During British rule in India, the territories were broadly divided into three administrative units known as Presidencies – Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. A Governor governed each Presidency, while the Governor-General served as the supreme head of British administration in India.
The first Governor General of Bengal was Warren Hastings, who brought significant administrative and judicial reforms. Over time, the role evolved and expanded, eventually leading to the appointment of Governors General of India and later, the Viceroys of India post-1857.
This article lists the key Governors General and Viceroys, their tenures, and the major reforms and events during their rule. This topic is highly relevant for competitive exams like the UPSC, SSC, BPSC, and other state-level exams where general awareness forms a significant portion of the paper.
Founded Calcutta Madrasa and Asiatic Society of Bengal
Involved in First Anglo-Maratha War and Treaty of Salbai
Pitt’s India Act (1784) Promoted English translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
1786–1793
Lord Cornwallis
Introduced Permanent Settlement
Established civil services and judicial reforms
Third Anglo-Mysore War and Treaty of Seringapatam
Sanskrit College
1793–1798
Sir John Shore
Charter Act of 1793
Followed a policy of non-intervention
Battle of Kharda
1798–1805
Lord Wellesley
Introduced Subsidiary Alliance
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
Treaty of Bassein
Second Anglo-Maratha War
Established Fort William College
Formation of Madras Presidency
1805–1807
Sir George Barlow
Acting Governor-General
Reduced British expansion
1806 Vellore Mutiny
1807–1813
Lord Minto I
Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh (1809)
Charter Act of 1813
1813–1823
Lord Hastings
Ended non-intervention policy
Third Anglo-Maratha War
Abolition of Peshwaship
Introduced Ryotwari System in Madras and Bombay
Mahalwari System in north-western provinces
1823–1828
Lord Amherst
Annexed Assam
First Anglo-Burmese War (1824)
Barrackpore Mutiny (1824)
Governors General of India (1833–1858)
Tenure
Name
Major Reforms & Events
1828–1835
Lord William Bentinck
First Governor-General of India (as per Charter Act 1833)
Abolished Sati
Suppressed Thugee and infanticide English Education Act (1835)
Medical College in Kolkata
1835–1836
Lord Charles Metcalfe
Known as “Liberator of the Indian Press”
Removed restrictions on the press.
1836–1842
Lord Auckland
Promoted education and commercial growth
First Anglo-Afghan War
1842–1844
Lord Ellenborough
Annexation of Sindh
1844–1848
Lord Hardinge I
First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46)
1848–1856
Lord Dalhousie
Introduced Doctrine of Lapse
Railway (Bombay–Thane)
Telegraph
Public Works Department
Post Office Act (1854)
Engineering College at Roorkee
suppressed princely titles and pensions
introduced Civil Services exams
Charles Wood Dispatch
Widow Remarriage Act (1856)
Second Anglo-Sikh War
1856–1857
Lord Canning
Universities in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras (1857)
Revolt of 1857
Viceroys and Last Governor General of India (1856–1950)
Viceroy / Governor-General
Tenure
Major Events and Reforms
Lord Canning
1856–1862
Revolt of 1857
Establishment of universities at Calcutta, Bombay & Madras (1857)
Abolition of East India Company (Govt. of India Act, 1858)
Indian Councils Act, 1861
Lord John Lawrence
1864–1869
Bhutan War (1865)
Establishment of High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay & Madras (1865)
Lord Lytton
1876–1880
Vernacular Press Act (1878)
Arms Act (1878)
Second Afghan War (1878–80)
Queen Victoria declared Empress of India
Lord Ripon
1880–1884
Repeal of Vernacular Press Act (1882)
First Factory Act (1881)
Local self-government resolution (1882)
Ilbert Bill controversy (1883–84)
Hunter Commission on Education (1882)
Lord Dufferin
1884–1888
Third Burmese War (1885–86)
Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)
Lord Lansdowne
1888–1894
Factory Act (1891)
Indian Councils Act (1892)
Durand Commission setup (1893)
Lord Curzon
1899–1905
Police Commission (1902)
Universities Commission (1902)
Indian Universities Act (1904)
Partition of Bengal (1905)
Lord Minto II
1905–1910
Swadeshi Movement (1905–11)
Surat Split in Congress (1907)
Formation of Muslim League (1906)
Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)
Lord Hardinge II
1910–1916
Annulment of Bengal Partition (1911)
Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi (1911)
Establishment of Hindu Mahasabha (1915)
Lord Chelmsford
1916–1921
Lucknow Pact (1916)
Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
Montagu Declaration (1917)
Government of India Act (1919)
Rowlatt Act (1919)
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
Launch of Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements
Lord Reading
1921–1926
Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)
Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement (1922)
Swaraj Party Formation (1922)
Kakori Train Robbery (1925)
Lord Irwin
1926–1931
Simon Commission (1927)
Harcourt Butler Committee (1927)
Nehru Report (1928)
Deepavali Declaration (1929)
Purna Swaraj Resolution (1929)
Dandi March and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
First Round Table Conference (1930)
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
Lord Willingdon
1931–1936
Communal Award (1932)
Second and Third Round Table Conferences (1932)
Poona Pact (1932)
Government of India Act (1935)
Lord Linlithgow
1936–1944
Resignation of Congress ministries (1939)
Tripuri Crisis and Forward Bloc Formation (1939)
Lahore Resolution by Muslim League (1940)
August Offer (1940)
INA Formation (1941)
Cripps Mission (1942)
Quit India Movement (1942)
Lord Wavell
1944–1947
C. Rajagopalachari Formula (1944)
Wavell Plan and Simla Conference (1945)
Cabinet Mission (1946)
Direct Action Day (1946)
Attlee’s announcement to end British Rule (1947)
Lord Mountbatten
1947–1948
June 3rd Plan (1947)
Redcliffe Commission (1947)
India’s Independence on 15 August 1947
C. Rajagopalachari (Governor-General)
1948–1950
First and only Indian Governor-General of independent India
Office abolished with adoption of the Constitution (1950)
Conclusion
The period from 1856 to 1950 marked a significant phase in Indian history under British rule — from the Revolt of 1857 to India’s independence and eventual transformation into a sovereign republic. The Viceroys of India, acting as representatives of the British Crown, played a central role in implementing various administrative, economic, social, and political reforms — some progressive, others deeply controversial.
Each Viceroy’s tenure witnessed crucial events — such as the formation of the Indian National Congress, partition of Bengal, Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements, and finally the Quit India Movement, all of which contributed to the intensification of India’s freedom struggle.
The office of the Governor-General/Viceroy symbolized British imperial authority. However, the appointment of C. Rajagopalachari as the last and only Indian Governor-General post-independence signified the dawn of Indian leadership. With the adoption of the Constitution on 26 January 1950, the post was formally abolished — thus closing the chapter of colonial rule and opening a new era of democratic and republican India.
This chronological understanding is essential for students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams and anyone interested in India’s colonial past.
