A historical series of British Governors General and Viceroys is given as ?, Charles Cornwallis, Lord Dalhousie, Lord Canning, Lord Curzon. Choose the name that correctly completes this sequence in chronological order.

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the sequence of British Governors General and Viceroys who administered India during the colonial period. The learner is given a partial list and must identify which office holder appears immediately before Charles Cornwallis in chronological order. Understanding the rough timeline of British rule is important for many history and general studies examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Given series: ?, Charles Cornwallis, Lord Dalhousie, Lord Canning, Lord Curzon. All names are associated with the British administration of India. The series is arranged chronologically from earlier to later office holders. Exact years are not required, but relative order is crucial.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, Warren Hastings is widely known as the first Governor General of Bengal under the regulating act reforms. After him, Charles Cornwallis took office. Lord Dalhousie came later and is associated with the Doctrine of Lapse, followed by Lord Canning during the revolt of 1857 and the early years of Crown rule. Lord Curzon served as Viceroy around the turn of the twentieth century. The question therefore expects identification of the early head of administration who preceded Cornwallis in that sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Warren Hastings is often called the first Governor General in India in the late eighteenth century. Step 2: After Warren Hastings, Charles Cornwallis became Governor General and is remembered for several important administrative reforms. Step 3: Lord Dalhousie came later in the nineteenth century and aggressively expanded British territory through the Doctrine of Lapse. Step 4: Lord Canning served during the revolt of 1857 and oversaw the transition from East India Company rule to Crown rule. Step 5: Lord Curzon served even later as Viceroy in the early twentieth century, associated with events such as the partition of Bengal. Step 6: Thus, the missing first name in the series, directly preceding Cornwallis, must be Warren Hastings.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification is to recall a simplified timeline of British heads in India: Warren Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, Dalhousie, Canning, and later Curzon among others. The given series skips some names but preserves the correct order among those shown. Since Cornwallis is the second in that list and Warren Hastings is the first, he is the only option that correctly fits before Cornwallis. The other choices belong to much later periods closer to the end of colonial rule.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Irwin served as Viceroy much later, around the time of the Civil Disobedience Movement, so he cannot precede Cornwallis. Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India before independence and came long after Curzon, not before Cornwallis. C. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor General after independence and is therefore completely out of place at the beginning of this colonial sequence. Lord Wellesley, although an important Governor General, came after Cornwallis and thus cannot be the missing first term here.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often mix up the order of British officials because many names repeat in exam questions. A frequent mistake is to select a well known later Viceroy like Curzon or Mountbatten simply due to familiarity, without checking time periods. Remembering the early trio of Warren Hastings, Cornwallis, and Wellesley in that order can help anchor the earlier part of the timeline and reduce confusion in similar series based questions.

Final Answer:
The correct name to complete the series is Warren Hastings.