Which one of the following Viceroys was the first to officially shift his Council to Simla in summer season?
- A.John Lawrence
- B.Lord Dalhousie
- C.Lord Mayo
- D.William Bentinck
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, John Lawrence. In 1864 Sir John Lawrence made Simla the official summer capital, moving the Viceroy and his Council there from Calcutta for the hot months.
Governors-General had visited Simla for its cool climate since the 1820s, but before Lawrence these were private retreats and the government stayed in Calcutta. Lawrence, Viceroy from 1864 to 1869, took the Council up to the hills every summer, and later Viceroys kept up the practice. He is also remembered for his policy of masterly inactivity towards Afghanistan. Simla, now Shimla, is today the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Option B is wrong because Lord Dalhousie (1848 to 1856) was a Governor-General, not a Viceroy; the title of Viceroy began with Canning in 1858. Option C is wrong because Lord Mayo came after Lawrence, from 1869 until his assassination in the Andamans in 1872. Option D is wrong because William Bentinck, the first Governor-General of India from 1833, ruled long before Simla became a summer capital.
Exam tip: Simla became the summer capital in 1864 under Sir John Lawrence; the first Viceroy was Canning, 1858.
Practice Questions
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- A.He was a member of the moderate group of Congress.
- B.He was a member of the extremist group of Congress.
- C.He was the Minister of Defence in the first Government of independent India.
- D.He was the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
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- D.Lord Dufferin
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Statement II : After Kalinga War, Ashoka was remorseful and became a Buddhist.
- A.Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
- B.Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
- C.Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D.Statement I is false but Statement II is true
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- C.Tortoiseshell
- D.Nutmeg
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