Modern Indian history: who was the Governor General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to modern Indian history and tests factual knowledge about British governors general. The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also called the First War of Independence by many historians, was a major uprising against British rule. Knowing who was the Governor General of India during this event is a frequently asked point in competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The event in focus is the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
We are asked to identify the Governor General of India at that time.
Options include several British administrators who served in India in the nineteenth century.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, we rely on standard chronological details of British rule. Lord Dalhousie served as Governor General before 1857 and is known for annexations such as Awadh and for policies like the Doctrine of Lapse, which were among the causes of the revolt. However, he had left office by the time the rebellion actually broke out. Lord Canning was the Governor General when the revolt started in 1857 and continued during its suppression. Later, after the revolt, he became the first Viceroy of India when rule shifted from the East India Company to the British Crown under the Government of India Act of 1858.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the approximate time period of the Sepoy Mutiny, which is the year 1857. Step 2: List mentally the sequence of Governors General around that time, remembering that Lord Dalhousie served earlier in the 1848 to 1856 period. Step 3: Note that Lord Canning took office as Governor General in 1856, just before the revolt. Step 4: Remember that the uprising of 1857 occurred under his administration. Step 5: Choose Lord Canning as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history textbooks confirm that Lord Canning held the office of Governor General at the outbreak of the revolt and later became the first Viceroy. Many exam oriented summaries also refer to him as Clemency Canning because of his comparatively moderate policy after the rebellion. This association further confirms that Lord Canning is the correct choice for the Governor General during the revolt of 1857.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Lord Dalhousie did serve as Governor General but his tenure ended just before the revolt. His policies contributed to the causes of the mutiny, but he was not in office when it occurred.
Option B Lord Hardinge served earlier in the 1840s and was associated with wars such as the First Anglo Sikh War, not with the 1857 uprising.
Option D Lord Lytton was Viceroy much later, in the late nineteenth century, and is linked with events like the Second Afghan War and the Vernacular Press Act.
Option E Lord Ripon also served later and is remembered for his relatively liberal reforms and the Ilbert Bill controversy, not for the Sepoy Mutiny.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the Governor General whose policies caused discontent with the one who was in office during the uprising. It is essential to distinguish between causes and the administration under which the event actually occurred. A quick mental time line of major Governors General and Viceroys with their key events is an effective tool for avoiding such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
The Governor General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was Lord Canning.