UPSC Prelims 2008 Q84: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
- (a) Lord Irwin
- (b) Lord Reading
- (c) Lord Chelmsford
- (d) Lord Wavell
Answer: (c) Lord Chelmsford
Explanation
Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed
This repressive 1919 legislation was enacted during a specific Viceroy's tenure.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Lord Irwin | Incorrect | Served as Viceroy later, not during the Rowlatt Act's passage |
| (b) Lord Reading | Incorrect | Also served later |
| (c) Lord Chelmsford | Correct | Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 |
| (d) Lord Wavell | Incorrect | Served much later, during the 1940s |
Rowlatt Act facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
| Viceroy | Lord Chelmsford |
Answer: (c) Lord Chelmsford.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Lord Irwin served as Viceroy later, not in 1919.
- (b) Incorrect. Lord Reading also served later.
- (c) CORRECT. Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy when the Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919.
- (d) Incorrect. Lord Wavell served much later, in the 1940s.
Key point
Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919.
Remember
Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Lord Chelmsford's 1919 tenure with later Viceroys (Irwin, Reading, Wavell).
- Not knowing the specific 1919 Rowlatt Act timeline.
- Mixing up the sequence of British Viceroys during the freedom struggle.
Exam tip
Rowlatt Act (1919) = passed during Lord Chelmsford's Viceroyalty. A specific, named historical pairing.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — Modern India (NCERT textbook for Class XII)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford