The first census in India during the British period was conducted during the tenure of which Viceroy of India?

Introduction / Context:
Population censuses provide essential data for planning, taxation, and administration. In India, modern census operations began under British rule and eventually became a regular decennial exercise. This question asks which Viceroy oversaw the first census conducted during the British period, a detail that often appears in Indian history and population geography sections of competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to the first census in India under British administration.
• It asks for the name of the Viceroy at that time.
• Options list several Viceroys: Lord Dufferin, Lord Lytton, Lord Mayo, Lord Ripon, and Lord Curzon.
• We assume the standard historical explanation that distinguishes between the first census and later synchronous censuses.

Concept / Approach:
The first census in India under British rule was carried out in 1872. At that time, Lord Mayo served as the Viceroy of India. This census was not fully synchronous across the country but marked the beginning of systematic population enumeration. A later census in 1881 under Lord Ripon is often called the first synchronous census, yet the initial exercise in 1872 is still recognised as the first census. Therefore, when the question refers to the first census in India during the British period, the Viceroy associated with that event is Lord Mayo.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the year 1872 is linked with the first census conducted under British rule in India. Step 2: Identify the Viceroy of India during that period, which historical records show as Lord Mayo. Step 3: Recognise that the 1881 census under Lord Ripon is significant as the first synchronous census, but not the very first census. Step 4: Compare these details with the answer options. Step 5: Select Lord Mayo as the correct answer for the first census in 1872.

Verification / Alternative check:
History and geography textbooks that discuss census development in India usually state that the first census was conducted in 1872 under the Viceroy Lord Mayo. They then note that from 1881 onward, censuses were held every ten years, with the 1881 census under Lord Ripon being the first to cover the entire country in a uniform way. Exam guides also repeat this distinction, ensuring that students associate Lord Mayo with the first census and Lord Ripon with the first synchronous census.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Dufferin and Lord Curzon served as Viceroys later in the colonial period, after the initial census exercises had already begun.
Lord Lytton was Viceroy between 1876 and 1880, again after the 1872 census had been conducted.
Lord Ripon is linked to the 1881 census, which is important but is the first synchronous census, not the first census under British rule.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to confuse the first census with the first synchronous census; students then pick Lord Ripon instead of Lord Mayo. Another pitfall is treating all Viceroys as equally likely and guessing without recalling the timeline. To avoid these mistakes, learners should remember the simple pairing: 1872 census under Lord Mayo as the first, and 1881 census under Lord Ripon as the first fully synchronous national census in India.

Final Answer:
The first census in India during the British period was conducted during the tenure of Lord Mayo.