Governor Generals/Viceroys: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)

Explanation

The Covenanted Civil Service of India, later known as the Indian Civil Service, was created by Lord Cornwallis during his tenure as Governor-General (1786-1793). He reorganized India’s administration, introducing a system where British recruits were sent to India as high-paid administrators with various privileges. Civil Services in British India were classified as covenanted and uncovenanted services on the basis of the nature of work, pay-scales and appointing authority.

Explanation

The Revolt of 1857 was a major upheaval against the British Rule in India which is also called as "sepoy mutiny". The revolt started at Meerut(Uttar Pradesh). John Lawrence called it a sepoy mutiny.

Option (a) is correct: Lord Canning (1856-62) was the Governor-General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Establishment of three universities at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857 and enactment of Indian Councils Act of 1861 also happened during Canning’s time. Transfer of control from East India Company to the Crown through the Government of India Act, 1858 and ‘White Mutiny’ by European troops in 1859 were other notable events during his tenure as Governor General.

Explanation

The Vernacular Press Act was enacted in 1878 by Lord Lytton to curb the growing influence of Indian-language newspapers that were critical of British rule. It imposed strict controls on the press, particularly targeting vernacular (Indian-language) publications. However, Lord Ripon, who succeeded Lytton as Viceroy, repealed the Act in 1882, marking a significant step towards promoting press freedom and reducing colonial censorship in India.

Explanation

Pair (a) is correctly matched: Pitt’s India Act (1784) was introduced during Warren Hastings’ tenure as the Governor-General of India. Pair (b) is correctly matched: The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the British Governor-General of India, as a policy to annex Indian states whose rulers died without a male heir. Pair (c) is incorrectly matched: The Vernacular Press Act (1878) was passed by Lord Lytton, not Lord Curzon. It was aimed at curbing nationalist sentiments expressed in vernacular language newspapers. Pair (d) is correctly matched: The Ilbert Bill (1883), introduced by Lord Ripon, was an attempt to allow Indian judges to try European criminals in India. It faced strong opposition from the British community in India and was later modified, but marked a significant step towards equality in the judicial system.

Explanation

Lord Curzon served as Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. He is known for Partition of Bengal, 1905 - divided Bengal into two provinces, igniting widespread nationalist protests and the Swadeshi Movement. Lord Hardinge served as the Viceroy from 1910 to 1916. He was responsible for the shift of the British Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, symbolizing British imperial authority. Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy from 1916 to 1921. He is known for the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 1919 happening during his tenure - British troops fired on unarmed civilians in Amritsar, leading to national outrage and intensified independence demands. Lord Irwin’s tenure as Viceroy lasted from 1926 to 1931. He is known for Gandhi-Irwin Pact(1931), which was an agreement between Gandhi and Irwin that ended the Civil Disobedience Movement’s first phase and facilitated Gandhi’s participation in the Round Table Conference.

Explanation

A is matched with 2: Lord Macdonald was responsible for the Communal Award in 1932, which introduced separate electorates for different communities. B is matched with 3: Lord Linlithgow is associated with the August Offer (1940), which was a British offer to India’s political leaders during World War II to gain support. C is matched with 1: Lord Dalhousie is known for implementing the Doctrine of Lapse in the 1840s, which allowed the British to annex Indian princely states if a ruler died without a male heir. D is matched with 4: Lord Chelmsford is associated with the introduction of Dyarchy through the Government of India Act 1919, which divided the government into areas of central and provincial responsibilities.

Explanation

The Forward policy was a set of foreign policies that aimed to extend British control and influence in the region, especially towards Afghanistan and Central Asia. It was adopted during Viceroyalty of Lord Lytton (1876-1880) in India. The policy involved securing control of targeted territories through invasion, annexation, or by creating compliant buffer states. Other notable events that took place during his tenure as Viceroy include Great Indian Famine, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act.

Explanation

Lord Wellesley ensured British dominance in India.

Serving as Governor-General from 1798 to 1805, Wellesley was known for his aggressive expansionist policies. He implemented the Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance, signed treaties with Indian states, and pursued territorial acquisition, greatly expanding British control over India amidst European turmoil. Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary alliance system was applied for taking over the administration of Tanjore and Carnatic. He also concluded the Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the Peshwas.

Explanation

The statement is attributed to Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. This remark reflects his deep opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC) and his belief in maintaining British control over India. Appointment of Police Commission (1902) under Sir Andrew Frazer to review police administration, Partition of Bengal (1905) and curbing press freedom through Official Secrets Act (1904) were other instances of Lord Curzon’s suppressing acts during his tenure. While Curzon believed his policies would weaken the Congress, many of his actions galvanized the nationalist movement instead. The backlash led to the Swadeshi Movement and laid the groundwork for a more united and organized fight for Indian independence.

Explanation

Thugs were a secret criminal network in India, active between the 14th to the 19th century, known for their ritualistic strangulation of travelers to rob them. Captain William Henry Sleeman was a British officer in India who played a key role in the suppression of the Thuggee cult in the early 19th century. He was appointed during Lord William Bentick’s tenure, during Lord William Bentinck’s tenure (1828-1835). He led several successful campaigns against the thugs, and his efforts led to the eventual dismantling of the organization.