Who was the first Governor General of Bengal, often regarded as the first Governor General of India?

Introduction / Context:
The post of Governor General of Bengal was an important milestone in the establishment of British rule in India. The person who first held this office is often treated in exams as the first Governor General of India because authority gradually extended from Bengal to other regions. This question checks whether you can correctly identify that pioneering office holder.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is limited to the office of Governor General of Bengal.
• The holders of this post later came to be seen as Governor Generals of India.
• The options include four well known British administrators.

Concept / Approach:
The Regulating Act of seventeen seventy three created the post of Governor General of Bengal and made the governors of Bombay and Madras subordinate to him in certain matters. Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor General of Bengal under this Act. Later figures such as Lord William Bentinck and Lord Dalhousie also served as Governor Generals, but they came after Hastings in the chronological order.

Step by Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Regulating Act seventeen seventy three restructured East India Company administration. Step 2: Under this Act, the Governor of Bengal was elevated to the rank of Governor General of Bengal. Step 3: Warren Hastings, who had already been Governor of Bengal, became the first person to hold the new title. Step 4: Later, Lord William Bentinck and Lord Dalhousie also became Governor Generals but only after Hastings. Step 5: Lord Canning was even later, known for the revolt of eighteen fifty seven and the title Viceroy after Crown rule, so he cannot be first.

Verification / Alternative check:
History references on the evolution of British administration in India clearly list Warren Hastings as Governor General from seventeen seventy three to seventeen eighty five. Many objective type summaries mention him as the first Governor General of India, even though the formal title specified Bengal. This is because Bengal was the main base from which British authority expanded. This consistent listing across exam guides confirms the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Canning: He was Governor General and later Viceroy during the revolt of eighteen fifty seven, far later than Hastings, so he is not the first.
Lord William Bentinck: He introduced many social and administrative reforms but served after Hastings, so he cannot be the first.
Lord Dalhousie: Known for the doctrine of lapse and expansionist policies, but his tenure was in the mid nineteenth century, again much later.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse different administrative titles such as Governor, Governor General, and Viceroy. Others quickly pick a more familiar name like Lord Canning without considering chronological order. It is helpful to memorize the first few office holders in sequence so that these fact based questions become straightforward.

Final Answer:
The first Governor General of Bengal was Warren Hastings, who is often regarded as the first Governor General of India.