Governors during British Rule

in India
Governors-General of Fort William (1773-1833)

Name with Socio-Economic &

Political Events Administrative Developments Miscellaneous
Period Cultural Events

Rohilla war (1774) and

Regulating Act of 1773; Act
annexation of Rohikhand by Nand Kumar (1775),
of 1781 (it made a clear
Nawab of Oudh with help of Chait Singh (1778)
demarcation between Foundation of Asiatic
Warren British: First Maratha war and Begams of Oudh
jurisdiction of Governor Society of Bengal by
Hastings (1775-82) and Treaty of (1782) episodes.
General-in-Council and that Hastings and Sir
(1773-85) Salbai (1782); Second Attempt to impeach
of Supreme Court at William Jones (1784).
Mysore war and Treaty of him did not
Calcutta); Pitt’s India Act
Mangalore (1780-84) (First succeed.
of 1784.
War, 1966-69).

Reform of judiciary (1793)-

setting up courts at
different levels and Introduction of
Third Mysore War (1790-92) separation of revenue and Permanent settlement Accession of
Cornwallis
and Treaty of Seringapatam judicial administrations; or Zamindari system Ranjit Singh to
(1786-93)
(1792). Introduction of Covenanted in Bengal and Bihar the throne (1792).
civil service and reforms (1793).
to purify and improve
administration.

Death of Mahadji
Renewal of Company’s Implementation of
John Shore His rule was mostly Sindhia, Ahalbai
charter by Charter Act of Permanent settlement
(1793-98) uneventful. and Peshwa
1793. (1793).
(1794-96).

Introduction of Subsidiary
Alliance (1798) and first Death of Nana
Subsidiary Treaty with Phadnis (1800);
Formation of Madras Establishment of
Nizam of Hyderabad (1798); Recall of
Wellesley Presidency after annexation Baptist Mission at
Fourth Mysore War (1799) Wellesley,
(1798-1805) of kingdoms of Tanjore and Serampore by William
and annexation of parts of Cornwallis’
Carnatic. Carey.
Mysore; Treaty of Bassein 2nd term and his
(1802) and Second Maratha sudden death.
War (1803-05).

Vellore Mutiny (1806)

during George Barlow’s Charter Act of 1813 and
Allotment of one lakh English missions
Minto I officiating period ending of Company’s trade
rupees annually for to Persia and
(1807-13) (1805-07); Treaty of monopoly, expect in tea and
education (1813). Kabul (1808).
Amritsar with Ranjit Singh trade with China.
(1809).

War with or Gorkha War and

Abolition of Peshwaship and Introduction of
Treaty of Sagauli
annexation of all his ryotwari/settlement
Hastings (1814-16); Pindari and
territories, and creation in Madras Presidency __
(1813-23) Third Maratha Wars
of Bombay Presidency by Thomas Munro
(1817-1818); Alliances with
(1818). (1820).
Rajput States (1819).

First Burmese War and Annexation of

The Enterprise, a
Amherst Treaty of Yandabo administration of Assam,
__ steamship, reached
(1823-28) (1824-26); Capture of Arakan and Tennasserim
Madras (1827).
Bharatpur (1826). (1826).

Visit of Rammohan
Annexation of Cacher (1830)
Deposition of Raja of Prohibition of sati Roy to England
William Bentick and Jaintia (1832); Meeting
Mysore and assumption of (1829); Suppression (1830) and his
(1828-33) between Bentinck and Ranjit
its administration (1831). of thuggee (1829-35). death there
Singh (1831).
(1833).
Governor General of India
(1833 to 1858)
Name with Socio-Economic &
Political Events Administrative Developments Miscellaneous
Period Cultural Events

Charter Act of 1833;

Formulation of Agra
Macaulay’s Minutes
William Province (1834); Abolition Foundation of
and introduction of
Bentinck Annexation of Coorg (1834). of Provincial Courts of Calcutta Medical
English as medium of
(1833-35) Appeal and Circuit, and College (1835).
instruction (1835).
appointment of
commissioners instead.

First Afghan War (1836-42)

Auckland New Treaty with Amirs of Famine in North India Death of Ranjit
–Disaster of British in war
(1835-42) Sind (1839). (1837-38). Singh (1839).
and recall of Aucland.

Termination of first Afghan

Elienborough war (1842); Conqest of Sind Suppression of
(1842-44) (1843); War with Gwalior Slavery (1843).
(1843).

Prohibition of female
First Sikh war (1845-46)
Hardinge I infanticide,
and treaty of Lahore
(1844-48) suppression of human
(1846).
sacrifice.

Charter Act of 1853;

Second Sikh war (1848-49)
Entrance into Civil Introduction of
and annexation of Punjab;
Services thrown open to Indian Universities, Railways (First
Second Burmese war (1852)
competition; Wood’s Religious train – Bombay to
and annexation of Pegu
Dalhousie Education Despatch of 1854 Disabilities, and Thana). Telegraph
(Lower Burma); Annexation
(1848-56) and British assumption of Hindu Widow (First line-
of several states through
responsibility of educating Remarriage Acts Calcutta to Agra)
Doctrine of Lapse;
masses; Establishment of (1856). and Postal System
Annexation of Oudh (1856);
separate Public Works in 1853).
Santhal uprising (1855-56).
Departments in provinces.

Universities of
Canning Persian War (1856); Revolt General Service Enlistment
Calcutta, Madras and
(1856-57) of 1857. Order (1856).
Bombay in 1857.

Viceroy’s of India (1858

to 1947)

Name of Period Political Events
White Mutiny’s by Europeans
in British Indian Army
Canning (1859); Issue of 160 sanads
(1858-62) to native rulers,
permitting them to adopt
heirs (1859-60).
John Lawrence War with Bhutan
1864-69) (1865).
Mayo Visit of the Duke of
(1869-72) Edinborough (1869).
Deposition of Malhar Rao
North Brook Gaekwad; Visit of Prince of
(1872-76) Wales (later Edward VII) to
India (1875).
Lytton Second Afghan War of
(1876-80) (1878-80).
Ripon Restoration of Mysore to
(1880-84) its ruler (1831).
Third Burmese war
Dufferin (1885-86); Foundation of
(1884-88) Congress (Cross was then
Secretary of State).
Appointment of Durand
Commission and its
Lansdowne
definition of Durand Line
(1888-94)
between British India and
Afghanistan in 1893).
Assassination of two
Elgin II Britain officials by
(1894-99) Chapekar brothers of Poona
in 1897.
Coronation of king Edward
VII (1901); Col. Young-
Curzon
husband’s Expending to
(1899-1905)
Tibet (1903-04); Partition
of Bengal (1905).
Socio-Economic &
Administrative Developments Miscellaneous
Cultural Events
Queen Victoria Proclamation After new Viceroy,
and Govt of India Act of Elgin’s sudden
1858; Enactment of Indian Indigo Agitation of death,
Penal Code (1860) and Code Bengal (1859-60); administration was
of Criminal Procedure Famine in NW India carried on by
(1861); Civil Service Act (1861). Napier and Dension
(1861); High Courts Act of form 1862 to
1861. 1864).
Functioning of High Courts Telegraphic
Orissa Famine
at Calcutta, Bombay and connection with
(1865-67).
Madras (1865). England (1865).
Establishment of two
Beginning of separation of
colleges for
central and provincial
education and
finances (1870);
political training of His assassination
Organization of Statistical
Indian Princes – by a convict in
of Department of
Rajkot college in Andamans in 1872).
Agriculture and Commerce;
Kathiawar and Mayo
Beginning of system of
college at Ajmer in
State Railways.
Rajasthan.
Famine in Bihar His resignation
(1873-74); Deccan over afghan
Riots of 1875. qestion.
Royal Titles Act of 1876
and assumption of title of
Famine in Deccan
Empress of India’ by Queen
(1876); Vernacular
Victoria; Delhi-Durbar
Press Act and Arms
(1877); Appointment of
Act of 1878.
first Famine Commission
under Strachey (1878).
First Factory Act of 1881;
First Census in India
Repeal of Vernacular
(1881) – 254 millions;
Press Act (1882);
Local Self-Government Act
Appointment of Hunter
(1882); Division of Central
Commission of
finances (1882); Ilbert
Education (1882).
Bill Controversy (1883):
Famine Code (1883).
Annexation and
administration of Upper
Burma (1886).
Factory Act of 1891;
Manipur Revolt and
Division of Civil Services Age of Consent Act
British
into imperial, Provincial (1891); Vivekananda’s
intervention
and Subordinate, Indian visit to USA (1893).
(1891).
Councils Act of 1892.
Appointment of second
All – India Famine of Plague in Bombay
Famine Commission under
1896-97. (1896-1900).
Lyall (1898).
Creation of NWF Province
Raleigh Commission
(1901); Ancient Monuments
(1902) and Indian Cooperative
Preservation Act of 1904;
Universities Act of Societies Act
Establishment of an
1904 based on its (1904).
Agricultural Research
recommendations.
Institute at Pusa in Delhi.
 Socio-Economic &
Name of Period Political Events Administrative Developments Miscellaneous
Cultural Events

Anti-Partition and Swadeshi

Movements; Foundation of
India Councils Act of 1909;
Muslim League (1906); Beginning of the
Appointment of SP Sinha as
Minto II Calcutta session and Newspapers Act of first wave of
1st Indian member of
(1905-10) Naoroji’s declaration of 1908 revolutionary
Viceroy’s Executive
swaraj (1906); Surat terrorism.
Council.
session and split in
Congress (1907).

Annulment of partition of
Coronation Durbar of King
Bengal and creation of a
George V and Queen Mary at
Governorship for Bengal Nobel Prize (1912) in
Delhi (1911); Return of Bomb attack on
(1911). Lt Governorship for Literature
Hardinge II Gandhi to India (1915); Viceroy in Delhi
Bihar & Orissa, & Chief (Gitanjali) and
(1910-16) Foundation of Hindu (1912); Death of.
Commissionership for Assam; Knighthood (1915) for
Mahasabha (1915) by Madan Gokhale in 1915.
Transfer of capital to Rabindranath Tagore.
Mohan Malviya and some
Delhi (1911); Defence of
Punjabi leaders.
India Act (1915).

Lucknow reunion of
Congress; Lucknow Pact Death of Tilak
between Congress and League (1920);
(1916); Foundation of Appointment of SP
Sabarmati ashram (1916); Foundation of separate Home Sinha as
Champaran (1917), Ahmadabad Rule Leagues by Tilak and Lieutenant
and Khaira Satyagrahas Annie Besant (1916); Sadler Commission on Governor of Bihar.
(1918); Resignation of SN Montague’s August Education (1916); He was first
Chelmsford
Banerji from Congress and Declaration (1917) and Govt Foundation of Women’s Indian to become a
(1916-21)
foundation of Indian of India Act of 1919; University at Poona Governor and
Liberal Federation (1918); Rowlatt Act (1919) and (1916). second Indian to
Khilafat Committee and Jalianwalla Bagh Massaacre become a member of
Movement (1919-20); Nagpur (13th April, 1919). British
session (1920) and changes Parliament, first
in Congress constitution; being Dadabhai
Non-cooperation Movements Naoroji.
(1920-22).

Chauri Chaura incident (Feb Esta. Of Chamber of Princes

5, 1922) and withdrawal of
Non-cooperation Movement by
Gandhi; Formation of Swaraj
Reading
Party by C.R. Das and
(1921-26)
Motilal Nehru in December
1922; Foundation of
Communist Party of India
(1925).
(1921); Repeal of Rowlatt
Act; Holding of
Moplay Revolt (1921);
simultaneous examinations Death of
Foundation of RSS by
for ICS in England and Deshbandu CR Das
KB Hedgewar at Nagpur
India from 1923; Beginning (1925).
in 1925.
of Indiansation of
officer’s cadre of India
army.

Appointment of Harcourt
Butler Commission in Nov.
1927 (meant to improve
Appointment of Simon
relations between Indian
Commission (Nov. 1927) and
states and Central Govt.);
boycott by Congress;
and convening of All India
Convening of an All Parties
States People’s Conference
Conference and appointment
in Dec. 1927 by states’
of Motilal Nehru committee
people; Lahore session of
Irwin to prepare a constitution
Congress (Dec. 1929) and Devaluation of the Meeting of First
(1926-31) for India; Committee’s
Poorna Swaraj resolution; Rupee (1926); Hartog All India Youth
(Known as submission of ‘Nehru
Fixing 26th Jan. 1930 as Committee Report on Congress in
‘Christian Report’ in August, 1928;
first Independence Day; Education (1928-29). December, 1928.
Viceroy’) rejection of report by
Launching of Civil
Muslim League, Hindu
Disobedience Movement by
Mahasabha, etc.; ‘Deepavali
Gandhi with his Dandi March
Declaration’ by Irwin
(1930); boycott of
(1929) that India would be
1st session of Round Table
granted dominion status in
Conference by Congress;
due course.
Gandhi – Irwin Pact and
suspension of movement
(March 1931).s
 Socio-Economic &
Name of Period Political Events Administrative Developments Miscellaneous
Cultural Events

Participation of Gandhi in
2nd session of Round Table
Conference (Sep. 1931) and
failure of conference;
Announcement of ‘Communal
return of Gandhi to India
Award’ by Ramsay Macdonald,
and resumption of movement;
British P.M. (1932); Establishment of
Gandhi’s imprisonment
Gandhi’s fast unto death I World Depression Indian Military
(final suspension of
Wellingdon Yeravadi prison Poona Pact (1929-33) and Ottawa Academy at
movement in May, 1934);
(1931-36) between Gandhi and Ambedkar Trade Agreements Dehradun (1933);
3rd session of Conference
(Sept. 1932); Govet of (1932-39). Creation of Royal
in London (1932) without
India Act of 1935; India Navy (1934)
representation of Congress;
Separation of Burma from
Foundation of Congress
India (1935).
Socialist Party by Narendra
Dev and Jai Prakash Narayan
(1934); Birth of All India
Kisan Sabha (1936).

Resignation of Subhas
Chandra Bose form
Presidentship of Congress
as well as from its
membership; Formation of
Formation of Congress
Forward Bloc by Bose
Provincial Ministries
(1939); Resignation of
(1937); ‘August Offer’ by
Congress Ministries (1939);
Linlithgow (
celebration of resignation Gandhi’s Basic or
1940); its rejection by
as ‘Deliverance Day’ By Wardha Scheme of Escape of SC Bose
Linlithgow Congress and starting of
Muslims League (1939), and Education (1937); from India in
(1936-43) individual satyagraha by
its Lahore Pakistan Bengal Famine of 1941.
Gandhi; Cripps Mission
Resolution (March, 1940) 1942-43).
(March, 1942) offering
(Jinnah’s Two-Nation)
Dominion Status to India,
Theory); ‘Quit India’
and its rejection by
Resolution by Congress at
Congress.
Bombay (8thAugust, 1942)
arrest of all Congress
leaders and outbreak of
‘August Revolution’ or
Revolt of 1942.

C.R. Formula, Gandhi-Jinnah

Talks (1944) and their
failure; INA Trials and
Naval Mutiny (1946);
Wavell
Lunching of ‘Direct Action
(1943-47) by both Congress and League
Day’ by it also joined
Interim Govt. in Oct. 1946,
though it abstained from
Constituent Assembly.
Wavell Plan, Simla
Conference (1945) and its
failure; Cabinet Mission Sergent Education
Reported death of
and acceptance of its plan Report (1944);
SC Bose in plane
Communal Riots in
crash (1945).
(1946); Formation of Bengal (1946).
Interim Government by
Congress (Sep. 1946).

Mountbatten plan, partition JL Nehru became

Mountbatten India Independence Act of Communal Riots in
of India and achievement of the first Indian
(1947) 1947. Punjab
freedom. PM.