During the viceroyalty of which British administrator was the capital of British India shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911?

Introduction / Context:
The transfer of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi was a major administrative and symbolic decision in colonial history. This change reflected strategic, political, and historical considerations of the British rulers. Examinations on Indian history and polity frequently ask about the viceroy under whose tenure this important shift took place, so that candidates connect key events with the corresponding colonial administrators.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the transfer of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi.
• The event took place in the year 1911 during the period of British rule.
• The options list well known viceroys and governors general such as Lord Canning, Lord Hardinge, Lord Lytton, and Lord Clive.
• We are asked specifically to identify the viceroy during whose tenure this decision and announcement were made.

Concept / Approach:
The capital shift was formally announced during the Delhi Durbar held in December 1911. At that time, the Viceroy and Governor General of India was Lord Hardinge of Penshurst, commonly referred to as Lord Hardinge. Questions of this type require factual recall of a pairing between an event and a person, so the approach is mainly mnemonic and based on standard chronology of viceroys and major events. By remembering that the Delhi Durbar of 1911, the visit of King George the Fifth, and the decision to move the capital all took place under Lord Hardinge, we can confidently pick the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the year mentioned is 1911 and the event is the shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Step 2: Recall that this decision was announced at the Delhi Durbar of 1911, which was attended by King George the Fifth. Step 3: From standard lists of viceroys and their periods of office, remember that Lord Hardinge served as Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916. Step 4: Compare the tenure of each listed viceroy. Lord Canning was associated with the revolt of 1857, Lord Lytton with the second Afghan War and the Vernacular Press Act, and Lord Clive served earlier as Governor and is known for the Battle of Plassey. Step 5: Identify Lord Hardinge as the viceroy whose tenure overlaps with the year 1911 and who presided over the Delhi Durbar in which the capital shift was announced. Step 6: Select Lord Hardinge as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can cross check with a basic history text or a chronology chart of British viceroys. Such charts usually list important events against each viceroy. Under Lord Hardinge, they mention the Delhi Durbar of 1911, the visit of the monarch, and the announcement that the capital of British India would move from Calcutta to Delhi. This independent confirmation matches the reasoning based on dates and events, which confirms that the decision took place during the viceroyalty of Lord Hardinge, not during the time of Canning, Lytton, or Clive.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Canning was the Governor General and later Viceroy during the revolt of 1857 and the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown, which is far earlier than 1911. Lord Lytton served from 1876 to 1880 and is associated with the second Afghan War and measures such as the Vernacular Press Act, but not with the capital relocation. Lord Clive was never a viceroy and belongs to an even earlier period, primarily connected with the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the expansion of company rule in Bengal. None of these periods coincide with the 1911 decision to shift the capital.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Lord Hardinge with Lord Harding due to spelling variants, but for examination purposes both refer to the same viceroy, Lord Hardinge of Penshurst. Another pitfall is mixing up events associated with different viceroys, such as attributing the capital shift to Lord Curzon or Lord Lytton simply because they are remembered as prominent administrators. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to memorise a small table that pairs each viceroy with two or three landmark events, and revise it regularly.

Final Answer:
The capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911 during the viceroyalty of Lord Hardinge.