Governor Generals of India and Important Events for APSC/ UPSC (Prelims and Mains)

Master Modern Indian History for UPSC & APSC( Prelims/Mains).Comprehensive list of Governor-Generals of India for APSC & UPSC aspirants, covering key reforms, wars, and administrative changes by Hastings, Cornwallis, Dalhousie, and more.

Governor Generals of Bengal

Warren Hastings (1773-1785)

• 1^st Governor General of Bengal

Administrative Reforms

• Abolition of Dual Government System introduced by Robert Clive.

Revenue Reforms

• Five-Year Settlement: Land was farmed out to the highest bidder for a period of five years.
• Pattas (Leases): Zamindars were required to issue clear pattas to cultivators, specifying exactly how much rent they had to pay, to prevent exploitation.
• Treasury Transfer: The main treasury was moved from Murshidabad to Calcutta, placing it under the direct control of the Company’s Council.
• Rai Raian: An Indian officer appointed to maintain revenue records.
• Accountant-General: Appointed to oversee accounts.
• Qanungos: These local revenue record-keepers were reinstated with their original rights.

Trade Reforms

• Abolition of Dastaks: The system of Dastaks (free passes), which allowed Company servants to trade without paying dues, was abolished to stop misuse.
• All minor custom houses were shut down to check smuggling.
• A uniform duty of 2.5% was imposed on all other goods for everyone, treating Indian and European traders equally.

Judicial Reforms

• Supreme Court at Fort William was established in 1774 by the British Parliament through Regulating Act of 1773 during his tenure.
• Established Diwani Adalat (Civil Court) and Faujdari Adalat (Criminal Court) in every district and two high courts: Sadar Diwani Adalat (Highest Civil Court) and Sadar Faujdari Adalat (Highest Criminal Court) at Calcutta.

Social Reforms

• Founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) with Willam Jones.
• Warren Hastings attempted to codify Muslims and Hindu Laws. A translation of the codes in Sanskrit appeared in 1776 under the title of ‘Code of Gentoo Laws’.

Wars

• The First Anglo Maratha War,1776-82
• The Second Anglo Mysore War, 1780-84
• The Rohilla War, 1774
• Treaty of Salbai, 1782

Acts

• The Regulating Act of 1773
• Act of 1781
• Pitts India Act 1784

Lord Cornwallis ( 1786-1793)

Land Revenue Reforms

• Introduced Permanent Settlement in 1793.

Judicial Reforms (The Cornwallis Code)

• He separated revenue administration from the judiciary and professionalized the administration.
• Abolished District Faujdari Courts.
• A gradation of Civil Courts was set up: Munsiff’s Court (Indian officers);Court Registrars European judge);District Court (district judge),above district courts were four Provincial Courts of Appeal were established at Calcutta, Dhaka, Murshidabad, and Patna to hear appeals from district courts, Sadar Diwani Adalat (Calcutta),King-in-Council (for disputes involving more than £5,000).

Police Reforms

• He reorganised the districts into thanas or police jurisdictions and placed under the authority of new officer known as a Daroga.

Civil Services Reforms

• Known as the father of Indian Civil Service.
• Strict rules were enforced to stop corruption. Private trade by Company officials was strictly banned.
• He significantly raised the salaries of Company servants to reduce bribery.
• Enforcing promotions through seniority.

Acts

• Pitts India Amendment Act 1786

Wars

• Third Anglo Mysore War ( 1790-1792)
• Treaty of Seringapatam 1792

Sir John Shore ( 1793-1798)

• Introduced the First Charter Act of 1793.
• Battle of Kharda, 1795: The Maratha Empire defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Lord Wellesley ( 1798- 1805)

• He established Fort William College at Calcutta in 1800.
• Madras Presidency was formed during his tenure in 1801.
• Started the policy of Subsidiary Alliance System in 1798.
• He brought the Censorship of Press Act, 1799.

Wars

• Fourth Anglo Mysore War, 1799
• Second Anglo Maratha War, 1803-05.
• Treaty of Bassein, 1802.

Sir George Barlow (1805-1807)

• Vellore Mutiny (1806) happened during his tenure.

Lord Minto I (1807-1813)

• Treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1809.
• During his tenure Charter Act of 1813 was passed.

Lord Hastings( 1813-1823)

• Introduced the Policy of Paramountcy: authority of Governor General to intervene in the internal matters of the Indian princely states.
• Suppression of Pindaris and the complete destruction of Pindari Clan in India(1817-18).
• During his tenure Ryotwari System was introduced by Thomas Munro, governor of Madras (1820) and Mahalwari System in Northern India by Holt Mackenzie in 1822.
• Creation of Bombay presidency in 1818.

Wars

• Third Maratha War (1817-19)
• Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16)
• The Treaty  of Sagauli, 1816.

Lord Armherst

• Establishment of Sanskrit College at Calcutta in the year 1824, aimed at promoting Sanskrit education and scholarship.
• Acquisition of territories of Malaya Peninsula.
• Capture of Bharatpur in 1826.

Wars

• First Burmese War (1824-1826)
• Treaty of Yandabo (1826)
• During his tenure, the Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824 occurred.

Governor Generals of India

Lord William Bentinck (1828 – 1835)

• 1^st Governor General of India.
• Regarded as ‘ Father of Modern Western Education in India’.
• Suppression of Thugi, 1830.
• Abolition of Sati, 1829.
• During his tenure Macaulay’s Minutes on education were accepted(introduction of English as the official language).

Acts

• Passed the Charter Act of 1833 which provided that no Indian subject of the Company will be debarred from holding an office on account of his religion, place of birth, descent and colour.

Wars and Treaties

• Annexation of Mysore (1831),
  Coorg (1834) and Central Cachar(1834).
• Treaty of ‘perpetual friendship’ with Ranjeet Singh in 1831.

Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835 – 1836)

• Known as the Liberator of Indian Press.
• Repealed Licensing Regulation of 1823.
• Established Calcutta Public Library in 1836.

Lord Auckland (1836 – 1842)

• Lord Auckland is best known for his “Forward Policy” to protect the boundary of British India from Russian Attack.

Wars

• First Anglo Afghan War 1842.
• Tripartite Treaty (1838): An alliance was formed between three parties: The British East India Company, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Ruler of Punjab) and Shah Shuja (Deposed Afghan ruler)

Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844)

• Abolished slavery in 1843.

Wars

• Brought an end to Anglo Afghan War 1842.
• War with Gwalior, 1843.

Lord Hardinge-I (1844 – 1848)

• Abolition of female infanticide and human sacrifce.
• Establishment of Roorkee Engineering College in 1847.

Wars

• First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845-46.
• Treaty of Lahore, 1846

Lord Dalhousie (1848 – 1856)

• Penned the famous Railway Minute of 1853.
• The first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane in 1853.
• Established a separate Public Works Department (PWD) in every province.
• Ganges Canal: Declared open in 1854.
•  Wood’s Despatch (1854): Known as the “Magna Carta of English Education in India.”
• Widow Remarriage Act (1856)
• Banned Female Infanticide and suppressed Human Sacrifice
• Introduced Doctrine of Lapse.
• Passed the Post Office Act (1854).

Wars

• Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49)
• Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852)
•  Santhal Rebellion (1855)
• Annexation of Oudh(1856)
• Annexation of Berar( 1853)

Lord Canning (1856 – 1862)

• Last Governor General of India and the first Viceroy of India.
• Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.
• The Revolt of 1857 happened during his tenure.
• Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856 and the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 were passed.
• Indian Council Act of 1861 was passed.
• System of Budget and Portfolio System was introduced.
• Establishment of three universities at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857.
• Indian Penal Code of Criminal Procedure, 1859 was passed.
• Indigo Revolt (1859-60).

LUCENT IAS APSC/UPSC Prelims FAQ’s

Q.With reference to the history of Modern India, consider the following statements:

1. Warren Hastings established the Supreme Court at Fort William under the Regulating Act of 1773.
2. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded by William Jones during the tenure of Lord Cornwallis.
3. The dual government system established by Robert Clive was abolished by Warren Hastings.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Correct Answer: C

Explained: Statement 2 is incorrect: While William Jones did found the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784), he did so during the tenure of Warren Hastings, not Lord Cornwallis.

Q.Which of the following events took place during the tenure of Lord Dalhousie?

1. The passing of the Hindu Widows Remarriage Act.
2. The opening of the first passenger train connecting Bombay and Thane.+1
3. The launch of the Wood’s Educational Despatch.
4. The occurrence of the Santhal Rebellion.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2, 3, and 4 only

C) 1, 3, and 4 only

D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Correct Answer: D

Explained: All statements are correct.

APSC CCE 2020 PYQ

Q. Find the correct chronology of the following Governor Generals of India:

i) Sir John Macpherson

ii) The Earl Cornwallis

iii) Sir Alured Clarke

iv) The Earl of Mornington

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A) i) ii) iii) iv)

B) i) ii) iv) iii)

C) ii) i) iii) iv)

D) ii) iii) i) iv)

Correct Answer: A

Explained: Sir John Macpherson( 1785-1786), The Earl Cornwallis( 1786-1793),Sir Alured Clarke(1798),The Earl of Mornington(1798-1805).

UPSC Prelims PYQ

UPSC Prelims 2023 PYQ

Q. By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?

1.The Regulating Act

2.The Pitt’s India Act

3.The Charter Act of 1793

4.The Charter Act of 1833

Correct Answer: 4

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