Governor-General of India facts for kids
The Governor-General of India (from 1833 to 1950) was a very important official. From 1858 to 1947, this person was also called the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, or simply the Viceroy of India. This person represented the monarch of the United Kingdom (like a king or queen) in India. After India became independent in 1947, the Governor-General represented the new monarch of India.
The job was first created in 1773. Back then, it was called the Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal. This official mainly controlled that area but also watched over other officials of the East India Company in India. In 1833, the Governor-General gained full power over all British territories in India. That's when the title changed to Governor-General of India.
In 1858, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British government took direct control of India from the East India Company. This period was known as the British Raj. The Governor-General, now also called the Viceroy, led the central government of India. This government managed many provinces like Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. However, many parts of India were still ruled by hundreds of independent princely states. These states had a direct connection with the British monarch, not the British government. To show the Viceroy's role as the monarch's representative to these states, the extra title of "Viceroy" was added.
The title of Viceroy was stopped when British India was divided into two independent countries: India and Pakistan in 1947. But the job of Governor-General continued in both countries. It ended when India became a Republic in 1950 and Pakistan in 1956.
Before 1858, the East India Company chose the Governor-General. After that, the British monarch appointed them, following advice from the British government. The Secretary of State for India, a British government minister, told the Governor-General what to do. After 1947, the monarch still appointed the Governor-General, but now on the advice of India's new independent government.
The Governor-General usually served for five years. The first Governor-General in India (of Bengal) was Warren Hastings. The first official Governor-General of British India was Lord William Bentinck. The last Governor-General of the Dominion of India was Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.
Quick facts for kids Viceroy and Governor-General of India |
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Standard during the Dominion of India
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Standard during the British Raj
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| Style | His Excellency |
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure (de jure) Five years (de facto) |
| Formation | 20 October 1773 (Fort William) 22 April 1834 (India) |
| First holder | Warren Hastings (Fort William) Lord William Bentinck (India) |
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| Abolished | 26 January 1950 |
Contents
The Governor-General of India
Early History of the Role
The British East India Company started governing many parts of India in the 1600s. They acted as agents for the Mughal emperor. Early British leaders were called presidents or governors.
In 1773, the British government began to take more control over India. This happened because of problems like corruption in the Company. The Regulating Act 1773 created the role of Governor-General and a Supreme Council for the Fort William area in Bengal. Warren Hastings was the first person to hold this new position.
The Charter Act 1833 changed the title to Governor-General of India. This act gave the Governor-General power over all of British India. The Company's directors still chose the Governor-General, but the British monarch had to approve the choice.
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British Crown took direct control of India. The Government of India Act 1858 gave the monarch the power to appoint the Governor-General. The Governor-General could then appoint other leaders in India, with the monarch's approval.
India and Pakistan became independent in 1947. Governors-General continued to serve in each country until they wrote their own constitutions. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was Governor-General of India for ten months after independence. After him, Indian leaders held the position. India became a secular republic in 1950.
What the Governor-General Did
At first, the Governor-General only had power over the Bengal region. But the Regulating Act gave them more power over foreign affairs and defense. Other British areas in India, like Madras and Bombay, needed the Governor-General's approval to declare war or make peace with Indian rulers.
The India Act 1784 further increased the Governor-General's power in foreign policy. Other governors could not make treaties with Indian rulers without the Governor-General's permission.
The Governor-General became the head of British India with the Charter Act 1833. This act gave them "supervision, direction and control" over all government and military matters in British India. It also gave them the power to make laws.
In 1835, Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of all India.
After 1858, the Governor-General (now called the Viceroy) was the main administrator of India. They also represented the British monarch. India was divided into many provinces, each led by a governor or chief commissioner. The British government appointed governors. The Viceroy appointed other leaders, who reported to him.
The Viceroy also oversaw the most powerful princely rulers. These included the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maharaja of Mysore. Other princely rulers were managed by special agencies or provincial leaders.
The Chamber of Princes was created in 1920. It was a meeting place for princely rulers to share their needs with the government. The Viceroy usually led these meetings once a year.
When India became independent in August 1947, the title of Viceroy was removed. The representative of India's monarch, King George VI, was again called the Governor-General. In 1948, C. Rajagopalachari became the only Indian Governor-General. This role was mostly ceremonial, meaning the Indian government made the daily decisions. When India became a republic in 1950, the president of India took over these functions.
The Governor-General's Council
The Governor-General always had a Council to help with making laws and carrying out duties. The Governor-General, when working with the Council, was called the "Governor-General in Council."
The Regulating Act 1773 said that four advisors would be chosen for the Council. The Governor-General had a vote and a special "casting vote" if there was a tie. The Council's decisions were binding on the Governor-General.
In 1784, the Council was reduced to three members. The Governor-General still had both an ordinary vote and a casting vote. In 1786, the Governor-General's power grew even more, as Council decisions were no longer binding on him.
The Charter Act 1833 made more changes. It was the first law to separate the Governor-General's executive (managing) and legislative (law-making) duties. Four members were appointed to the Council. Three members could take part in all discussions, but the fourth member could only vote on laws.
In 1858, the power to appoint Council members changed. The member who only voted on laws was appointed by the monarch. The other three were appointed by the secretary of state for India.
The Indian Councils Act 1861 changed the Council again. Three members were appointed by the Secretary of State for India, and two by the monarch. By 1869, the monarch appointed all five members. The Viceroy could also appoint six to twelve more members (later increased to sixty). The five members appointed by the monarch or Secretary of State led government departments. The members appointed by the Viceroy discussed and voted on laws.
In 1919, an Indian legislature was created, with a Council of State and a Legislative Assembly. This legislature took over the law-making duties from the Viceroy's Council. However, the Viceroy still had a lot of power over laws. He could spend money without the Legislature's approval for certain purposes, like defense, or during emergencies. He could also stop or veto any bill. If he wanted a bill to pass, and only one part of the legislature agreed, he could declare it passed anyway. The legislature had no power over foreign affairs or defense. The Viceroy appointed the head of the Council of State. The Legislative Assembly elected its head, but the Viceroy had to approve it.
How They Were Addressed
Until 1833, the title was "Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal." The Government of India Act 1833 changed it to "Governor-General of India" from April 22, 1834. The title "Viceroy and Governor-General" was first used in 1858. "Viceroy" means "in place of the king." This title showed the Governor-General's role as the monarch's representative. It was not used when the monarch was actually in India.
The Governor-General was called Excellency and was the most important government official in India. People addressed him as 'Your Excellency'. From 1858 to 1947, the Governor-General was known as the Viceroy of India. Their wives were called Vicereines and were also addressed as 'Your Excellency'.
When the Order of the Star of India was created in 1861, the Viceroy automatically became its grand master. The Viceroy also became the grand master of the Order of the Indian Empire when it was founded in 1877.
Most Governors-General and Viceroys were peers, which means they had noble titles like Lord or Marquess. Sometimes, a Viceroy who was already a peer would be given an even higher title. For example, Lord Reading became a Marquess. Only a few, like Warren Hastings and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, had no special titles.
Flags and Symbols
From about 1885, the Viceroy of India could fly a Union Jack Flag. This flag had a 'Star of India' and a crown in the center. This flag was not just for the Viceroy. Other British officials in India also used it. At sea, only the Viceroy flew the flag from the main mast of a ship.
From 1947 to 1950, the Governor-General of India used a dark blue flag. It had the royal crest (a lion standing on a Crown) and the word 'India' in gold letters below it. Many other Commonwealth countries still use a similar design for their Governors-General. This last flag was only for the Governor-General.
Where They Lived
The Governor-General of Fort William lived in Belvedere House in Calcutta until the early 1800s. Then, Government House was built. Today, Belvedere Estate is home to the National Library of India.
Lord Wellesley built a grand house called Government House in Calcutta between 1799 and 1803. He believed India should be ruled from a palace. This mansion was used until the capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi in 1912. Today, it is called Raj Bhavan and is the home of the governor of West Bengal.
After the capital moved to Delhi, the Viceroy lived in the newly built Viceroy's House. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed it. Construction started in 1912 but finished in 1929. It was officially opened in 1931. The cost was very high. Today, this residence is called 'Rashtrapati Bhavan' and is used by the president of India.
During British rule, Governors-General often went to the Viceregal Lodge in Shimla during the summer. This was to escape the heat. The government of India would move with them. The Viceregal Lodge now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. The Peterhoff building in Shimla was also used by some Viceroys.
Images for kids
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Badge of the Viceroy of India (1876–1904) depicted with St. Edward's Crown
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Standard of the Viceroy and Governor-General (1885–1947)
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Standard of the Governor-General (1947–50)
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