GK Questions and Answers on the Governors-General and viceroy of British India
The office of Governor-General was created under the Regulating Act of 1773. Here, we are giving 30 multiple choice GK Questions and Answers on the Governors Generals of British India with an explanation which will be helpful for the aspirants of the competitive exams like UPSC/PCS/SSC/CDS etc.
The office of Governor-General was created under the Regulating Act of 1773. It was the First Parliamentary Ratification, Codification, Confirmation, Justification or Authorization defines the Powers and Responsibilities of the Various Organs of the East India Company including its territorial control over Bengal. In this article, we have created 30 multiple choice GK Questions and Answers on the Governors-General and viceroy of British India, according to the evolving nature of competitive examinations
! Here are some multiple choice questions with answers and explanations on British Governor General and Viceroy
1. Who was the first Governor-General of British India?
a) Warren Hastings
b) Lord Cornwallis
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Dalhousie
- Answer: a) Warren Hastings
- Explanation: Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor-General of British India in 1773 under the Regulating Act.
2. Who introduced the subsidiary alliance in India?
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Cornwallis
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord William Bentinck
- Answer: a) Lord Wellesley
- Explanation: Lord Wellesley introduced the subsidiary alliance system in India to expand British influence and control.
3. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which Governor-General?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Hastings
d) Lord Ripon
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex princely states without a legal heir.
4. Who is known as the "Maker of Modern India"?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Dalhousie
- Answer: c) Lord William Bentinck
- Explanation: Lord William Bentinck is often referred to as the "Maker of Modern India" for his reforms, including the abolition of Sati and promotion of Western education.
5. The Indian Penal Code was drafted during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Macaulay
- Answer: d) Lord Macaulay
- Explanation: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was drafted by Thomas Babington Macaulay during Lord Macaulay's tenure as Law Member of the Governor-General's Council.
6. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Wellesley
d) Lord Curzon
- Answer: a) Lord Cornwallis
- Explanation: Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal in 1793, aiming to stabilize revenue collection by fixing land revenue.
7. The Charter Act of 1833 abolished the trading rights of the East India Company and made India a colony under the British Crown. Who was the Governor-General during this act?
a) Lord Hastings
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord William Pitt
- Answer: a) Lord Hastings
- Explanation: Lord Hastings was the Governor-General during the passing of the Charter Act of 1833.
8. Who was the Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Ellenborough
- Answer: b) Lord Canning
- Explanation: Lord Canning was the Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny or the First War of Independence.
9. Who introduced the Vernacular Press Act?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Lytton
c) Lord Ripon
d) Lord Dufferin
- Answer: b) Lord Lytton
- Explanation: Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, which aimed to control the Indian vernacular press.
10. Who was the Governor-General during the First Anglo-Afghan War?
a) Lord Auckland
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
- Answer: a) Lord Auckland
- Explanation: Lord Auckland was the Governor-General during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1839-1842.
11. Who was the Governor-General during the First Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Lord Auckland
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Ellenborough
d) Lord Hardinge
- Answer: d) Lord Hardinge
- Explanation: Lord Hardinge was the Governor-General during the First Anglo-Sikh War fought between 1845 and 1846.
12. The Ryotwari System of land revenue settlement was introduced in India by which Governor-General?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Thomas Munro
- Answer: d) Lord Thomas Munro
- Explanation: Lord Thomas Munro introduced the Ryotwari System in parts of British India, particularly in Madras Presidency.
13. Who was the Governor-General during the annexation of Awadh?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Auckland
d) Lord Ellenborough
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General during the annexation of Awadh in 1856.
14. The Indian Civil Service (ICS) was established during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Cornwallis
- Answer: d) Lord Cornwallis
- Explanation: The Indian Civil Service (ICS) was established by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 through the Charter Act.
15. Who was the Governor-General during the introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Wellesley
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord William Bentinck
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex princely states without a legal heir.
16. The first census in India was conducted during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord William Bentinck
b) Lord Ripon
c) Lord Canning
d) Lord Mayo
- Answer: b) Lord Ripon
- Explanation: The first census in India was conducted under Lord Ripon's tenure in 1871.
17. Who was the Governor-General during the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Hardinge
d) Lord Auckland
- Answer: c) Lord Hardinge
- Explanation: Lord Hardinge was the Governor-General during the Second Anglo-Sikh War fought in 1848-1849.
18. The Pitt's India Act of 1784, which established dual control over British India, was passed during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Hastings
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Warren Hastings
- Answer: d) Lord Warren Hastings
- Explanation: The Pitt's India Act of 1784 was passed during Lord Warren Hastings' tenure as Governor-General of Bengal.
19. Who was the Governor-General during the foundation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Warren Hastings
- Answer: d) Lord Warren Hastings
- Explanation: The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in 1784 during Lord Warren Hastings' tenure.
20. The Indian High Courts Act, which established High Courts in India, was enacted during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Ripon
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
- Answer: a) Lord Ripon
- Explanation: The Indian High Courts Act was enacted during Lord Ripon's tenure in 1861.
21. Who was the Governor-General during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord William Bentinck
- Answer: a) Lord Wellesley
- Explanation: Lord Wellesley was the Governor-General during the Second Anglo-Maratha War fought between 1803 and 1805.
22. The Wood's Dispatch of 1854, which laid the foundation of the modern education system in India, was implemented during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord William Bentinck
- Answer: d) Lord William Bentinck
- Explanation: The Wood's Dispatch, which recommended the establishment of a widespread system of education in India, was implemented during Lord William Bentinck's tenure.
23. Who was the Governor-General during the Third Anglo-Maratha War?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Cornwallis
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Wellesley
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General during the Third Anglo-Maratha War fought between 1817 and 1818.
24. The Permanent Settlement system introduced by Lord Cornwallis was also known as:
a) Ryotwari System
b) Zamindari System
c) Mahalwari System
d) Jagirdari System
- Answer: b) Zamindari System
- Explanation: The Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis is also known as the Zamindari System.
25. Who was the Governor-General during the annexation of Punjab?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Hardinge
d) Lord Auckland
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General during the annexation of Punjab in 1849.
26. The Doctrine of Paramountcy, asserting British control over the princely states, was formalized during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Hastings
b) Lord Wellesley
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
- Answer: c) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: The Doctrine of Paramountcy was formalized during Lord Dalhousie's tenure.
27. Who was the Governor-General during the introduction of the Telegraph system in India?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Wellesley
- Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
- Explanation: Lord Dalhousie oversaw the introduction of the Telegraph system in India in 1851.
28. The Vernacular Press Act was repealed during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Lytton
b) Lord Ripon
c) Lord Curzon
d) Lord Dufferin
- Answer: b) Lord Ripon
- Explanation: Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882 as part of his liberal policies.
29. Who was the Governor-General during the Sepoy Mutiny?
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord William Bentinck
- Answer: a) Lord Canning
- Explanation: Lord Canning was the Governor-General during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
30. The Regulating Act of 1773 was implemented during the tenure of which Governor-General?
a) Lord Warren Hastings
b) Lord Cornwallis
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Dalhousie
- Answer: a) Lord Warren Hastings
- Explanation: The Regulating Act of 1773 was implemented during the tenure of Lord Warren Hastings as the first Governor-General of Bengal.
