Question

Who became the first Viceroy of India under the Act of 1858?

Answer 1

Hint: After the Indian Mutiny of 1857 also known as First War of Independence, when Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal emperor was disposed of then the control of British India was shifted to the Crown from the East India Company. She accepted the offer on 1 May 1876 with it being officially proclaimed in India in January 1877.

Complete answer: Lord Charles Canning was born on 14th December in 1812 at Brompton near London. He was a graduate from Oxford University in classics and mathematics. He was an active participant in various administrative tasks of Britain hence was selected for the post of Governor-General of India. He followed a policy of reconciliation with the Indian princes when he took the charge on 28th February 1856 as the Governor-General of India. He eliminated the doctrine of lapse, as it was one of the primary reasons of the mutiny of 1857, he refused the extension of territories under the doctrine of lapse because it caused resentment and vengeance among the Indian kings. He was referred to as Earl Canning, in 1859, under his rule, the income tax was introduced along with the Indian civil Act under which Indians were eligible for appointment to any of the offices apart from civil services. In June 1862 he expired after returning to England and left the office of India in March 1862.

Note: The viceroy of India was the representative of the Monarch of the united kingdom, these governors headed the central administration and worked towards establishing the British paramountcy in British India.