Which one of the following Viceroys was the first to officially shift

Which one of the following Viceroys was the first to officially shift his Council to Simla in summer season?

[amp_mcq option1=”John Lawrence” option2=”Lord Dalhousie” option3=”Lord Mayo” option4=”William Bentinck” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC CDS-1 – 2023

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Lord John Lawrence, who served as Viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869, was the first Viceroy to officially shift the entire Council of the Governor-General (Viceroy’s Council) to Simla for the summer season. This practice continued for many decades thereafter, making Simla the summer capital of British India.

– The practice of shifting the capital to a hill station during summer was adopted by the British Raj due to the extreme heat in the plains.
– While Simla was used by Governors-General for recreation earlier, Lord Lawrence formalized the shifting of the entire administrative machinery, including the Council.

Other Viceroys like Lord Dalhousie visited Simla, but the full shift of the Council and government was initiated by Lord Lawrence in 1864. William Bentinck is credited with popularizing Simla as a hill station. Lord Mayo was Viceroy after Lawrence.

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