List of Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India (1773–1950) MCQ & Notes for UPSC, SSC

List of Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India (1773–1950): MCQ & Notes for UPSC, SSC

The list of Viceroys of India and Governor-Generals is one of the most frequently tested static GK topics in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Railways and State PSC exams. Questions typically link a ruler's name to the act that created or changed the post, or to a major event of their tenure — from the Regulating Act of 1773 to the transfer of power in 1947. This guide gives you the complete, exam-ready list of Governor-Generals of Bengal, Governor-Generals of India and Viceroys of India, the key acts and events of each tenure, followed by 10 practice MCQs with answers.

First Governor-General of Bengal vs First Governor-General of India vs First Viceroy — Quick Clarification

This is the single most confused fact in the topic, so get it clear first:

• First Governor-General of Bengal: Warren Hastings (1773–1785), created by the Regulating Act, 1773.
• First Governor-General of India: Lord William Bentinck (1833–1835), when the Charter Act of 1833 elevated the post from "Governor-General of Bengal" to "Governor-General of India."
• First Viceroy of India: Lord Canning (1858–1862), when the Government of India Act, 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown and added the title "Viceroy."
• First (and only) Indian Governor-General of independent India: C. Rajagopalachari (1948–1950); Lord Mountbatten was the first Governor-General after independence (1947–1948).

Governor-Generals of Bengal (1773–1833)

• Warren Hastings (1773–1785) — First Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act, 1773; Pitt's India Act, 1784 was passed in his tenure, introducing dual control (Company + Crown Board of Control).
• Sir John Macpherson (1785–1786, acting)
• Lord Cornwallis (1786–1793) — Introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal (1793) and the Cornwallis Code separating executive and judiciary.
• Sir John Shore (1793–1798) — Followed a policy of strict non-intervention in Indian states.
• Lord Wellesley (1798–1805) — Introduced the Subsidiary Alliance system, greatly expanding Company territory.
• Sir George Barlow (1805–1807, acting)
• Lord Minto I (1807–1813) — Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with Ranjit Singh.
• Lord Hastings / Marquess of Hastings (1813–1823) — Third Anglo-Maratha War; Anglo-Nepal War ended by the Treaty of Sugauli (1816).
• Lord Amherst (1823–1828) — First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26).
• Lord William Bentinck (1828–1833 as Governor-General of Bengal) — Abolished Sati (1829) with the help of Raja Ram Mohan Roy; suppressed Thuggee.

Governor-Generals of India (1833–1858)

• Lord William Bentinck (1833–1835) — First Governor-General of India (Charter Act, 1833); English Education Act / Macaulay's Minute (1835) made English the medium of higher education.
• Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835–1836, acting) — Known as the "liberator of the Indian press" for lifting press restrictions.
• Lord Auckland (1836–1842) — First Anglo-Afghan War (1838–42).
• Lord Ellenborough (1842–1844) — Annexation of Sindh (1843).
• Lord Hardinge I (1844–1848) — First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46).
• Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856) — Introduced the Doctrine of Lapse; India's first railway line (Bombay–Thane, 1853) and first telegraph line; Widow Remarriage Act, 1856.
• Lord Canning (1856–1858 as Governor-General) — The Revolt of 1857 broke out during his tenure.

Viceroys of India (1858–1947)

• Lord Canning (1858–1862) — First Viceroy; Government of India Act, 1858; Indian Councils Act, 1861 introduced Indians into legislative councils.
• Lord Elgin I (1862–1863)
• Sir John Lawrence (1864–1869)
• Lord Mayo (1869–1872) — Only Viceroy assassinated in office (in the Andaman Islands).
• Lord Northbrook (1872–1876)
• Lord Lytton (1876–1880) — Vernacular Press Act, 1878; Arms Act, 1878; Delhi Durbar, 1877 (Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India).
• Lord Ripon (1880–1884) — Known as the "father of local self-government" (Resolution of 1882); repealed the Vernacular Press Act; the Ilbert Bill controversy.
• Lord Dufferin (1884–1888) — The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 during his tenure.
• Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894) — Indian Councils Act, 1892; Factory Act, 1891.
• Lord Elgin II (1894–1899)
• Lord Curzon (1899–1905) — Partition of Bengal, 1905; Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904; Police Commission.
• Lord Minto II (1905–1910) — Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms), introduced separate electorates; All India Muslim League founded, 1906.
• Lord Hardinge II (1910–1916) — Delhi Durbar, 1911; capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi; annulment of the Partition of Bengal.
• Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921) — Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms); Rowlatt Act, 1919; Jallianwala Bagh massacre, 1919.
• Lord Reading (1921–1926) — Chauri Chaura incident and withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement (1922).
• Lord Irwin (1926–1931) — Simon Commission's visit to India (1928); Civil Disobedience Movement and Dandi March (1930); Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
• Lord Willingdon (1931–1936) — Round Table Conferences; Communal Award and Poona Pact (1932).
• Lord Linlithgow (1936–1943) — Longest-serving Viceroy; Government of India Act, 1935 implemented; August Offer (1940); Cripps Mission (1942); Quit India Movement, 1942.
• Lord Wavell (1943–1947) — Bengal Famine (1943); Wavell Plan / Shimla Conference (1945); Cabinet Mission (1946).
• Lord Mountbatten (1947–1948) — Last Viceroy; Mountbatten Plan and the Indian Independence Act, 1947 led to Partition and independence.

Governor-Generals of Independent India (1947–1950)

• Lord Mountbatten (Aug 1947 – Jun 1948) — First Governor-General of independent India.
• C. Rajagopalachari (Jun 1948 – Jan 1950) — First and only Indian Governor-General; the post was abolished when India became a republic on 26 January 1950.

Key Acts Linked to Governor-Generals and Viceroys

• Regulating Act, 1773 → created the post of Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings).
• Pitt's India Act, 1784 → Warren Hastings; dual control system.
• Charter Act, 1833 → Lord William Bentinck; post renamed Governor-General of India.
• Charter Act, 1853 → Lord Dalhousie; separated legislative and executive functions.
• Government of India Act, 1858 → Lord Canning; Crown rule begins, post renamed Viceroy.
• Indian Councils Act, 1861 / 1892 / 1909 → Canning / Lansdowne / Minto II.
• Government of India Act, 1919 → Lord Chelmsford; Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
• Government of India Act, 1935 → Lord Willingdon (passed) / implemented under Lord Linlithgow.
• Indian Independence Act, 1947 → Lord Mountbatten.

Why This Topic Matters for UPSC, SSC Exams

Static GK questions on Governor-Generals and Viceroys are asked almost every year in SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, Railways NTPC and UPSC Prelims — usually matching a ruler to an act, a social reform, or a landmark event (INC formation, Bengal Partition, Jallianwala Bagh, Quit India). Learning the list chronologically, alongside the one key event per tenure, is the fastest way to lock in marks on this topic.

List of Viceroys of India MCQ — Practice Questions

Q1. Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal?
A. Lord Cornwallis B. Warren Hastings C. Lord Wellesley D. Lord William Bentinck
Answer: B. Warren Hastings

Q2. The post of "Governor-General of India" was created for the first time by which act?
A. Regulating Act, 1773 B. Charter Act, 1833 C. Charter Act, 1853 D. Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: B. Charter Act, 1833

Q3. Who was the first Viceroy of India?
A. Lord Dalhousie B. Lord Canning C. Lord Curzon D. Lord Ripon
Answer: B. Lord Canning

Q4. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 during the tenure of which Viceroy?
A. Lord Ripon B. Lord Dufferin C. Lord Lansdowne D. Lord Curzon
Answer: B. Lord Dufferin

Q5. The Partition of Bengal (1905) was carried out during the Viceroyalty of:
A. Lord Minto II B. Lord Curzon C. Lord Hardinge II D. Lord Lytton
Answer: B. Lord Curzon

Q6. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) took place during the tenure of which Viceroy?
A. Lord Chelmsford B. Lord Reading C. Lord Irwin D. Lord Hardinge II
Answer: A. Lord Chelmsford

Q7. The Quit India Movement (1942) was launched during the Viceroyalty of:
A. Lord Wavell B. Lord Linlithgow C. Lord Willingdon D. Lord Mountbatten
Answer: B. Lord Linlithgow

Q8. Who was the last Viceroy of India?
A. Lord Wavell B. Lord Mountbatten C. Lord Linlithgow D. Lord Irwin
Answer: B. Lord Mountbatten

Q9. Who was the first and only Indian Governor-General of India?
A. Lord Mountbatten B. Dr. Rajendra Prasad C. C. Rajagopalachari D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: C. C. Rajagopalachari

Q10. The Doctrine of Lapse is associated with which Governor-General?
A. Lord Dalhousie B. Lord Canning C. Lord William Bentinck D. Lord Auckland
Answer: A. Lord Dalhousie

Practice More on Modern Indian History

Reinforce this era with the free Formation of Indian National Congress quiz on FreePrep — directly linked to Lord Dufferin's tenure above — and attempt today's free daily quiz for a mix of current affairs and history questions.

Sources: Governor-General of India — Wikipedia; Government of India Acts — Britannica