Governor/Governor General/Viceroy (Part-I)

1. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2007]

1. Robert Clive was the first Governor-General of Bengal.
2. William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:Under Regulating Act, 1773 the British parliament provided the system of colonialist government in Bengal. The government consisted of a chairman and four members. The Chairman was known as Governor-General. Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor-General of Bengal. Thus statements 1 is incorrect.
Charter Act of 1833 was an attempt by the British government to centralize the Indian administration. The Governor-General of Bengal was made Governor-General of India by this Act. Lord William Bentinck was appointed as the first Governor-General of India. Thus, statement 2 is correct.

2. The first Governor-General of India was- [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (e) Lord William Bentinck

Solution:Under Regulating Act, 1773 the British parliament provided the system of colonialist government in Bengal. The government consisted of a chairman and four members. The Chairman was known as Governor-General. Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor-General of Bengal.

Charter Act of 1833 was an attempt by the British government to centralize the Indian administration. The Governor-General of Bengal was made Governor-General of India by this Act. Lord William Bentinck was appointed as the first Governor-General of India.

3. who was the first Governor of India? [66ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above.

Solution:Under Regulating Act, 1773 the British parliament provided the system of colonialist government in Bengal. The government consisted of a chairman and four members. The Chairman was known as Governor-General. Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor-General of Bengal.

Charter Act of 1833 was an attempt by the British government to centralize the Indian administration. The Governor-General of Bengal was made Governor-General of India by this Act. Lord William Bentinck was appointed as the first Governor-General of India.

4. Consider the following events: [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2016]

1. Clive's re-arrival in India
2.Treaty of Allahabad
3. Battle of Buxar
4. Warren Hastings became India's Governor.
Select the correct chronogical order of the above events from the codes given below.
Code:

(a) 3, 2,1,4
(b) 3,1, 2, 4
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4,
(d) 2,1, 4, 3,

Correct Answer: (b) 3,1, 2, 4

Solution:As per the option following is sequence of events:

List-I	List-II
Battle of Buxar	22/23 October, 1764
Clive re-arrival in India	3 May, 1765
Treaty of Allahabad	August, 1765

Warren Hastings became Bengal's Governor 1772 CE.

Note:- There is an error in this question. It is wrong to call Warren Hastings the Governor of India. Warren Hastings became the governor of Bengal in 1774.

5. Which one of following statements in not true? [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]

(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 William Bentinck was one of the greatest British rulers as he consolidated the British Empire in India.
(d) Lord Dalhousie added rich lemitones to the British Empire on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.

Correct Answer: (c) Lord William Bentinck was one of the greatest British rulers as he consolidated the British Empire in India.

Solution:Clive led both civilian as well as military reforms. Under civil reforms, he banned gifts and private businesses. He made internal tax compulsory. Under military reforms, he ordered to ban dual allowance system. From 1766 A.D. it was given only to those soldiers who work outside the borders of Bihar and Bengal.

The foundation of the system of civil administration was firmly laid down by Warren Hastings which was outlined by Cornwallis. His rule lasted from 1786 A.D to 1793 A.D. and 30 July, 1805 A.D. to 5 October, 1805 A.D. remembered for two events, the introduction of the permanent settlement into Bengal and the Third Mysore War. Lord Dalhousie (1848-56 A.D.) merged Satara in 1848, Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849, Baghat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Jhansi in 1854 and Nagpur in 1854 under the doctrine of Lapse. Lord Dalhousie merged Awadh in 1856 on the ground of alleged misgovernance.

6. who was the founder of Empire in India? [66B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (c) Lord Clive

Solution:Robert Clive is widely considered as the founder of British India. He arrived in Madras as a clerk for East India company in 1744. Through his leadership he was able to consolidate company's commercial & territorial position in India. In 1757 A.D. company troops defeated nawab of Bengal in Plassey which led to creation of British Raj in India.

7. Who led the 'Banaras Rebellion' against the Britishers? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Shujauddullah
(b) Asaf-ud-Daulah
(c) Raja Chet Singh
(d) Raja Maheep Narayan Singh

Correct Answer: (c) Raja Chet Singh

Solution:The Banaras Rebellion was led by Raja Chet Singh in 1781 AD. In this rebellion, the Governor General Warren Hastings run away with his soldiers and took refuge in Chunar Fort.

8. At the time of the establishment of Asiatic Society in Calcutta, who was the Governor-General of Bengal? [U.P.P.C.S. (R.I.) 2014]

(a) Lord Cornwallis
(b) Lord Warren Hastings
(c) Lord Wellesley
(d) Lord Bentinck

Correct Answer: (b) Lord Warren Hastings

Solution:Warren Hastings (1732-1818) became the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal) in 1772 and the first Governor-General of Bengal in 1774 till he resigned in 1785. He started his career as a writer (clerk) in the East India Company at Calcutta in 1750. In 1758, he became the British resident at Murshidabad, the capital of Bengal, after Mir Jafar was installed as the Nawab after the Battle of Plassey. During his term, the First Anglo-Maratha war and the second Anglo-Mysore war were fought. The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed during his term. He supported Sir William Jones in the formation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1785

9. The policy of 'Security cell' is related with [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Henry Lawrence
(d) Lord Hastings

Correct Answer: (a) Warren Hastings

Solution:The policy of 'Security Cell" is related to Warren Hastings and Wellesley. Warren Hastings fought with Mysore and Marathas so achieve status equivalent, to other India states. During this time the company tried to form other buffer state from Afghans and Marathas. Thus they agreed to protect Oudh on the condition that the Nawab of Oudh will bear the expenses. The main aim of Wellesley was to enforce Indian states to rely on his army power. The British policies towards Indian state were-
1. Company's struggle for equality with Indian provinces.(1740-1765)
2. 'Security cell' or the policy of siege. (1765-1813 AD)
3. Subordinate separation policy. (1813-1857 AD)
4. Subordinate union policy. (1858-1935 AD)
5. The policy of equal union. (1935-1947)

10. 'Ring fence' policy is associated with- [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Henry Lawrence
(b) Dalhousie
(c) Warren Hastings
(d) Lord Clive

Correct Answer: (c) Warren Hastings

Solution:The policy of 'Security Cell" is related to Warren Hastings and Wellesley. Warren Hastings fought with Mysore and Marathas so achieve status equivalent, to other India states. During this time the company tried to form other buffer state from Afghans and Marathas. Thus they agreed to protect Oudh on the condition that the Nawab of Oudh will bear the expenses. The main aim of Wellesley was to enforce Indian states to rely on his army power. The British policies towards Indian state were-
1. Company's struggle for equality with Indian provinces.(1740-1765)
2. 'Security cell' or the policy of siege. (1765-1813 AD)
3. Subordinate separation policy. (1813-1857 AD)
4. Subordinate union policy. (1858-1935 AD)
5. The policy of equal union. (1935-1947)