Understanding the role of British administrators in India is essential to grasp how colonial rule evolved over time. From early trade-based control to full political dominance, British policies were shaped largely by the actions of Governors, Governor-Generals, and later Viceroys. This blog provides a clear and structured overview of their contributions, reforms, and impact.
🔹 Early Administration & Reforms
Robert Clive
- Civil Reforms:
- Banned gifts to officials
- Restricted private trade
- Military Reforms:
- Ended double allowance (batta) for soldiers
- Allowed only outside Bengal & Bihar (after 1766)
🔹 Warren Hastings (1772–1785)
Key Reforms:
- Ended Dual Government in Bengal (1772)
- Treasury shifted: Murshidabad → Calcutta
- Introduced trial-and-error revenue system
- Became first Governor-General (Regulating Act 1773)
Contributions:
- Started Diwani & Faujdari court system
- Associated with Ring Fence Policy
- Founded Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784)
Important:
- Faced Impeachment (1788–1795) but acquitted
🔹 Lord Cornwallis (1786–1793)
Major Reforms:
- Cornwallis Code (1793) → Based on Separation of Powers
- Separated:
- Revenue
- Judiciary
Judicial Changes:
- Collector lost judicial powers
- District judges given authority
- Created hierarchical court system
Other Contributions:
- Introduced Civil Services
- Replaced Indian judges with Europeans in higher courts
🔹 British Expansion Policies
- Equality Policy (1740–1765)
- Ring Fence Policy (1765–1813)
- Subordinate Isolation (1813–1857)
- Subordinate Union (1858–1935)
- Equal Federation (1935–1947)
🔹 Lord Wellesley (1798–1805)
Subsidiary Alliance System:
- Indian states accepted British protection
- Paid through:
- Money or land revenue
Key Treaty:
- Treaty of Bassein
- First Maratha to accept alliance
Expansion:
- Hyderabad, Mysore, Awadh, Marathas joined
🔹 Lord William Bentinck (1828–1835)
Social Reforms:
- Abolished Sati
- Worked against:
- Female infanticide
- Social evils
Administrative:
- Policy of non-intervention
- Annexed:
- Mysore (1831)
- Coorg (1834)
Important:
- Charter Act 1833 → Centralized administration
- Suppressed Thuggee (Captain Sleeman)
🔹 Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856)
Policies:
- Doctrine of Lapse
- Annexed: Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur etc.
Modernization:
- Introduced Railways (1853: Bombay–Thane)
- Started:
- Public Works Department
- Telegraph & Postal systems
Annexation:
- Awadh annexed (1856) on maladministration grounds
🔹 Lord Canning (1856–1862)
Important Event:
- Queen’s Proclamation
- Ended East India Company rule
- India under British Crown
🔹 Key Wars & Policies
- Anglo-Nepal War → Treaty of Sugauli
- Anglo-Afghan Wars:
- 1st: Lord Auckland
- 2nd: Lord Lytton
- Masterly Inactivity Policy:
- Linked to Lord Ellenborough and John Lawrence
🔹 Later Viceroys & Reforms
Lord Ripon (1880–1884)
- Known as Father of Local Self-Government
- Factory Act 1881
- Supported Indians (pro-Indian policies)
Lord Curzon (1899–1905)
- Strengthened Archaeological Survey of India
- Passed Ancient Monuments Act (1904)
Lord Minto II & John Morley
- Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)
- Introduced separate electorate
Lord Hardinge II
- Capital shifted: Calcutta → Delhi (1911)
- Annulled Partition of Bengal
🔹 Other Important Points
- Slavery abolished fully by 1843
- First Census: 1872 (Lord Mayo)
- Proper Census: 1881 (Lord Ripon)
- Vernacular Press Act (1878): During Lord Lytton
📌 Quick Memory Tips
- Clive → Foundation reforms
- Hastings → Administration setup
- Cornwallis → Judiciary + Civil services
- Wellesley → Expansion (Subsidiary Alliance)
- Bentinck → Social reforms
- Dalhousie → Annexation + Railways
- Canning → Crown Rule begins
FAQs
1. Consider the correct statements:
1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal.
2. William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.
Ans :- Both are correct
2. Consider the chronological events:
1. Clive’s re-arrival in India
2. Treaty of Allahabad
3. Battle of Buxar
4. Warren Hastings became governor of Bengal in 1772, and became the governor general of Bengal in 1774.
Ans 3 1 2 4
3. Which statements is true?
(a) The foundation of the system of civil administration, was firmly laid down by Warren Hastings on which the superstructure was raised by Cornwallis.
(b) Clive was responsible for reforming the East India Company’s Civil and Military Services.
(c) Lord Dalhousie added rich milestones to the British Empire on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
Ans. All of the above
4. Who was the founder of Empire in India :- Lord Clive
5. Who led the ‘Banaras Rebellion’ against the Britishers :- Raja Chet Singh
6. At the time of the establishment of Asiatic Society in Calcutta, who was the Governor-General of Bengal :- Lord Warren Hastings
7. The policy of ‘Security cell’ is related with :- Warren Hastings
8. ‘Ring Fence’ policy is associated with :- Warren Hastings
9. Who abolished ‘Dual Government’ system in Bengal :- Warren Hastings
10. The dual system of governance in Bengal was enforced by :– Robert Clive
11. Which Governor- General was prosecuted for impeachment :- Warren Hastings
12. Who was prosecuted for impeachment by the British Parliament :- Sir John Shore
13. The revolt of Vellore occur during the regime of which Governor :- Sir George Barlow
14. Who established the judicial organization in India :- Lord Cornwallis
15. Which Governor-Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service :- Cornwallis
16. The enforcement of the Public Service was done in :- tenure of Cornwallis
17. In the second half of 18th century, who was often called the local representative of “Aura and Authority of Company Bahadur” :- Daroga
18. The Tomb of Lord Cornwallis is situated at :- Ghazipur
19. Which statements apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?
(a) To maintain a large standing army at other’s expense
(b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
(c) the ruler of the allying state was compelled to accept the permanent stationing of a British force within his territory and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance.
(d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
Ans :- All of the above
20. First Maratha Sardar to accept the subsidiary alliance of Lord Wellesley was :- Peshwa Bajirao- II
21. Between whom was the ‘Treaty of Bassein ‘ signed in 1802 :- English and Bajirao- II
22. The first Indian ruler who joined the Subsidiary Alliance was :– The Nawab of Oudh(1765)
23. Subsidiary Alliance was implemented during the reign of :- Lord Wellesley
24. The Subsidiary Alliance was accepted by – Hyderabad (1798 and 1800), Mysore (1799), Tanjore (1799), Awadh (1801), Peshwa (1802), Bhonsle of Berar (1803), Sindhiya (1804), Holkar (1818), Jodhpur, Jaipur, Macheri, Bundi and Bharatpur etc.
25. Who was the first state to join Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance :- Nizam of Hyderabad (1798)
26. which concluded the subsidiary alliances with Lord Wellesley and finds the correct chronological order of their treaties:
1. Hyderabad 2. Mysore 3. Oudh 4. Sindhia
Ans. 1,2,3,4
27. Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance System in the administration to establish British power over the Indian States :- Lord Wellesley
28. The main aim of East India Company to make a subsidiary alliance in Rajput states was :- To establish the sovereignty of the British
29. Which are correctly matched?
(a) Battle of Buxar – 1764
(b) Subsidiary Alliance – 1798
(c) Monopoly of East India Company in India – 1833
(d) Opening of trade in India for British citizens and companies – 1813
Ans. All of the above
30. At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon, which Governors-General kept the British flag flying high in India :- Lord Wellesley
31. Anglo-Nepal War took place during the reign of :- Lord Hastings
32. The Treaty of Sagauli took place in the year :- 1815 A.D.
33. Which pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Hector Munro : Battle of Buxar
(b) Lord Hastings : Anglo-Nepal War
(c) Lord Wellesley : Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
(d) Lord Hastings : Third Anglo-Maratha War
Ans. All of the above
34. Third Anglo-Maratha war is related to :- Lord Hastings
35. Sir Thomas Munro was Governor of Madras during years :- 1820-1827 A.D.
36. On the basis of alleged maladministration which Governor-General had taken the administration of Mysore state :- Lord William Bentinck
37. Which Governor Generals of Bengal was associated with Third Anglo-Mysore War :- Lord Cornwallis
38. Under whose leadership was the suppression of Thugs achieved :- Captain Sleeman
39. Which were the social reforms introduced by William Bentinck?
1. Abolition of Sati
2. Abolition of slavery
3. Suppression of the organized bands of Thugs.
Ans. All of the above
40. In which year Sati System was abolished by William Bentinck :- 1829 A.D.
41. ‘Hill Assembly Plan’ was set up for the development of Adivasi by :- Cleveland
42. The export of slaves from Bengal was banned in which year :- 1789
43. The princely state of Baghat was annexed to the British in :- 1850
44. Which Princely States was not annexed by the British :- Gwalior
45. Oudh was amalgamated into the British dominion in the year :- 1856
46. Consider the annexation of the States under ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ and arrange them into chronological order :
1. Satara 1848 2. Jaitpur 1849 3. Sambalpur- 1849 4. baghat 1850
5. Udaipur 1852 6. Jhansi 1853 7.Nagpur 1854 8.Awadh 1856
Ans All are correct
47. Which pairs are correctly matched?
(a) 1848 A.D. – Merger of Satara (b) 1849 A.D. – Merger of Punjab
(c) 1856 A.D. – Merger of Awadh (d) 1855 A.D. – Merger of Jhansi
Ans. All of the above
48. Who formulated and implemented the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ :- Dalhousie
49. The ruler of which states was removed from power by the British on the pretext of misgovernance :- Awadh
50. Which was the first State to be merged under Dalhousie’s “Doctrine of lapse” :- Satara
51. James Andrew Ramsay was the real name of which Governor-General of India :- Lord Dalhousie
52. The conquest of Sindh by British was completed during the period of :– Lord Ellenborough
53. Sind was conquered and annexed by :– Napier
54. Sindh was annexed by the British in :– 1843
55. Who had merged Sikkim in India :- Lord Dalhousie
56. Who was the British residence in Awadh at the time of its annexation into British Dominion :- James Outram
57. The first railway in India was laid down during the period of :– Lord Dalhousie
58. The first railway line was opened in India between :– Bombay and Thane
59. The first railway line in India was started in the year :– 1853
60. Which company started the First Railway Service in India :- Great Indian Peninsula Railway
61. The last major extension of British Indian territory took place during the time of :– Dufferin
62. Public Works Department was organized in 1845-1855 by :– Lord Dalhousie
63. In whose rule the Widow Remarriage Act was implemented in :– Lord Canning
64. Queen Victoria’s manifesto was read out in Allahabad on November 1, 1858 by :– Lord Canning
65. Who was the first Viceroy of India :- Lord Canning
66. Queen Victoria’s is Proclamation was read out by Lord Canning on 1st November, 1858 at :-Allahabad
67. The right to adopt heir in place of own son was reestablished by :– Queen’s announcement of 1858
68. Queen Victoria was appointed the Empress of India in :– 1877
69. Which Governor General had abolished slavery :- Lord Ellenborough
70. Which are correctly matched?
(a) Lord Cornwallis – Permanent Settlement
(b) John Lawrence – Masterly Inactivity
(c) Lord Wellesley – Subsidiary Alliance
(d) A.O Hume – Foundation of Indian National Congress
(e) Lord Dalhousie – Doctrine of Lapse
Ans :- All of the above
71. ‘Permanent Settlement’ was introduced during the tenure of :– Lord Cornwallis
72. Which are correctly matched?
(a) Lord Cornwallis – Permanent Settlement
(b) Lord Wellesley – Subsidiary alliance system
(c) Lord Wellesley – Second Anglo-Maratha War
(d) Lord Hastings – third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18 A.D.)
(d) Lord William Bentinck – Seventeenth Regulation of 1829
Ans. All of the above
73. When was Peshwaship abolished :- In 1818
74. Who negotiated Subordinate Alliances of 1817-18 with the Princely States of Rajputana :-Charles Metcalf
75. Which are correctly matched?
(a) Lord Cornwallis : Permanent Settlement
(b) Lord Wellesley : Subsidiary Alliance System
(c) Lord Hastings : Anglo-Nepal War
(d) Lord Hastings : Third Anglo-Maratha War
Ans. All of the above
76. Which are correctly matched?
(a) Lord Ellenborough – Annexation of Sindh in British state in 1843 A.D.
(b) Lord Dalhousie – Annexation of Awadh charging maladministration in 1856 A.D.
(c) Lord Wellesley – Fourth Anglo-Mysore war (1799 A.D.)
(d) Lord Hastings – Third Anglo- Maratha War
Ans. All are correct
77. Which pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Dalhousie – Annexation of Awadh
(b) Dufferin – Establishment of Indian National Congress
(c) William Bentinck – Passing of the Charter Act, 1833
(d) Auckland – Beginning of first Anglo- Afghan War
(e) Lytton – The second Anglo-Afghan war (1878-80)
Ans. All are correct
78. Who is associated with the policy of ‘Masterly Inactivity’ :– John Lawrence
79. Who introduced ‘Financial Decentralisation’ in India :- Lord Mayo
80. Who was the person to conduct Census in India for the first time :- Lord Mayo
81. Which viceroy was murdered in his tenure :- Lord Mayo
82. Which statements about Lord Mayo’s Resolution of 1870 are correct?
1. It was the first step that bifurcated Central and Provincial finances.
2. Provincial Governments were empowered to administer certain services.
3. It attempted to rectify existing imparity.
4. It focused on the actual needs of the Provinces.
Ans. 1, 2, 3 and 4
83. The Viceroy who followed aggressive policy towards Afghanistan was :- Lord Lytton
84. Lord Lytton is not associated with
(a) The Strachey Commission (b) The Arms Act (c) The Vernacular Press Act (d) The Ilbert Bill
Ans. (d) The Ilbert Bill
85. Who had the longest tenure as the Viceroy of India :- Lord linthgow (1936-1943) & Lord Curzon (1899-1905)
86. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the :- Removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian Magistrates about the trial of the Europeans
87. The first Factory Act for restricting the working hours of women and children, and authorizing local government to make necessary rules was adopted during whose time :- Lord Ripon
88. Consider the correct statements :
1. The Factories Act, 1881 was prohibited the employment of children under the age of seven , limited the number of working hours for children between the age of 7-12 and required that dangerous machinery should be fenced properly.
2. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.
Ans. Both are correct
89. Who is considered to be the Father of ‘Local Self-Government’ in India 1882 :- Lord Ripon
90. Which pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Local self government – Lord Ripon
(b) Subsidiary Alliance – Lord Wellesley
(c) Doctrine of Lapse – Lord Dalhousie
(d) Permanent Settlement – Lord Cornwallis
Ans. All are true
91. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the code given below :
List- I List- II
1. Clive A. Dual Govt. in Bengal
2. Bentinck B. English Education
3. Charles Metcalfe C. Removal of press restriction
4. Curzon D. Partition of Bengal
Ans. A B C D
92. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer :
List-I List-II
I. Lord Dalhousie A.Doctrine of Lapse
II. Lord William Bentinck B. Prohibition of Sati
III. Lord Rippon C. Local Self-Government
IV. Lord Curzon D. Division of Bengal
Ans. A B C D
93. Which pairs (G.G. and Event) is properly matched?
(a) Lord Cornwallis – ban on the slave trade, starting of Civil Services, police services and Permanent Settlement
(b) Lord Wellesley – Subsidiary Alliance System, Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, second Anglo-Maratha War and the establishment of Fort William College in Calcutta.
(c) Lord Ellenborough – Annexation of Sindh
(d) Lord Dalhousie – Doctrine of lapse, second anglo sikh war , railways, telegraph
Ans :- All of the above
94. The Archaeological Survey of India was established during the period of :- Lord Curzon
95. During the tenure of which Governor-General was the ‘Ancient Monuments Preservation Act’ passed :- Lord Curzon
96. Who compared Curzon’s administration in India to that of Aurangzeb :- G.K. Gokhale
97. Who established Imperial Cadet Corps :- Lord Curzon
98. Consider the correct Viceroys of India during the British rule:
1.Lord Curzon – 1899-1905 A.D. 2.Lord Hardinge – 1910-1916 A.D.
3.Lord Chelmsford – 1916-1921 A.D. 4.Lord Irwin – 1926-1931 A.D.
Ans :- All are correct
99. With reference to the Civil Administration in 1905, which of the statements are correct?
1. Lord Curzon decided to rearrange the provincial boundaries.
2. A new province was constituted, called East Bengal and Assam.
Ans. Both 1 and 2
100. Which statements are true regarding Lord Curzon?
1. Establishing the English Empire on granite rock.
2. Announcement of Calcutta Municipal Act.
Ans. Both 1 and 2
101. The strategy of ‘Divide and Rule’ was adopted by :- Lord Curzon & Lord Minto
102. “In my belief, Congress is to tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” Who wrote it :- Lord Curzon
103. Which Governor-General used the system of Separate electoral college to conquer Muslims and make them against Congress :- Lord Minto
104. Who was the only Jewish Viceroy of India :- Lord Reading
105. Which pairs is correctly matched?
(a) Pitt’s India Act : Warren Hastings
(b) Doctrine of Lapse : Dalhousie
(c) Vernacular Press Act : Lytton
(d) Ilbert Bill : Ripon
(e) Ring Fence Policy – Warren Hastings
(f) Suppression of Thuggee – William Bentinck
Ans. All of the above
106. The transfer of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi was affected during the period of :- Lord Harding
107. Match the correct answer from the codes given below :
(A) Doctrine of Lapse 1.Dalhousie
(B) Partition of Bengal 2. Lord Curzon
(C) Dual Government in Bengal 3. Clive
(D) Social Reforms 4. Bentinck
Ans. 1 2 3 4
108. Match List- I with List- II with correct answer
| List- I | List- II |
| A. Governor-General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (Under Regulating Act, 1773) | Charles Cornwallis 2nd Earl and first Marquess of Cornwallis |
| B. Governor-General of India (Under Charter Act, 1833) | James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, Earl and Marquess of Dalhousie |
| C. Governor-General and Viceroy of India (Under Indian Councils Act, 1858) | Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmond, Earl of Minto |
| D. Governor-General and Crown Representative (Under Government of India Act, 1935) | Archibald Percival Wavell, Viscount and Earl Wavell |
Ans. All of the above
109. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below :
List-I (Place) List-II (Year of Annexation by British)
A. Sambalpur 1. 1849
B. Satara 2. 1848
C. Awadh 3. 1856
D. Jhansi 4. 1854
Ans :- 1 2 3 4
110. Consider the following events and arrange them in chronological order:
I. Merger of Sikkim 1835 II. Merger of Jhansi 1854
III. Merger of Punjab 1849 IV. Merger of Burma 1886
Ans :- I, III, II, IV
111. Which viceroy’s period the title of ‘Rai Bahadur’ and ‘Khan Bahadur’ began to confer to Indian :- Lord Lytton