduced Izaredari System (1773) – Auctioned the right to collect land revenue to the
highest bidder.
▪ Introduced Jury System
▪ Strained relationship with Chait Singh, the Maharaja of Benaras, which led to Hasting’s
subsequent impeachment in England
▪ The First Maratha War in 1775-82 and the Treaty of Salbai in 1782
▪ Second Mysore War in 1780-84
▪ Wrote Introduction to the first English translation of ‘Gita’. (By Charles Wilkins)
Lord Cornwallis (1786 – 93)
▪ Europeanisation of Administrative machinery and introduction of civil services.
(Warren Hastings laid the foundation of civil service and Charles Cornwallis reformed,
modernized and rationalized it. Hence, Charles Cornwallis is known as the 'Father of Civil
Service in India)
▪ Established lower courts and appellate courts
▪ Sanskrit College established by Jonathan Duncan in 1791
▪ 3rd Anglo-Mysore War (defeat of Tipu and the Treaty of Seringapatam, 1792)
▪ Permanent Settlement in Bihar and Bengal in 1793
▪ Introduction of Cornwallis Code 1793 - incorporating several judicial reforms, and separation
of revenue administration and civil jurisdiction
Lord Wellesley 1798 – 1805
▪ He adopted the policy of Subsidiary Alliance (1798); first alliance with Nizam of Hyderabad
▪ 4th Anglo-Mysore War (1799) - defeat and the death of Tipu Sultan
▪ Took over the administration of Tanjore (1799), Surat (1800), and Carnatic (1801)
▪ Established Fort William College at Calcutta in 1800 - he wanted to train British civilians for
administrative purpose in India
▪ 2nd Anglo-Maratha War (1803–05) - defeat of the Scindia, the Bhonsle and the Holkar;
Treaty of Bassein (1802)
Lord Hastings (1813 – 1823)
▪ Ended the policy of Non-intervention (Adopted by Sir John Shore) and adopted the policy of
intervention and war.
▪ Establishment of Ryotwari System by Thomas Munro in Madras, Assam and Bombay.
▪ Anglo-Nepalese War (1813–23); 3rd Anglo-Maratha War (1817–18)
▪ Hastings forced humiliating treaties on Peshwa and the Scindia.
Governors-General of India (1833-58)
William Bentick (1828-33) and (1833-35)
▪ Charter Act of 1833 (St. Helena Act)
▪ Abolition of Sati-1829 and Suppression of Thuggee (1830)
▪ Resolution of 1835, and educational reforms and introduction of English as the official
language
▪ He abolished the provincial courts of appeal and circuit
▪ Most liberal and enlightened Governor-General of India; Regarded as the Father of Modern
Western Education in India
Charles Metcalf (1835-36)
▪ Passed the famous Press Law, which liberated the press in India (called Liberator of the
Press)
Lord Ellenborough (1842–44)
▪ Annexation of Sindh (1843) – Annexed by Napier
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Lord Hardinge I (1844–48)
▪ 1st Anglo-Sikh war (1845–46) and the Treaty of Lahore 1846 (marked the end of Sikh
sovereignty in India.
Lord Dalhousie (1848–56)
Youngest Governor-General of India (36 Years), & also known as
▪ Father of Indian Telegraph
▪ Father of Indian Railways
▪ Father of Indian Postal system
▪ Father of Indian Engineering Services
▪ Maker of Modern India
▪ Shifted the headquarters of Bengal Artillery from Calcutta to Meerut.
▪ Shimla was made the permanent headquarters of the army & summer capital.
▪ Abolished Titles and Pensions, Widow Remarriage Act or Act XV (1856) (drafted by him and
passed by Canning)
▪ Wood’s Educational Despatch of 1854 and opening of Anglo-Vernacular Schools and
Government Colleges.
▪ Started the first railway line in 1853 (connecting Bombay with Thana)
▪ A separate public works department (pwd) was set up for the first time.
▪ Started work on the Grand Trunk Road and developed the harbours of Karachi, Bombay and
Calcutta.
▪ Introduced Doctrine of Lapse (Captured Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849),
Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854); Fought 2nd Anglo-Sikh War
(1848–49) and annexed the whole of the Punjab
▪ 2nd Anglo-Burmese War (1852) and annexation of Lower Burma or Pegu
▪ Annexation of Berar in 1853; Annexation of Avadh in 1856 on charges of maladministration.
Lord Canning (1856–57 & 1858–62)
▪ The last Governor-General and first Viceroy of India
▪ Revolt of 1857; Passed the Act of 1858, which ended the rule of the East India Company.
▪ Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.
▪ The Indian High Court Act (1861) was enacted
▪ Income Tax was introduced for the first time in 1858
▪ The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras founded in 1857
▪ ‘White Mutiny’ by European troops in 1859
▪ The Indian Councils Act of 1862 was passed, which proved to be a landmark in the
constitutional history of India
▪ Introduced Portfolio System
Sir John Lawrence (1864–69)
▪ He introduced various reforms and became the member of Punjab Board of Administration
after the second Sikh war.
▪ He was known as the Saviour of Punjab.
Lord Mayo (1869–72)
▪ Introduced financial decentralization in India
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▪ Established Rajkot College at Kathiawar and Mayo College at Ajmer for the princess
▪ Organised the Statistical Survey of India
▪ Established the Department of Agriculture & Commerce.
▪ He was the only Viceroy to be murdered in office by a Pathan convict in Andamans in 1872.
▪ For the first time in Indian history, a census was held in 1871.
Lord Lytton (1876–80)
▪ Most infamous Governor-General pursued free trade and abolished duties on 29 British
manufactured goods which accelerated drain of the wealth of India
▪ Arranged the Grand Darbar in Delhi (in 1877) when the country was suffering from a severe
famine
▪ Passed the Royal Title Act (1876) and Queen Victoria was declared as the Kaiser-i-Hind
▪ The Arms Act (1878) - made mandatory for Indians to acquire a license for arms
▪ Passed the infamous Vernacular Press Act (1878)
▪ Proposed the plan of Statutory Civil Service in 1878-79 and lowered the maximum age limit
from 21 to 19 years
Lord Ripon (1880–84)
▪ Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, 1882
▪ The First Factory Act, 1881 to improve labour conditions
▪ Resolution of Local Self Government in 1882 (Father of local self-government in India)
▪ Appointed Hunter Commission (for education reforms) in 1882
▪ The Ilbert Bill controversy erupted during his tenure (1883-84) which enabled Indian district
magistrates to trying European criminals. But this was withdrawn later.
Lord Dufferin (1884–88)
▪ 3rd Burmese War (Annexation of Upper and Lower Burma) in 1885.
▪ Establishment of Indian National Congress in 1885.
Lord Curzon (1899–1905)
▪ Appointed a Police Commission in 1902 under Sir Andrew Frazer to review police
administration.
▪ Set up the Universities Commission (1902) and accordingly the Indian Universities Act of
1904 was passed.
▪ Passed the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Act (in 1899cann and put India on a gold
standard.
▪ Partition of Bengal took place in 1905.
▪ Curzon- Kitchener controversy.
Lord Minto II (1905–10)
▪ Swadeshi Movement (1905–08)
▪ Foundation of the Muslim League, 1906
▪ Surat session and split in the Congress (1907)
▪ Morley-Minto Reforms 1909
Lord Hardinge II (1910–16)
▪ Annulment of the partition of Bengal (1911)
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▪ Transfer of Capital from Calcutta to Delhi (1911)
▪ Delhi Darbar and Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary (1911)
▪ Establishment of Hindu Mahasabha by Madan Mohan Malviya (1915)
▪ Delhi Conspiracy Case
Lord Chelmsford (1916–21)
▪ Formation Home Rule Leagues by Tilak and Annie Besant (1916)
▪ Lucknow Pact between the Congress and Muslim League (1916)
▪ The arrival of Gandhi in India (1915)
▪ Foundation of Sabarmati Ashram (1916)
▪ Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
▪ Montague’s August Declaration (1917)
▪ Kheda Satyagraha and Satyagraha at Ahmedabad (1918)
▪ Government of India Act (1919)
▪ Repressive Rowlatt Act (1919)
▪ Jalianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
▪ Khilafat Movement (1920–22)
▪ Non-cooperation Movement (1920–22)
▪ Death of B.G Tilak (1 Aug 1920)
▪ Saddler Commission (1917) and an Indian Sir S. P. Sinha was appointed Governor of Bengal.
Lord Reading (1921–26)
▪ Repeal of Press Act of 1910 & Rowlatt Act of 1919
▪ Violent Moplah Rebellion in Kerala (1921)
▪ Foundation of CPI (1921)
▪ Chauri Chaura Incident (5 Feb 1922)
▪ Foundation of Swaraj Party (1923)
▪ Kakori Train Action (1925)
▪ Foundation of RSS (1925)
▪ Murder of Swami Shardhanand (1926)
Lord Irwin (1926–31)
▪ Simon Commission came to India in 1928
▪ Butler Committee (1927) – To Improve the relationship between the Government of India
and the Indian Princely States.
▪ Nehru Report (1928)
▪ Jinnah’s 14 Points (1929)
▪ Lahore Session of Congress and ‘Poorna Swaraj’ declaration (1929)
▪ ‘Deepavali Declaration’ by Irwin (1929)
▪ Dandi March (12 March 1930)
▪ Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
▪ 1st Round Table Conference (1930)
▪ Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
Lord Willingdon (1931–36)
▪ 2nd Round Table Conference (1931)
▪ Civil Disobedience Movement (1932)
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▪ The announcement of MacDonald’s Communal Award (1932)
▪ Poona Pact (24 Sep 1932) was signed between Ambedkar and Gandhi.
▪ 3rd Round Table Conference (1932)
▪ Foundation of Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in 1934
▪ Government of India Act 1935
▪ Burma separated from India (1935)
▪ All India Kisan Sabha (1936)
Lord Linlithgow (1936–43)
▪ First General Election (1936–37)
▪ Congress ministries in 1937 and Resignation of Congress ministries in 1939 (28 Months rule)
▪ ‘Deliverance Day’ by Muslim League in 1939
▪ Foundation of Forward Block by S.C. Bose (1939)
▪ Lahore Resolution (1940) by the Muslim League, demand for separate state for Muslims
▪ August Offer (1940); Cripps Mission (1942); Quit India Movement (1942) and Outbreak of
Second World War in 1939
Lord Wavell (1943–1947)
▪ CR Formula 1944; Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference in 1945.
▪ End of 2nd World War in 1945
▪ INA Trials in 1945; Naval mutiny in 1946
▪ Cabinet Mission 1946 and acceptance of its proposals by Congress.
▪ Direct Action Day by the Muslim League on 16th August 1946 and the first meeting of the
constituent assembly was held on Dec. 9, 1946
▪ Announcement of end of British rule in India by Clement Atlee on 20 Feb 1947
Lord Mountbatten (March–August 1947)
▪ Announced the 3rd June 1947 Plan
▪ Introduction of Indian Independence Bill in the House of Commons and passed by the British
Parliament on July 4, 1947.
▪ Appointment of 2 boundary commissions under Sir Cyril Radcliffe for the partition of Bengal
and Punjab
Governor Generals of Independent India (1947–50)
Lord Mountbatten (1947–48)
▪ The first Governor-General of free India; Kashmir acceded to India (Oct. 1947); Murder of
Gandhi (Jan. 30, 1948)
C. Rajagopalachari (June 1948–January 25, 1950)
▪ The last Governor-General of free India; The only Indian Governor-General
Viceroys from Curzon to Mountbatten • • Trick: Curious (Curzon) mind (Minto) hardwork
(Hardinge) made Columbus (Chelmsford) Reached (Reading) India (Irwin) While (Willingdon)
Left (Linlithgow)Was (Wavell) Madagascar (Mountbatten).
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[Link] among the following was the Viceroy of British India at the time of second round table
conference? दसरे ू गोलमजे सम्मले न के समयननम्ननलननतमें से कौन ननननशभारतका
वायसराय था?
a) Lord Irwin
b) Lord Willingdon
c) Lord Linlithgow
d) Lord Reading
Q2. Who devised the policy of Doctrine of Lapse?
व्यपगत के नसद्ूाूाूत या हड़प नीनत की नीनत नकसने तयै ूारकी?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Mountbatten
d) Robert Clive
भारतसरकारअननननयम(1935)पाररत
Q3. Who was the governor generalहोने
of क े समयभारतक
India े गवननरजनरलकौन
when Government थे ? (1935) was passed?
of India Act
a) Lord Willingdon
b) Lord Wavell ❖ The Vernacular Press Act was passed in
c) Lord Irwin 1878 by Viceroy Lord Lytton (1876-1880).
d) Lord Reading ❖ This Act allowed Magistrates to collect
security deposits from Regional
Q4. Who proposed the Vernacular Press Act? Language/Native language/Vernacular
वनाक्नयूलरप्रसे एक्नू का प्रस्ताव नकसने ररा?
newspapers and confiscate their printing
a) Lord Canning press if they published anything against
b) Lord Lytton the crown.
c) Lord Dufferin ❖ However, these same rules are not
d) Lord Lawrence applied to English Language Printing Press
❖ That is why the Amrita Bazar Patrika in
Q5. Who was the only Viceroy to be murdered in office?
वहएकमात्रवायसराय नजसकीहत्या भारतमें करदी गई थी Calcutta had converted itself into an all-
English weekly within a week of the
a) Lord Hardinge passing of the Vernacular Press Act.
b) Lord Lawrence ❖ This act was repealed by Lord Ripon in
c) Lord Northbrook 1882
d) Lord Mayo
Q6. During which of the following Viceroy Widow Remarriage Act was introduced?
निम् न निनित में से निनसे दौरान वायसराय िवधवाप न िनववाह अिधनियमपेश निया गया था?
a) Lord Amherst ❖ The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act
b) Lord Handing 1856 legalized the remarriage of Hindu
c) Lord Canning widows on 16th July 1856.
d) William Bentinck ❖ The Act was enacted on 26th July
1856.
Q7. Under whose tenure, establishment of INC took place?
कााग्रसे की स्थापना नकसके कायनकालमें हूई? ❖ Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played an
important role in helping in the
a) Lord Dufferin establishment of the act.
b) Lord Clive ❖ Prior to this, Sati custom was
c) Lord Hardinge abolished by Lord William Bentick
d) Lord Canning
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Q8. Cripps Mission visited India during the term of which of the following Viceroys?
ननप्स नमशनने ननम्ननलननतमें से नकसवायसराय के कायनकालके दौरानभारतका दौरा नकया?
a) Lord Irwin
b) Lord Willingdon
c) Lord Linlithgow
d) Lord Wavell
Q9. Who among the following is known to have started portfolio system in India?
ननम्ननलनन त में से नकसे भारत में पोनू फ
नूोनलयो प्रणाली शूरू करने के नलएजाना जाता ह?ूै
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Curzon Under the Indian Council Act of 1861
c) Lord Wiiliam Bentick
d) Lord Cornwallis
Q10. Who was called as ‘’Liberator of the Indian Press’’?
नजन्हें भारतीय प्रसे का मन
ू नू दाता कहा जाता था
a) Lord Lytton
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Charles Metcalf
d) Lord Ellenborough
Q11. Who among the following annulled of the partition of Bengal?
ननम्ननलननतमें से नकसने बागाल के नवभाजनको रद्दकरनदया?
a) Lord Minto
b) Lord Curzon It was carried out in response to Swadeshi movement’s protest
c) Lord Hardinge against the policy. Annulled in 1911 by the Viceroy Lord Hardinge II
d) Lord Chelmsford
Q12. “In my belief, Congress is to tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India is
to assist it to a peaceful demise.” Who wrote it?
"मरे ूा मानना है नककाग्रा से लनड़ड़ा करअपने पतन की ओरअग्रसरहै औरभारत में रहते हूएमरे ूी एक
बड़ीमहत्वाकाक्ा ूा
उसे शाानतपण ू नअूाूत में मददकरना ह।ूै " ये नकसने ननला?
a) Lord Lytton
b) Lord Dufferin
c) Lord Curzon
d) Lord Minto
Q13. Soon after the formation of Indian National Congress, the British became suspicious of
nationalists. Who among the following called Congress representing only the elite - ‘’a microscopic
minority’’?
भारतीय राष्ट्र ीयकााग्रसे के गठनके तरू ूाूतबाद, अूाूग्रजो को राष्ट्र वानदयो पर सादहे हो गया। ननम्ननलननत
में से नकसन
कााग्रसे को के वलअनभजातवगनका प्रनतननननत्वकरने वाला -'एक सक्ष्मू अल्पसख्यक'ूाू कहा
था?
a) Lord Napier
b) Lord Dufferin
c) Lord Ripon
d) Lord Lytton
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