Difference between Governors-General & Viceroys - Presenting Modern Indian History

Are you also confused with several ambiguous notions regarding differences between Governors-General and Viceroys of British India? 

Not clear? Who was the first Governor-General of India - Warren Hastings or William Bentinck?

On exploring more, you will get several relevant questions like Why was C. Rajagopalachari appointed as the only first & the last Indian Governor-General of Independent India even after getting freedom from British Raj? Okay. Okay…..Who was Lord Mountbatten then? 

If you are one looking for answers to these questions, you are at the right place. 

Let's recall everything from the very beginning when the East India Company (EIC) gradually started laying down the foundation of the British Rule in India through its political and administrative interferences along with trading activities. 

The Battle of Plassey which was fought in 1757 between Siraj-ud-Daulah, the then Nawab of Bengal and the forces of the East India Company led by Robert Clive gave an immersive power to the East India Company to elongate its territorial power and expansion of administrative interferences. This is just to let you know that the defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey is considered as the key factor in laying down the founding stone of the British Raj in India. 

After the Battle of Plassey, the Battle of Buxar, and the first Anglo-Mysore, the Parliament of Great Britain passed an Act, also known as the Regulating Act of 1773, to rebuild the management of the East India Company. 

The Regulating Act of 1773 merged the presidencies of Madras and Bombay under Bengal's control as it was one of the main centres of the economic activities and trade of the English East India Company. Following the expansion and the merger of presidencies, the then Governor of Bengal, Warren Hastings, was appointed as the Governor-General of Bengal. 

This way, Warren Hastings came to be known as the first Governor-General of India but representing only Bengal Presidency. 

In the later 1833, an Act known as the Charter Act of 1833 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom with an objective to provide for an extension of the royal charter granted to the East India Company. Following the provisions of the Charter Act of 1833, the title of the Governor-General of Bengal was redesigned as the Governor-General of India. This way, the then Governor-General of the Bengal Presidency, Lord William Bentinck, became the first Governor-General of India in 1833.

Now, it's clear that Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of India but representing only the Presidency of Bengal and Lord William Bentinck was the first official Governor-General of India representing the rule of British Empire in India. 

Following the consequences caused due to the Indian Revolution of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed an Act in the year 1858, which is known as the the Government of India Act 1858. Due to the provisions of this Act, the territories and assets of the East India Company came under the direct control of the British Crown and as a major consequence, the Company Raj was succeeded by the British Raj.

Now, let's see what happened later on after the passing of the Government of India Act of 1858 and transfer of whole territorial and administrative power from the East India Company to British Crown. 

Following the provisions of the Government of India Act 1858, an additional title of Viceroy was granted to the Governor-General and the ruling administrator came to be known as "the Viceroy and Governor-General of India". However, this long and additional title was usually shortened to "the Viceroy of India" only. 

During the Revolt of 1857, Charles John Canning, also known as Lord Canning, was the then Governor-General of India. Later on, he was appointed as the first Viceroy of India. 

Now, the point is clear. The administrative rulers, before the revolt of 1857, were known as the Governors-General and after the revolt, they were entitled as the Viceroys. 

Let's move forward and see what happened after the Independence of India in 1947. 

In the year 1947, the British Rule came to an end and India got freedom and was also partitioned into two independent nations. Following the end of the British Raj, the title of Viceroy also ended but Governor-General remained the same. This way, the then and the last Viceroy of India, the Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, popularly known as Lord Mountbatten, became the first and the last British Governor-General of Independent India. In June 1948, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten, and became the first and the last Indian Governor-General of Independent India and served until the Constitution of India was enforced. 

On 26 January, 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and with the abolishment of the title of Governor-General, Dr. Rajendra Prasad took the oath as the first President of Independent India. 

Didn't you notice, I neither mentioned anything about the functions and the powers of Governors-General and Viceroys nor explained anywhere who they were actually throughout the article. Nothing surprising, see, in 1950, the post of Governors-General was replaced by the President. However, I don't proclaim, but now you can analyse the powers and functions of the Governors-General and Viceroys. 

Thank you dear reader for being here.