Governors-General & Viceroys
Governors-General & Viceroys — Hastings · Cornwallis · Wellesley · Bentinck · Dalhousie · Canning · Lytton · Ripon · Curzon · Minto · Hardinge · Chelmsford · Reading · Irwin · Willingdon · Linlithgow · Wavell · Mountbatten
Story hook
It is 22 October 1948. C Rajagopalachari ("Rajaji") — last living Indian member of the Mahatma's inner circle — is sworn in as first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India at Government House, Delhi. Behind him stretches a 174-year line of 30+ Governors-General and Viceroys, from Warren Hastings (1772) to Lord Mountbatten (1947-48).
Each one is associated with a particular reform, war, famine, or scandal — and UPSC tests them ruthlessly. Memorising the sequence in order with their headline associations is non-negotiable Prelims preparation.
Why this matters for UPSC
For UPSC:
- Prelims: Sequence of GGs + Viceroys with their key actions; reforms-and-revolts matrix; first-and-last labels.
- Mains GS-I: Lord Cornwallis (PS), Lord Wellesley (Subsidiary Alliance), Lord Dalhousie (Doctrine of Lapse + annexations), Lord Curzon (Bengal Partition), Lord Linlithgow (WWII + Quit India), Mountbatten (Partition).
- Interview: Curzon's legacy + Dalhousie's controversy + Ripon's local government reforms.
Inside the full topic
Create a free account to continue reading — the deep dive, exam angles, mind map and revision card are waiting.
- Start here (zero knowledge)
- Flow diagram & mind map
- Deep dive
- Real-world connections
- Memory hooks & mnemonics
- The Prelims angle
- The Mains angle
- The Interview angle
- Common traps & misconceptions
- 5-minute revision card
- Related topics
Continue reading — free
Get the full topic with deep dive, Prelims/Mains/Interview angles, mind maps, revision cards, AI tutor and daily current affairs — in English and Hindi.
Create free account Already a member? Sign in