Introduction
After the Revolt of 1857, the British Crown took direct control over India from the East India Company through the Government of India Act, 1858.
This act created two key positions:
Secretary of State for India – based in London, responsible for policy and communication.
Viceroy of India – the Crown’s representative in India, assisted by an Executive Council.
| Name of the Viceroy | Notable Work and Events |
|---|---|
| Lord Canning (1858–1862) |
• Introduced Indian Penal Code (1860), Civil Procedure Code (1859), and Criminal Procedure Code (1861). • Enacted Indian High Courts Act (1861) and Indian Police Act (1861). • Withdrew the Doctrine of Lapse. • Established the Universities of Calcutta, Bombay & Madras (1857). |
| Lord Elgin I (1862–1863) | Faced the Wahabi Movement and maintained peace in North India. |
| Lord Lawrence (1864–1869) |
• Created the Indian Forest Department. • Established telegraph line to Europe. • Known for “Masterly Inactivity”. • Engaged in Bhutan War (1864–65). |
| Lord Mayo (1869–1872) |
• Conducted India’s first Census (1871). • Established Statistical Survey of India. • Promoted Financial Decentralisation. • Assassinated in 1872. |
| Lord Northbrook (1872–1876) |
• Removed Gaikwad of Baroda (1875). • Oversaw Bihar Famine and Kuka Movement. |
| Lord Lytton (1876–1880) |
• Hosted Delhi Durbar (1877) for Queen Victoria. • Passed Arms Act (1878) and Statutory Civil Service (1879). • Formed Famine Commission (1878). |
| Lord Ripon (1880–1884) |
• Called the “Father of Local Self-Government”. • Repealed Vernacular Press Act. • Passed Factory Act (1881) and Ilbert Bill (1883). • Set up Hunter Commission (1882). |
| Lord Dufferin (1884–1888) |
• Indian National Congress formed (1885). • Annexation of Burma (1886). • Panjdeh Incident (1885) caused UK–Russia tensions. |
| Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894) |
• Introduced Indian Councils Act (1892). • Passed Second Factory Act (1891). • Appointed Durand Commission (1893). |
| Lord Curzon (1899–1905) |
• Partition of Bengal (1905). • Formed Archaeological Survey of India. • Introduced Police Commission (1902) and Cooperative Credit Act (1904). |
| Lord Minto II (1905–1910) |
• Passed Morley–Minto Reforms (1909). • Foundation of Muslim League (1906). • Swadeshi & Anti-Partition Movement. |
| Lord Hardinge II (1910–1916) |
• Annulment of Bengal Partition (1911). • Capital shifted to Delhi. • Held Delhi Durbar (1911). |
| Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921) |
• Passed Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919). • Introduced Rowlatt Act (1919). • Formed Saddler Commission (1917). |
| Lord Irwin (1926–1931) |
• Signed Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931). • Simon Commission Boycott (1928). • Round Table Conferences (1930–32). |
| Lord Willingdon (1931–1936) |
• Introduced Government of India Act (1935). • Oversaw Poona Pact (1932) and Communal Award. |
| Lord Linlithgow (1936–1944) |
• Longest-serving Viceroy. • Oversaw Quit India Movement (1942) and Cripps Mission. • Announced August Offer (1940). |
| Lord Wavell (1944–1947) |
• Introduced Wavell Plan and Cabinet Mission (1946). • Direct Action Day (1946) and Atlee’s Declaration. |
| Lord Mountbatten (1947–1948) |
• Last Viceroy & first Governor-General of independent India. • Implemented Mountbatten Plan (1947). • Oversaw Partition of India & Pakistan. |
FAQs on the Viceroys of India
Q1. Who was the last Governor-General of Free India?
Ans: C. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of Free India. He was also the first and only Indian to hold the position of Governor-General after independence.
Q2. Who is known as a Viceroy?
Ans: The title “Viceroy” was introduced after the Government of India Act of 1858, when the British Crown took direct control over India. The Governor-General of India was thereafter designated as the Viceroy, serving as the monarch’s direct representative in India.
Q3. What were the main duties of a Viceroy?
Ans: The Viceroy acted as the chief representative of the British Crown in India and was assisted by an advisory body called the India Council. Together, they formulated policies and supervised the administration of British India.
Q4. Who was the Viceroy during the Quit India Movement?
Ans: Lord Linlithgow served as the Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1944, during which the Quit India Movement (1942) took place. He also played a key role during the Lahore Resolution (1940), supporting the idea of a separate Muslim state.
Q5. How many Viceroys of India were there?
Ans: There were 20 Viceroys of India in total — from Lord Canning (the first) to Lord Mountbatten (the last). Prominent among them were Lord Elgin, Lord Lawrence, Lord Mayo, Lord Lytton, Lord Ripon, and others who significantly influenced India’s colonial administration.
Conclusion
The Viceroys of India (1858–1947) were central to shaping British colonial administration, introducing reforms in governance, education, economy, and law.
From Lord Canning’s codification of laws to Lord Mountbatten’s independence transition, their policies transformed India’s socio-political landscape — for better and for worse.
For UPSC aspirants, remembering their names, reforms, and chronological order is essential for Modern Indian History preparation.
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