The answer to 'who was the first Governor-General of India' depends on the context: (1) First Governor-General of Bengal: Warren Hastings (1773); (2) First Governor-General of India (entire British India): Lord William Bentinck (1833); (3) First Governor-General after Independence: Lord Mountbatten (1947); (4) First Indian Governor-General: C. Rajagopalachari / Rajaji (1948–1950).
First Governor-General of Bengal: Warren Hastings (1773, under Regulating Act).
First Governor-General of India (all of British India): Lord William Bentinck (1833).
First Governor-General after Independence: Lord Mountbatten (August 1947).
First Indian Governor-General: C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), 1948–1950.
Last Governor-General of India: C. Rajagopalachari (office abolished on 26 Jan 1950).
First President of India (after Republic): Dr. Rajendra Prasad (26 January 1950).
Quick Summary (Most Common GK Questions):
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| First GG of Bengal | Warren Hastings (1773) |
| First GG of India (unified) | Lord William Bentinck (1833) |
| First GG after Independence | Lord Mountbatten (1947) |
| First Indian GG | C. Rajagopalachari (1948) |
| Last GG of India | C. Rajagopalachari (1950 → became Republic) |
Detailed Notes:
Warren Hastings (1773–1785): • First Governor-General of Bengal (not of all India) • Appointed under the Regulating Act of 1773 • Created a unified administration for Bengal, Bihar, Orissa • Tried for impeachment by British Parliament; acquitted
Lord William Bentinck (1833–1835): • First Governor-General of India (entire British India) • The Charter Act of 1833 merged Bombay and Madras presidencies under one Governor-General • Abolished Sati (1829) — with Raja Ram Mohan Roy • Abolished child sacrifice and Thugee (Thuggee Suppression Act 1836)
Lord Mountbatten (June 1947 – June 1948): • Last Viceroy of British India • First Governor-General of independent India • Presided over Partition of India (15 August 1947)
C. Rajagopalachari / Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) (1948–1950): • First and Last Indian Governor-General • Appointed after Mountbatten returned to England • India became a Republic on 26 January 1950 → office of GG abolished • He became the first Governor of West Bengal (1947–48) before becoming GG
After 1950: • Republic of India → President replaced the Governor-General • First President of India: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (26 January 1950)
NCERT: Class 8 History Chapter 2 — From Trade to Territory; Class 10 History
The answer depends on context: (1) First Governor-General of Bengal: Warren Hastings (1773, under the Regulating Act). (2) First Governor-General of unified British India: Lord William Bentinck (1833, under the Charter Act of 1833). (3) First Governor-General after Independence: Lord Mountbatten (1947). (4) First Indian Governor-General: C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), 1948–1950 — also the last, as India became a Republic on 26 January 1950.
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