Viceroys
and Important Events
After 1857 revolt, British Government passed Government of India act 1858. This act created office of viceroy in the place of Governor-General of India
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Important event/contribution
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Name of the viceroy
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First Viceroy of India
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Lord Canning
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Introduction of Portfolio system
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Introduction of Financial
decentralization
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Lord Mayo
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The first census was conducted during
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Lord Mayo
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Father of Local government in India
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Lord Rippon
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Passage of Vernacular press act
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Lord Lytton
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Partition of Bengal
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Lord Curzon
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Shifting of capital from Calcutta to
Delhi
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Lord Hardinge
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Jallianwala Bagh massacre &
Rowlatt act
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Lord Chelmsford
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Visit of Simon commission
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Lord Irwin
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Arrival of Cripps Mission
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Lord Linlithgow
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Arrival of Cabinet mission
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Lord Wavell
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Last Viceroy of India
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Lord Mountbatten
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Lord Canning: (1858-1862)
Lord Canning was the first viceroy of
India. Some of the important events during his reign are
o
1857 revolt was happened during his
tenure he was able to suppress successfully
o
Indian Councils Act, 1861 was passed.
This act introduced portfolio system in India.
o
He withdraw “Doctrine of Lapse” which
was introduced by Lord Dalhousie
o
Canning also introduced Code of
Criminal Procedure.
Lord Lawrence: (1864-1869)
Two important events happened during
his tenure
o
High Courts were established at
Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1865.
o
Indian Forest Department was
created
LORD MAYO (1869 – 1872)
o
He started the process of financial
decentralization in India.
o
A census was held in 1871 during the
tenure of Lord Mayo. It is the first census conducted in the history of
India.
o
He also organised the Statistical
Survey of India.
o
Mayo was the only Viceroy to be
murdered in office by a Pathan convict in the Andamans in 1872.
LORD LYTTON (1876 – 1880)
o
He was also known as the Viceroy to
reverse characters.
o
He Organised the Grand ‘Delhi Durbar’
in 1877 to decorate Queen Victoria with the title of ‘Kaiser I Hind’.
o
In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was
passed. This Act empowered a Magistrate to secure an undertaking from the
editor, publisher and printer of a vernacular newspaper that nothing would be
published against the English Government.
o
In the same year, the Arms Act was
passed. This Act prevented the Indians to keep arms without an appropriate
license.
o
Lord Lytton introduced uniform salt
tax throughout British India.
o
He also abolished many import duties
and supported the Free Trade policy
LORD RIPON (1880 – 1884)
o
He is also known as Father of Local
government in India
o
He repealed infamous Vernacular Press
act in the year 1882
o
Lord Ripon introduced the Factory Act
of 1881 to improve the service condition of the factory workers in India. The
Act banned the appointment of children below the age of seven in
factories
o
He Passed the liberty Bill (1883)
which enabled Indian district magistrates to try European criminals. But this
was withdrawn later.
Lord Ripon was the most popular
Viceroy that England ever sent to India. The Indians, by and large, hailed him
as “Ripon the Good” because he was the only Viceroy who handled the Indian
problems with compassion and sympathy.
LORD CURZON (1899 – 1905)
o
To set the educational system in
order, he instituted in 1902, a Universities Commission to go into the entire
question of university education in the country. On the basis of the findings
and recommendations of the Commission, Curzon brought in the Indian
Universities Act of 1904, which brought all the universities in India under the
control of the government.
o
He is responsible for Partition of
Bengal into two provinces East Bengal & Assam.
o
He also appointed a Police Commission
under Sir Andrew Frazer to enquire into the police administration of every
province.
o
Passed the Ancient Monuments
Protection Act (1904), to restore India’s cultural heritage. Thus the
Archaeological Survey of India was established.
o
Passed the Indian Coinage and Paper
Currency act (1899) and put India on a gold standard.
LORD MINTO (1905 – 1910)
Lord Minto served as Viceroy of India
from 1905 to 1910. Major events that happened during his regime
o
Surat Split where moderates and
extremists are divided (1907),
o
Foundation of the Indian Muslim
League (1906)
o
Indian Council Act of 1909 also
Moseley-Minto Reforms) was introduced during his tenure
o
Establishment of Indian Home Rule
Society in England by Shyamji Verma,
LORD HARDINGE (1910 – 1916)
Lord Hardinge served as India’s
Viceroy from 1910 to 1916. Some of the important events during his reign are
o
Held a durbar known as Delhi Durbar
in December 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V.
o
Lord Hardinge cancelled Partition of
Bengal
o
In 1911 he shifted capital from
Calcutta to Delhi (1911).
o
In 1914 outbreak of world war-I was
happened during his tenure
LORD CHELMSFORD (1916 – 1921)
Lord Chelmsford served as Viceroy of
India from 1916 to 1921. Important events during his tenure are
o
Lucknow Pact was signed between INC
and Muslim League in 1916
o
August Declaration of 1917, whereby
control over the Indian government would be gradually transferred to the Indian
people
o
Passing of Rowlatt Act and
Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy was happened during his tenue
o
The government of India act in 1919
also known as Montague Chelmsford reforms was introduced in India.
o
He appointed Saddler Commission in
1917 to envisage new educational policy.
LORD IRWIN (1926 – 1931)
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Simon Commission visited India in 1928.
o
Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed on March
5, 1931 and Civil Disobedience Movement was withdrawn.
Lord Linlithgow: (1936-43)
o
Lord Linlithgow served as Viceroy of
India from 1936 to 1934.
o
His tenure was the longest reign as
Viceroy of India
o
Government of India act 1935 was
passed during his reign
o
Quit India Movement began during his
tenure
o
Arrival of Cripps mission also
happened during his tenure
Lord Wavell: (1943-1947)
o
Lord Wavell served as 23rd Viceroy of
India from 1 October 1943 to 21 February 1947.
o
The most important events during his
tenure was Conclusion of World War-II with surrender of Japan;
o
Cabinet mission arrived during his
tenure
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Interim government was formed under
Nehru during his tenure
LORD MOUNTBATTEN (MARCH 1947 – AUGUST 1947)
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Lord Mountbatten was the Last Viceroy
of British India
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He also served as first Governor
General of free India.
o
Partition of India has happened
during his tenure
o
Indian Independence Act passed by the
British parliament on July 4, 1947, by which India became independent on August
15, 1947
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