Governor Generals/Viceroys: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
11 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Governors-General and Viceroys are on this page, from 1996 to 2010. UPSC tests which ruler brought which measure: the Covenanted Civil Service, the Vernacular Press Act and its repeal, the Forward Policy and the suppression of thugs. The explanations name the ruler and the year.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 1996Modern History · Governor Generals/Viceroys
Q11. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer
List-I
List-II
A. Governor-General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (under Regulating Act, 1773)
1. Archibald Percival Wavell, Viscount and Earl Wavell
B. Governor-General of India (under Charter Act, 1833)
2. James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, Earl and Marquess of Dalhousie
C. Governor-General and Viceroy of India (under Indian Council Act, 1858)
3. Charles Cornwallis 2nd Earl and first Marquess of Cornwallis
D. Governor-General and Crown Representative (under Government of India Act, 1935)
4. Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, Earl of Minto
5. Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Explanation
Governor-General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (under Regulating Act, 1773): This title refers to the position created by the Regulating Act of 1773, with Warren Hastings as the first appointee. However, in this case, Lord Cornwallis (Charles Cornwallis) is relevant because of his significant tenure under the same title. Governor-General of India (under Charter Act, 1833):
The Charter Act of 1833 centralized administration and established the title of Governor-General of India, with Lord William Bentinck being the first. In this context, Lord Dalhousie (James Andrew Broun-Ramsay), a later Governor-General, aligns with this description. Governor-General and Viceroy of India (under Indian Council Act, 1858): The Indian Council Act of 1858 replaced the East India Company’s rule with direct Crown governance. Lord Canning was the first to hold this dual role. The relevant entry in the list is Lord Minto (Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound). Governor-General and Crown Representative (under Government of India Act, 1935): This Act retained the Governor-General as the Crown’s representative in India. The relevant figure here is Lord Wavell (Archibald Percival Wavell), although Lord Mountbatten succeeded him shortly before independence.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
1996
(a) A-3; B-2; C-4;D-1
What UPSC has tested in Governor Generals/Viceroys
Cornwallis created the Covenanted Civil Service of India, later the Indian Civil Service.
Lord Canning was Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857.
The Vernacular Press Act (1878) was passed under Lytton and repealed by Ripon; it is not associated with Curzon.
Lord Lytton followed a spirited Forward Policy towards Afghanistan.
Captain Sleeman is associated with the suppression of thugs during Bentinck’s time.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Governor Generals/Viceroys?
This page covers 11 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Governor Generals/Viceroys (Modern History), asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Who repealed the Vernacular Press Act?
Lord Ripon, in 1882. The Act, passed in 1878 under Lord Lytton, restricted the Indian-language press, and its repeal was part of Ripon’s liberal policies, which also included local self-government and the Ilbert Bill.
Who was the Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857?
Lord Canning, who became the first Viceroy of India when the Crown took over from the East India Company after the Government of India Act of 1858 and issued Queen Victoria’s Proclamation.
Who created the Covenanted Civil Service of India?
Lord Cornwallis, Governor-General from 1786 to 1793, who organised the Company’s civil servants into a regular service with fixed salaries, which later evolved into the Indian Civil Service.
