Indian viceroys were the direct representatives of the British Crown. The office of the Governor-General was renamed to Indian Viceroys in 1876 after the administration of India was transferred to Queen Victoria and she was declared the Empress of India. The title "Governor General" applied to his relationship to the British Provinces of India (Punjab, Bengal, Bombay, Madras, United Provinces, etc.). However with the transfer of powers the Indian provinces came directly under the British dominion.

The title of Indian Viceroys remained in existence from 1858 till 1947, when India became independent in 1947. The office of Governor General continued to exist until India adopted a republican constitution in 1950. British India witnessed several the appointments of several proficient viceroys who further helped to consolidate the British Empire.

Lord Lytton held the office of Indian Viceroy from 1876 - 1880. He was appointed as the Governor of Bengal from1922 to1927. He was appointed to this post at a very crucial time when the colonial government was determined to implement the India Act of 1919 and when Indian National Congress was determined to get this unacceptable Act annulled. Throughout this period he faced resistance from the Swarajya Party. He was also responsible for passing the Vernacular Press Act (1878).

Lord Ripon (1880 - 1884) stepped into the shoes of Lytton as the Indian viceroy. He was sent with the avowed purpose of reversing the Afghan policy and introducing a more sympathetic system into the administration of India. He repealed the abhorrent Vernacular Press Act of Lytton. He also introduced a system of local self-government. His one more measure, the IIbert Bill extending the jurisdiction of Indian magistrates over Europeans involved in Criminal offences made him at popular with the Indians. The European community in India opposed the measure tooth and nail and insulted Lord Ripon publicly.

Lord Dufferin (1884 - 1888) succeeded Ripon in December1884. During his administration Burma ceased to be an independent power. In the case of Burma its Northern Province Pegu was already annexed for the same reason. The remaining part was also annexed on January 1, 1886. It was during his tenure that the Indian National Congress was formed. After Dufferin it was the turn of Lord Lansdowne (1888 - 1894) to carry on with the responsibilities of an Indian Viceroy. During his office the Indian Council Act of 1892 was passed.

Lord Elgin II (1894 - 1899) succeeded Lansdowne. The great famine took place during this time and the Lyall Commission was appointed to look into the matter. Lord Curzon (l899-1905) was next to follow. He was an out and out imperialist. He forced the Nizam to cede permanently the province of Vidarbha (Berar`s 4 districts). He carried his measure of the Partition of the Bengal through, despite severe opposition of the Bengalese. This gave rise to a countrywide agitation and brought all the political leaders of all the provinces under the banner of the Indian National Congress, and India through the" agitation emerged as a modern State.

Lord Minto held office from 1905 - 1910. A great political unrest prevailed during this time. Fuelled by the partition of Bengal and the following atrocities, the British Raj was threatened by revolutionaries and congress extremists. To protect the Raj`s cause a series of Acts were passed under Lord Minto`s administration to restrain the revolutionary activities. The Morley-Minto reforms were passed during his office. Chronologically Lord Hardinge (1910 - 1916), Lord Reading (1921 - 1926) and Lord Irwin (1926 - 1931) were appointed to the posts of the Indian Viceroys. It was during the tenure of Irwin that India witnessed Simon commission, Dandi March, Civil Disobedience Movement and the Gandhi Irwin Pact.

Lord Willington (1931 - 1936) was the successor of Irwin. Lord Linlithgow (1936 - 1944), Lord Wavell (1944 - 1947) and Lord Mountbatten (March1947 - August 1947) were the last Indian Viceroys. With Indian independence the office of the Indian Viceroy was dissolved.