Important Development During Governor-Generals
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Lord Viscount CanNing (February, 1856-Oc-Tober, 1858)
- Press Act and Arms act, Indian Penal Code, CPC and Universities in Presidencies.
- In 1856, war with Persia took place.
- Outbreak of 1857 Mutiny.
- In 1858, the proclamation of Queen Victoria.
Lord Viscount CanNing (November 1,1858-March, 1862)
- Indigo disputes took place in Bengal in 1859 and White Mutiny took place.
- Enactment of Indian Penal Code.
- In 1861, Indian Councils Act
- In 1861, enactment of Code of criminal Procedure.
- In 1861, the enactment of the Indian High Courts Act and famine took place in North-western Provinces.
Lord Elgin and Kincardine I (March, 1862-November, 1863)
- Inauguration of High Court judicature in Bengal
- conferment of first M. A degree from the Calcutta University
- Transfer of Indian Navy to Admiralty
- Ambala campaign of NWFP.
- Amalgamation of the Supreme Court and Sadr Courts.into High Courts.
- Death of Dost Muhammad and Afghan war of succession started in 1863.
- Ambala Campaign started in 1863.
Sir Lord Napier (OffiCiating) (November, 1863-December, 1863)
Sir William T Denison (Officiating) (DeCember, 1863-January, 1864)
Sir John Lawerence (January, 1864-January, 1868)
- Scholarship Scheme was introduced;
- War with Bhutan in 1864;
- Indo-European Telegraph from Karachi, Persia and Turkey in 1865.
- Famine Commission
- Masterly Inactivity Policy was followed.
- In 1865, the famine took place in Orissa and telegraphic communication with Europe opened.
- In 1868, the Punjab Tenancy Act.
- In 1868, annual grant of six lakhs of rupees to Sher Ali, Amir of Afghanistan and Railway opened from Ambala to Delhi.
- Achieved breakthrough in expansion.
Earl of Mayo (JanuAry, 1869-February, 1872)
- In 1869, Suez Canal was opened.
- Ambala Conference with Sher Ali.
- In 1870, LordMayo՚s first Provincial settlement
- Wahabi and Kuka movement was active
- Afghanistan was created as Buffer state
- Cardinal principle of State policy - thee peripheral policy.
- In 1872, Mayo was murdered.
Sir John Strachey (OfFiciating) (February, 1872-February, 1872)
Lord Napier of MercMstoun (Officiating) (February, 1872-May, 1872)
Earl of Northbrook (May, 1872-April, 1876)
- In 1872, Kuka Revolt took place.
- In 1873, the Simla Conference and a famine took place in Bihar.
- Gaekwad of Baroda was deposed and Prince of Wales in 1875.
Baron (Earl Of) Lytton (April, 1876-June, 1880)
- In 1876, Treaty with Kalat took place and famine took place in Deccan.
- Statutory Civil Services
- Imperial Darbar in 1877 -mark the assumption of the title of Empress of India by Queen Victoria and famine took place in North India.
- Proposed to constitute Imperial Privy Council -comprising of Princes
- Vernacular Act, March, 1878, Arms Act 1878 repealed and Factory act was finalized
- Lowering age of civil services to 19 only.
- In 1878, Stolietoff՚s mission was sent to Kabul and Indian troops sent to Malta.
- Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 and flight in Sher Ali.
- In 1879, Treaty of Gandammak - murder of Cavagnari - abdication of Yakub.
- The Provincial Government was given the control of the expenditure upon all ordinary provincial services including land revenue, excise, stamps, law and justice and general administration.
- Sir John Strachey, the finance member of the viceroy council tried to equalize the rates of salt duties in the British provinces
- The Famine of 1876 - 1878
- The British Parliament passed the Royal Titles Act, investing Queen Victoria with thee title of Kaiser - i -Hind or Queen empress of India.
Marquess of Ripon (June, 1880-December, 1884)
- Battle of Maiwand; Robert՚s march to Kandhar and Abdur Rahman recognised as Amir of Kabul.
- He became Secretary of India 1866 - 68
- Repealed the Vernacular Press Act, 1882
- First Factory Act 1881
- Financial Decentralization; the source of revenue was divided into three: Imperial, Provincial and Divided
- Resolution on Self-Government in 1882 called father of local self government.
- Modified Permanent Settlement
- Appointed Hunter Commission in 1882 to review the education.
- Sir C. P. Ilbert was law member of the Viceroy Council, introduced a Bill on 2nd February, 1883, the Bill sought to abolish at once and completely every judicial disqualification based merely on racial discrimination.
- Restored Mysore.
- In 1883, Famine Code formulated.
Earl of Dufferin (DeCember, 1884-December, 1888)
- In 1885, two Acts passed
- Bengal Tenancy Act
- Bengal Local Self-Government Act.
- Third Anglo-Burmese War started in 1885.
- In 1886, Upper Burma was annexed and delimitation of Afghan Northern boundary took place.
- Hospitals with modern facilities
- Allahabad University was incorporated
- Aitchison Committee
Marquess of Lansdowne (December, 1888-January, 1894)
- In 1888, Hazara punitive expedition took place.
- In 1889, abdication of the Maharaja of Kashmir took place.
- Prince of Wales՚s second visit in 1889
- In 1891, Factory Act was passed.
- In 1891, military expedition against Manipur was conducted.
- In 1892, the Indian Councils Act passed.
- In 1893, the Durand Mission was sent to Kabul.
Earl of Eligin H (JanuAry, 1894- January 6,1898)
- In 1895, the Chitral expedition took place and the Russo-Afghan Frontier was settled.
- In 1896, famine took place all over India.
- In 1897, plague broke out at Bombay.
Lord Curzon (JanuAry, 1899-April, 1904)
Lord Ampthill (OfficiAting) (April, 1904-Decem-Ber, 1904)
Lord Curzon (DecemBer, 1904-November, 1905) (Re-Appointed)
- NWFP was created in 1900.
- Punjab Land Alienation Act 1901
- In 1901, death of Queen Victoria and Habibullah becomes Amir of Afghanistan.
- Coronation Darbar 1903 marked the accession of Edward Fraser
- University Act, 1904
- Bengal partition, 1905
- Ancient Monument Preservation Act, 1904
- Imperial Agricultural Department was set up.
- Calcutta Corporation Act 1899
- Police Reforms - 1902 - 03 under Andrew Frazer
- A Famine Commission was appointed under the Chairmanship of Sir Anthony Macdonnell.
- In 1901 a Commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Colin Scott Moncrieff to investigate into the whole question of irrigation.
- A new Department of Commerce and Industry was established.
- The Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Act, 1899.
- Thomas Robertson was invited to restructure Railways; resigned after Kitchner controversy.
- In 1904, expedition against Tibet sent.
- In 1900, famine took place and North-West Frontier Province formed.
Earl of Minto H (NoVember, 1905 - 1910)
- On 16fh October, 1906, partition of Bengal came into force.
- In 1906, Foundation stone of Victoria Memorial Hall laid at Calcutta.
- In October, 1906, Arundel Committee on political reforms submitted its report.
- In 1906, Lord Minto received the Muslim deputation headed by Aga Khan.
- In 1907, Indian Decentralization Committee appointed.
- On May, 11,1907, the Seditious Meeting Act passed
- On June 8,1908, two Acts passed (a) Explosives Substances Act passed and (b) Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act.
- 1910: Press Act was passed.
- In 1910, Department of Education under a separate
- member of the Viceroy՚s Executive Council established.
- On June 22,1910, coronation of George V
Baron Hardinge of Pensnurst 1910 - 1916
- Capital shifted to Delhi; Delhi Darbar on 12th December, 1911; Partition repealed.
- On 23rd December, 1911, bomb thrown at Lord Hardinge.
- In 1912, Delhi was made a province.
- In 1912, Islington Commission on civil services constituted.
- In 1913, Indian Criminal Law Amendment was passed.
- In 1914, Forest Research Institute and College opened at Dehra Dun.
- In 1914, Government Commercial Institute, Calcutta, and Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Bombay was founded.
- On 29th September, Kamagata Maru arrives at Budge-Budge.
- In 1915, Indian Independence Committee formed in Germany.
- In 1916,
- Saddler Committee on Universities appointed;
- BHU was founded;
- Indian Institute of Philosophy was established in Amalner.
- On 20th June, 1920, Women University was founded in Poona.
- Human sacrifice practised by Khonds was abolished.
- On 28th, April, 1916, Tilak founded Indian Home Rule League.
Baron Chelmsford 1916 - 1921
- September, 1916, Home Rule League was formally inaugurated by Besant.
- July, 1917, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, was founded.
- July, 1917 Austen Chamberlain resigns and succeeded by Montagu as Secretary of
- State for India.
- November, 1917, J. C. Bose founded Bose Research Institute.
- On 10th November, Rowlatt (Sedition) Committee appointed and submitted its report in April, 1918.
- Lahore High Court founded in 1919.
- 5th May, 1919, Third Afghan War started.
- 8th August, 1919, Treaty of peace signed with Afghanistan at Rawalpindi.
- In 1920, Aligarh Muslim University was founded.
- In 1920, Central Advisory Board on Education was founded
- October, 1920, Esher Committee on military submitted its report.
- November, 1920, Shiromani Gurdwara Committee was formed.
- In 1921, Shea Committee appointed to prepare a scheme for the complete Indianization of the officers in the Indian army.
- In 1921, Construction of the Victoria Memorial Hall in Calcutta completed except for the four corner cupolas which were put up in 1934.
- On 17th November, 1921, Prince of Wales lands in Bombay.
Earl of Reading 1921 - 25
- Visvabharati University started by Rabindranath Tagore.
- October, 1923, Hari Singh Gaur՚s modified Civil Marriage Bill passed.
- In 1924, Lee Commission on civil services submitted its report.
- In 1925, Devdasi system was abolished by an Act.
- On June, 1925, Indian Sandhurst (also known as Skeen) Committee was appointed on the employment of Indians in the army.
- On 9th August, 1925, train robbery at Kakori.
- On 22nd August, 1925, V. J. Patel elected the first Indian President of the Legislative Assembly.
Lord Lytton II (OfficiAting) 1925
Lord Irwin 1926 - 1931
- In 1926, Indian School of Mines opened at Dhanbad.
- In 1927, Sadanand starts the Free Press of India News Agency.
- Royal Commission on Agriculture was constituted in 1927.
- On 3rd February, 1928, Simon Commission arrives in Bombay.
- In 1929, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research set up.
- 20th March, 1929,31 members of Communist party arrested in the Meerut Conspiracy case.
- 29th March, 1929, Jinnah formulated 14 points.
- 8th April, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshvar Datta drop bombs in the Legislative Assembly.
- 31st October, 1929, Lord Irwin announced that the goal of the British policy was the attainment of Dominion Status by India.
- 12th March, 1930, Gandhiji started his Dandi March
- 18th April, 1930, Chittagong armoury raid
- 7th June, 1930, Simon Commission report published.
- 12th November, 1930, the First Round Table Conference (RTC) inaugurated by George V and continued upto 19th January, 1931.
- 17th February, 1931, Gandhi-Irwin talks begin and concluded on 5th March.
- 29th August, 1931, Gandhiji left for London to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
- 7th September, 1931, Second Round Table Conference started.
- 12th September, 1931, Gandhi arrives in London.
Earl of Willingdon 1931 - 34
- 1st December, 1931, Ramsay MacDonald announces the decision to constitute NWFP into a Governor՚s province and Sindh was made a separate province.
- 28th December, 1931, Gandhi arrived in Bombay.
- 16th August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald announced communal award and on 24th September, 1932, the Poona pact was signed.
- 7th November to 24th December, 1932, the Third Round Table Conference took place.
- 16th January, 1934, earthquake in Bihar.
Sir George Stanley (Officiating) 1934
Marquess of Linlithgow 1934 - 1936
- 19th December, 1934, India Government Bill was introduced in the Parliament; and on 2nd August, 1935 passed by the British parliament and on 4th August, 1935 got royal assent.
- June, 1935, Rahmat Ali talks about formation of Pakistan
Marquess of Linlithgow 1936 - 37
- June 1937, A. Abbott and S. H. Wood submit their report on technical education in India.
- October, 1937, Gandhi formulated Wardha Educational Scheme.
Baron Brabourne (OfFiciating) 1938
Marquess of Linlithgow 1938 - 1943
- August 18 - 22,1940, Congress rejected August offer
- 17th October-17th December, 1940, Individual Civil Disobedience Movement.
- 23rd March, 1942 - 10th April, 1942, Cripps Mission
- 23rd April, 1942, C. Rajagopalachari Formula proposed.
- 7th August, 1942, Congress session started in Bombay and on 11th August, 1942, the Quit India Movement started.
Lord Wavell 1943 - 1947
- 25th June, 1945, Simla Conference begins.
- 28th January, 1946, Wavell announces Government՚s intention to set up an Executive Council of political leaders.
- 18th February, 1946, Mutiny of the Indian naval ratings in Bombay.
- 15th March, 1946, Attlee announces the Cabinet Mission; Cabinet Mission arrives in Delhi on 24th March, 1946.
- 6th August, 1946, Wavell invites Nehru to form an Interim Government.
- 16th August, 1946, Muslim League begins the ‘Direct Action Day’ .
- 9th December, 1946, Constituent Assembly meets at New Delhi.
- 5th January, 1947, All- India Congress Committee accepts Provincial Grouping under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
- 20th February, 1947, Attlee announces end of British rule in India.
Lord Mountbatten 1947 - 48
- Sworn in as Viceroy on 24th March, 1947.
- 2nd June, 1947, Mountbatten Plan was announced.
- 4th June, 1947, Mountbatten announces transfer of power on August 15th.
- 4th July, 1947, India independence Bill was introduced in the House of Commons.
- 6th July referendum took place in NWFP, boycotted by Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
- 11th August, 1947, Constituent Assembly of Pakistan meets and elects Jinnah as President.
- On 15th August, 1947, Independence.
C. Rajagopalachari 1948 - 1950
Secretary of States
- Charles Wood was the first SECRETARY OF STATES
- Paterick Lawrence was the last secretary of states.