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Later Viceroys of India

August 25, 2025

After the Revolt of 1857, the governance of India passed from the East India Company to the British Crown (1858). The Viceroys played an important role in shaping India’s political, social, and economic conditions. The period of the later Viceroys (1876–1947) saw major reforms, nationalist movements, and finally India’s independence.

Lord Lytton (1876–1880)

  • Known as the “Viceroy of Reverse Character” due to his unpopular policies.

  • Organized the Delhi Durbar (1877) to proclaim Queen Victoria as Empress of India, even as famine ravaged the land.

  • Vernacular Press Act (1878): Curbed freedom of the Indian press.

  • Arms Act (1878): Restricted Indians from possessing arms.

  • Disastrous handling of the Great Famine (1876–78), which caused millions of deaths.

Lord Ripon (1880–1884)

  • Remembered as the “Good Viceroy” and champion of liberal reforms.

  • Repealed the Vernacular Press Act (1882).

  • Introduced Local Self-Government (1882): First step in decentralization of power.

  • Hunter Commission (1882): Recommended educational reforms.

  • Ilbert Bill (1883): Proposed trial of Europeans by Indian judges, but withdrawn after protests.

Lord Dufferin (1884–1888)

  • Presided over the formation of the Indian National Congress (1885).

  • Advocated moderate reforms but maintained British dominance.

Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894)

  • Indian Councils Act (1892): Enlarged legislative councils, though powers remained limited.

  • Initiated Durand Commission (1893) to define the boundary between India and Afghanistan.

Lord Elgin II (1894–1899)

  • Faced severe famines, plague outbreaks, and political unrest.

Lord Curzon (1899–1905)

  • Remembered for his authoritarian style and controversial policies.

  • Partition of Bengal (1905): Created communal divisions and sparked the Swadeshi Movement.

  • Established Universities Commission (1902) and Indian Universities Act (1904).

  • Founded Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and reformed railway and police systems.

Lord Minto II (1905–1910)

  • Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims.

  • Known as the “Father of Communal Electorates”.

Lord Hardinge II (1910–1916)

  • Partition of Bengal annulled in 1911.

  • Delhi Durbar (1911): Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.

  • Narrowly escaped a bomb attack by revolutionaries in 1912.

Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921)

  • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Introduced diarchy in provinces.

  • Period saw the Rowlatt Act (1919), Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), and Non-Cooperation Movement (1920).

Lord Reading (1921–1926)

  • Faced the Chauri Chaura incident (1922), which led Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.

  • Handled communal riots and political unrest.

Lord Irwin (1926–1931)

  • Issued Irwin Declaration (1929) promising Dominion Status for India.

  • Period of Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) launched by Gandhi.

  • Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931): Agreement between Gandhi and Irwin to end the movement temporarily.

Lord Willingdon (1931–1936)

  • Presided over Round Table Conferences (1931–32) in London.

  • Repressed the Civil Disobedience Movement with arrests and strict measures.

Lord Linlithgow (1936–1943)

  • Longest-serving Viceroy of India.

  • Period of Second World War (1939–45).

  • Launched August Offer (1940) and faced the Quit India Movement (1942).

Lord Wavell (1943–1947)

  • Faced the famine of 1943 in Bengal, which caused millions of deaths.

  • Proposed the Wavell Plan (1945) to resolve political deadlock, but failed.

Lord Mountbatten (1947)

  • Last Viceroy of India.

  • Mountbatten Plan (3rd June 1947): Accepted partition of India into India and Pakistan.

  • Oversaw India’s independence on 15th August 1947.

Key Takeaway

  • The Later Viceroys played a decisive role in both strengthening British control and provoking Indian nationalism.

  • Repressive measures like the Partition of Bengal, Rowlatt Act, and communal electorates fueled discontent.

  • At the same time, reforms like local self-government, Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, and Dominion Status declaration reflected gradual political concessions.

  • Their rule finally ended with Lord Mountbatten, who presided over India’s independence and partition in 1947.