Question

Which Governor General was called as the Father of Local Self-Government in India?
1. Lord Wellesley
2. Lord Canning
3. Lord William Bentick
4. Lord Ripon

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Lord Ripon

The correct answer is Lord Ripon.

• Lord Ripon, British Governor-General was called the Father of Local Self-Government in India.
• Lord Ripon was a British viceroy who gave wider rights and powers to local bodies in 1882.
• He started the local self-government and laid the foundations of representative institutions in India.

• Lord Ripon (1880-1884):
  • Lord Ripon was appointed as Viceroy of India in 1880.
  • Lord Ripon was the son of Prime Minister F.J.Robinson(UK).
  • The Financial liberalization that started under Lord Mayo (1869-1872) was continued by Lord Ripon.
  • The resolution helped to establish Local Boards with non-Official members at the provincial level and it was the basis of modern-day municipalities in this country.
  • The Factory Act: The first factory was passed by Lord Ripon. The act prohibited the working of children below seven years and a limited number of working hours for children below 12 years.
  • Lord Ripon appointed an education commissioner under the chairmanship of Sir William Hunter.
  • He also increased the age requirement for civil services from 18 years to 21 years which was reduced by Lord Lytton (1876-1880) from 21 years to 18 years. ​

• ​Lord Wellesley (1798-1805):
  • He introduced Subsidiary Alliance by virtue of which the Indian kingdoms lost their sovereignty to the English during 1798.
  • Fourth Anglo Mysore was fought during his tenure.
• Lord Canning (1856-1862):
  • During his tenure, the Government of India Act, 1858 was passed which created the office of Viceroy to be held by the same person who was Governor-General of India.
  • Thus, he also served as the first Viceroy of India.
• Lord William Bentinck(1828-1835):
  • During his tenure, the Charter Act of 1833 was passed.
  • He abolished the Sati system.