Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India Part 2 (1858–1947)

Lord Canning (1858–62)

He was the Governor-General during Mutiny of 1857 and after the war, he was made the first Viceroy of India.
The Indian Councils Act of 1862 was passed, which proved to be a landmark in the constitutional history of India
The Indian Penal Code of Criminal Procedure (1859) was passed
The Indian High Court Act (1861) was enacted
Income Tax was introduced for the first time in 1858
The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras founded in 1857.

Telegraphic communication was opened with Europe;
Expanded canal works and railways
Bhutan War (1865)
Advocated State-managed railways
Created the Indian Forest Department and recognised the native Judicial service.
He introduced various reforms and became the member of Punjab Board of Administration after the second Sikh war.
He was known as the Saviour of Punjab.

Introduced financial decentralization in India
Established Rajkot College at Kathiawar and Mayo College at Ajmer for the princes
Organised the Statistical Survey of India
Established the Department of Agriculture & Commerce.
He was the only Viceroy to be murdered in office by a Pathan convict in Andamans in 1872.
For the first time in Indian history, a census was held in 1871.

Most infamous Governor-General pursued free trade and abolished duties on 29 British manufactured goods which accelerated drain of the wealth of India
Arranged the Grand Darbar in Delhi (in 1877) when the country was suffering from a severe famine
Passed the Royal Title Act (1876) and Queen Victoria was declared as the Kaiser-i-Hind
Arms Act (1878) made mandatory for Indians to acquire a license for arms
Passed the infamous Vernacular Press Act (1878)
Proposed the plan of Statutory Civil Service in 1878-79 and lowered the maximum age limit from 21 to 19 years

Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, 1882
The First Factory Act, 1881 to improve labour condition
Resolution of Local Self Government in 1882
Resolution on Land Revenue Policy
Appointed Hunter Commission (for education reforms) in 1882
The Ilbert Bill controversy erupted during his time (1883) which enabled Indian district magistrates to try European criminals. But this was withdrawn later.

The second Factory Act of 1891; Categorization of Civil Services into imperial, provincial and subordinate.
Indian Council Act of 1892 (introduced elections which were indirect).
Appointment of the Durand Commission to define the line between British India and Afghanistan (1893).

The Munda uprising (under Birsa Munda) of 1899.
Convention delimiting the frontier between China and India was ratified.
The great famine of 1896–97.
Lyall Commission appointed after famine (1897).
The assassination of two British officials-Rand & Amherst-by Chapekar Brothers in 1897.

Appointed a Police Commission in 1902 under Andrew Frazer.
Set up the Universities Commission and accordingly the Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed.
Set up the Department of Commerce and Industry.
Calcutta Corporation Act (1899).
Passed the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Act (in 1899) and put India on a gold standard.
Partition of Bengal took place in 1905.
Created the NWFP and Archaeological Survey of India.

Home Rule Movement launched by Tilak and Annie Besant (1916).
Lucknow Pact between Congress and Muslim League (1916).
The arrival of Gandhi in India (1915).
Champaran Satyagraha (1917).
Montague’s August Declaration (1917).
Kheda Satyagraha and Satyagraha at Ahmedabad (1918).
Government of India Act (1919).
Repressive Rowlatt Act (1919).
Jalianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
Khilafat Movement (1920–22).
Non-cooperation Movement (1920–22).
Saddler Commission (1917) and an Indian Sir S. P. Sinha was appointed Governor of Bengal.

Simon Commission announced in 1927.
Butler Commission (1927); Nehru Report (1928).
14 points of Jinnah (1929); Lahore session of Congress and ‘Poorna Swaraj’ declaration (1929).
Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).
Dandi march (1930).
1st Round Table Conference (1930).
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
Martyrdom of Jatin Das (hunger strike).

First General Election (1936–37).
Congress ministries in 1937 and Resignation of Congress ministries in 1939.
‘Deliverance Day’ by Muslim League in 1939.
Foundation of Forward Block by S.C. Bose (1939).
Lahore Resolution (1940); August Offer (1940); Cripps Mission (1942); Quit India Movement (1942) and Outbreak of Second World War in 1939.

R. Formula 1944; Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference in 1945.
End of 2nd World War in 1945.
INA Trials in 1945; Naval mutiny in 1946.
Cabinet Mission, 1946 and acceptance of its proposals by Congress.
Direct Action Day by the Muslim League on 16th August 1946 and the first meeting of the constituent assembly was held on Dec. 9, 1946.

Announced the 3 June 1947 Plan; Introduction of Indian Independence Bill in the House of Commons and passed by the British Parliament on July 4, 1947.
Appointment of 2 boundary commissions under Sir Cyril Radcliffe.