For about 175 years one officer sat at the top of the government of India. He was first called Governor-General of Bengal, then Governor-General of India, and after 1858 also Viceroy. Exams ask who held the office first and last, and what happened under each one. This page gives you both, in order.
1773
Regulating Act
Warren Hastings, first GG of Bengal
1833
Charter Act
Bentinck, first GG of India
1858
Crown rule
Canning, first Viceroy
1950
Office ends
Rajagopalachari, the last
One office, three names
Learn when the name changed, and half the questions are done.
HOW THE TITLE CHANGED
- Governor-General of BengalRegulating Act, 1773Warren Hastings becomes the first. The Company really ruled only Bengal then.
- Governor-General of IndiaCharter Act, 1833The title covers all British India. Lord William Bentinck is the first.
- ViceroyGovernment of India Act, 1858The Crown takes over from the Company. The Governor-General also becomes Viceroy. Lord Canning is the first.
- Independence15 August 1947Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, stays on as Governor-General of free India.
- Office ends26 January 1950India becomes a republic. C. Rajagopalachari, the only Indian to hold the post, is the last Governor-General.
KEY TERM
Viceroy
Vice means "in place of" and roy comes from the French word for king. A Viceroy rules in place of the king or queen. The title made sense only after 1858, when the British Crown, not the Company, ruled India. In law the office was still Governor-General; Viceroy was the title used as the Crown's representative.
Company's man: Governor-General→1858: Crown takes over→Crown's man: Viceroy
THE FIRSTS AND LASTS
Warren Hastings: first Governor-General of Bengal (1773). William Bentinck: first Governor-General of India (1833). Lord Canning: last Company Governor-General and first Viceroy (1858). Lord Mountbatten: last Viceroy and first Governor-General of free India. C. Rajagopalachari: first and only Indian Governor-General, and the last (1948–50).
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC AA 2022 By which of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?
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Answer: D — The Charter Act of 1833
The Charter Act of 1833 gave the Governor-General power over all British India. The Regulating Act of 1773 had only created the Governor-General of Bengal.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PSSSB Senior Assistant 2025 Who was the first Governor General of India after the passing of the Charter Act of 1833?
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Answer: C — Lord William Bentinck
Bentinck was already in office (from 1828) and became the first Governor-General of India under the 1833 Act. Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC DSSO 2018 Consider the following statements: I. Robert Clive was the first Governor-General of Bengal. II. William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India in 1833. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
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Answer: B — II only
Clive was only Governor of Bengal. The first Governor-General of Bengal was Warren Hastings. The same question came in other PPSC papers of 2018 (MBP, SCIAT, SECO, SUPH).
The Company era, 1774–1858
Governors-General who built and grew British India.
GOVERNORS-GENERAL IN ORDER (MAIN NAMES)
- 1Warren Hastings1774–1785 · First GG of Bengal; Regulating Act 1773
- 2Lord Cornwallis1786–1793 · Permanent Settlement (1793); civil service reforms
- 3Lord Wellesley1798–1805 · Subsidiary Alliance; Tipu Sultan killed 1799
- 4Lord Minto I1807–1813 · Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh, 1809
- 5Lord Hastings1813–1823 · Third Anglo-Maratha War; Nepal war
- 6Lord Amherst1823–1828 · First Anglo-Burmese War
- 7Lord William Bentinck1828–1835 · Sati banned 1829; first GG of India 1833
- 8Lord Auckland1836–1842 · Tripartite Treaty 1838; First Afghan War
- 9Lord Ellenborough1842–1844 · Sindh annexed, 1843
- 10Lord Hardinge I1844–1848 · First Anglo-Sikh War
- 11Lord Dalhousie1848–1856 · Punjab annexed 1849; Doctrine of Lapse; first railway 1853
- 12Lord Canning1856–1862 · Revolt of 1857; first Viceroy 1858
Two Governors-General to know by face
Warren Hastings
1732–1818 · First Governor-General of Bengal
- Took office under the Regulating Act, 1773
- Later impeached in Britain; found not guilty in 1795
Attributed to Arthur William Devis, c. 1785 · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Lord William Bentinck
1774–1839 · First Governor-General of India
- Banned Sati in 1829, backed by Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- Acted against thuggee; made English the language of higher education (1835)
GOVERNORS-GENERAL AND PUNJAB
Minto I: Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with Ranjit Singh; the Sutlej became the border. Bentinck: met Ranjit Singh at Ropar in 1831. Auckland: Tripartite Treaty (1838) with Ranjit Singh and Shah Shuja. Hardinge I: First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46). Dalhousie: annexed Punjab on 29 March 1849.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC Assistant Environmental Engineer 2024 Match List I (Governors-General) with List II (associated event): A. Warren Hastings, B. Lord Wellesley, C. Lord Minto, D. Lord William Bentinck; I. Prohibition of Sati, II. Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh, III. Subsidiary Alliance, IV. Regulating Act of 1773.
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Answer: C — A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
Hastings came in under the Regulating Act of 1773, Wellesley began the Subsidiary Alliance, Minto I made the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) and Bentinck banned Sati (1829).
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC ICS 2016 Who introduced the Permanent Settlement of 1793 ?
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Answer: B — Cornwallis
Lord Cornwallis fixed the land revenue of Bengal for ever with the zamindars in 1793. John Shore helped plan it and came after him. The same question came in PPSC OHE 2016.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC JEE 2022 Which of the following were the signatories to the Tripartite Treaty of 1838? I. Zaman Shah II. Ranjit Singh III. William Bentinck IV. Shah Shuja V. Lord Auckland
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Answer: A — II, IV, and V
Ranjit Singh, the Afghan ex-king Shah Shuja and Governor-General Auckland signed it to put Shah Shuja back on the Kabul throne. It led to the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42).
Viceroys, 1858–1899
From the Revolt to the end of the century.
| Viceroy | Years | Remember for |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Canning | 1856–62 | Revolt of 1857; first Viceroy; Indian Councils Act 1861 |
| Lord Elgin I | 1862–63 | Died in office at Dharamsala |
| Sir John Lawrence | 1864–69 | Had ruled Punjab after 1849; Bhutan war |
| Lord Mayo | 1869–72 | Only Viceroy killed in office, Andamans, 1872 |
| Lord Lytton | 1876–80 | Delhi Durbar 1877; Vernacular Press Act 1878; Second Afghan War |
| Lord Ripon | 1880–84 | Local self-government 1882; first Factory Act 1881; Ilbert Bill |
| Lord Dufferin | 1884–88 | Indian National Congress founded, 1885 |
| Lord Lansdowne | 1888–94 | Indian Councils Act 1892; Durand Line 1893 |
| Lord Elgin II | 1894–99 | Plague and famine years |
Two Viceroys with nicknames
Lord Canning
1812–1862 · Last Company GG, first Viceroy
- Called "Clemency Canning" for asking for mercy after 1857
- Read Queen Victoria's Proclamation at Allahabad, 1858
Unknown photographer, 1860 · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Lord Ripon
1827–1909 · Viceroy, 1880–1884
- Called the father of local self-government in India
- Repealed Lytton's Vernacular Press Act (1882)
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 Which of the following British Viceroys of India launched the second Anglo–Afghan war in November 1878?
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Answer: D — Lord Lytton
Lytton (1876–80) sent troops into Afghanistan in November 1878 when Amir Sher Ali would not accept a British mission. His successor Ripon ended the war.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2021 The Vernacular Press Act, for tighter control over publication, was passed in which of the following years?
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Answer: D — 1878
Lord Lytton passed it in 1878 to control Indian-language newspapers. Indians called it the "Gagging Act". Ripon repealed it in 1882.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC LO 2015 The first Indian Factory Act was passed by:
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Answer: C — Lord Ripon
The Factory Act of 1881, under Ripon, banned factory work for children under 7. A second Act came in 1891 under Lansdowne.
Viceroys, 1899–1947, and the last Governors-General
From Curzon to Independence: the most-asked stretch.
VICEROYS OF THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE
- 1899–1905Lord Curzon
Partition of Bengal (1905); army sent into Tibet (1903); Ancient Monuments Act (1904).
- 1905–1910Lord Minto II
Muslim League founded (1906); Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) with separate electorates.
- 1910–1916Lord Hardinge II
Delhi Durbar 1911: Bengal partition cancelled; capital to move from Calcutta to Delhi.
- 1916–1921Lord Chelmsford
Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar (1919); Government of India Act 1919.
- 1921–1926Lord Reading
Non-Cooperation called off after Chauri Chaura (1922).
- 1926–1931Lord Irwin
Simon Commission; Dandi March (1930); Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931); New Delhi opened (1931).
- 1931–1936Lord Willingdon
Round Table talks; Poona Pact (1932); Government of India Act 1935.
- 1936–1943Lord Linlithgow
Longest-serving Viceroy; Second World War; Cripps Mission and Quit India (1942).
- 1943–1947Lord Wavell
Simla Conference (1945); Cabinet Mission (1946).
- Mar–Aug 1947Lord Mountbatten
Last Viceroy; 3 June Plan; Partition and Independence.
REMEMBER
One Viceroy, one event: Curzon splits Bengal, Minto separates voters, Hardinge moves to Delhi, Chelmsford sees Jallianwala, Irwin sees Dandi, Linlithgow sees Quit India, Wavell calls Simla, Mountbatten divides.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 Which of the following British Viceroys in India carried out the division of Bengal in 1905?
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Answer: B — Lord Curzon
Curzon's partition took effect on 16 October 1905. It was cancelled at the Delhi Durbar of 1911, under Hardinge II. A similar question came in PSSSB Jail Warder 2026.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 Under which of following Viceroys did the British army attack Tibet in 1903?
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Answer: D — Lord Curzon
Curzon sent Colonel Younghusband's force into Tibet in 1903; it reached Lhasa in 1904. He feared Russian influence there.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC DSSO 2018 Consider the following statements. I. Lord Mountbatten was the Viceroy when Simla Conference took place. II. Indian Navy Revolt, 1946 took place when the Indian sailors in the Royal Indian Navy at Bombay and Karachi rose against the government. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
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Answer: B — II only
The Simla Conference (June 1945) was called by Wavell; Mountbatten came only in March 1947. The naval revolt of February 1946 did begin at Bombay and spread to Karachi.
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC SEVE 2016 The plan to transfer of power to the Indians and partition of the country was laid down in the:
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Answer: D — The Mountbatten Plan
The 3 June 1947 Plan of Lord Mountbatten laid down Partition and the transfer of power. The Cabinet Mission (1946) had tried to keep India united.
Everything on one look
The name changes, the firsts and lasts, and one event each.
FIRSTS AND LASTS
- Warren Hastings: first GG of Bengal (1773 Act)
- Bentinck: first GG of India (1833 Act)
- Canning: last Company GG, first Viceroy (1858)
- Mountbatten: last Viceroy; first GG of free India
- Rajagopalachari: only Indian and last GG
- Mayo: only Viceroy killed in office (1872)
- Linlithgow: longest-serving Viceroy
ONE EVENT EACH
- Cornwallis: Permanent Settlement, 1793
- Wellesley: Subsidiary Alliance
- Bentinck: Sati banned, 1829
- Dalhousie: Punjab 1849; first railway 1853
- Lytton: Vernacular Press Act, 1878
- Ripon: local self-government, 1882
- Curzon: Partition of Bengal, 1905
COMMON TRAPS
- Warren Hastings was GG of Bengal; Bentinck was the first GG of India.
- Clive was Governor of Bengal, never Governor-General.
- Canning holds both: last Company GG and first Viceroy.
- Mountbatten was the last Viceroy, but Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General.
- Congress was founded under Dufferin (1885), not Ripon.
- Jallianwala Bagh (1919) was under Chelmsford, not Curzon.
- Simla Conference (1945) was under Wavell, not Mountbatten.
- Quit India (1942) was under Linlithgow, not Wavell.
- Capital moved to Delhi under Hardinge II (1911), not Curzon.
- Lytton passed the Vernacular Press Act; Ripon repealed it.
QUICK BYTES
- First GG of Bengal: Warren Hastings (Regulating Act 1773)
- First GG of India: William Bentinck (Charter Act 1833)
- First Viceroy: Lord Canning (1858)
- Permanent Settlement: Cornwallis, 1793
- Subsidiary Alliance: Wellesley
- Treaty of Amritsar 1809: Minto I
- Tripartite Treaty 1838: Auckland
- First Anglo-Sikh War: Hardinge I
- Punjab annexed 1849: Dalhousie
- Only Viceroy assassinated: Mayo, 1872
- Vernacular Press Act 1878: Lytton
- Factory Act 1881, local self-government 1882: Ripon
- Congress founded 1885: Dufferin
- Partition of Bengal 1905, Tibet 1903: Curzon
- Capital to Delhi 1911: Hardinge II
- Jallianwala Bagh 1919: Chelmsford
- Gandhi-Irwin Pact 1931: Irwin
- Quit India 1942: Linlithgow
- Simla Conference 1945: Wavell
- Last Viceroy: Mountbatten; last GG: Rajagopalachari
CHECK YOURSELF
Who was the last Governor-General of the Company and the first Viceroy of India?
Show answer
Lord Canning. He became Governor-General in 1856, faced the Revolt of 1857, and became the first Viceroy when the Crown took over under the Government of India Act, 1858. He served until 1862.