SSC
The first railway line in India (1853) was started during the time of which Governor-General?
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Answer: Option C — Lord Dalhousie
Detailed Solution
The first passenger train in India ran on 16 April 1853 between Bori Bunder (Bombay) and Thane, a distance of about 34 kilometres. It had 14 carriages carrying about 400 passengers and was pulled by three steam locomotives named Sahib, Sultan and Sindh. The line was built by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP). Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General 1848-1856) strongly supported railway building and is often called the "Father of Indian Railways".
In his Railway Minute of 1853, Dalhousie explained the benefits of railways: faster movement of troops for the defence and control of India, easier transport of raw materials such as cotton from the interior to the ports for export to Britain, and the distribution of British manufactured goods across India. The railways were built mainly by private British companies under a "guarantee system", in which the government guaranteed a minimum return of 5% on their investment.
Dalhousie's time saw several other modern developments:
- The first telegraph line, from Calcutta to Agra, was opened in 1853-54.
- The Post Office Act of 1854 introduced uniform postage rates and postage stamps.
- A separate Public Works Department was created, and work on the Ganga Canal was completed (1854).
- Wood's Despatch on education (1854).
- The Widow Remarriage Act (1856) was passed just after his tenure ended.
Dalhousie is also known for his policy of annexation, especially the Doctrine of Lapse, under which states whose rulers died without a natural heir were annexed. Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854) were annexed in this way. He also annexed Punjab (1849) and Awadh (1856, on grounds of misgovernment). These policies were among the causes of the Revolt of 1857.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Lord Canning was the first Viceroy (1858).
- ✗Lord Hardinge (I) was Governor-General during the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46).
- ✗Lord Auckland was Governor-General during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-42).
Quick tip
Remember: Lord Dalhousie = first railway (Bombay to Thane, 16 April 1853), telegraph, Post Office Act (1854), Doctrine of Lapse, annexation of Punjab and Awadh.
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Governors-General & Viceroys — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Governors-General & Viceroys, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Governors of Bengal, the Governors-General and the Viceroys of India from Warren Hastings to Lord Mountbatten, and the major reforms, policies, acts and events of each tenure. Questions almost always link a Governor-General or Viceroy to an event or reform: the Permanent Settlement under Cornwallis, the abolition of sati under William Bentinck, the doctrine of lapse under Dalhousie, the partition of Bengal under Curzon, and the Vernacular Press Act under Lytton. Revise the list in chronological order, with one or two key events for each. Practise the Governors-General and Viceroys questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.