Important Committees / Commissions
Educational Committees / Commissions
| Viceroy | Committee / Commission | Year | Chairman | Key Objective / Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Ripon (1880–1884) | Hunter Commission | 1882 | William Hunter | Examined the condition and development of education, especially primary education, and recommended reforms. |
| Lord Curzon (1899–1905) | University Commission | 1902 | Sir Thomas Raleigh | Reviewed the functioning of Indian Universities and recommended reforms in higher education. |
| Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921) | Calcutta University Commission (Sadler Commission) | 1917 | Michael Sadler | Studied the Calcutta University system and proposed comprehensive reforms in higher education. |
| Lord Reading (1921–1926) | Indian Disbarment Committee | 1923 | Lord Iltcheap | Reviewed matters concerning the Central Advisory Committee on Education and educational administration. |
| Lord Wavell (1943–1947) | Sargent Plan | 1944 | Sir John Sargent | Proposed a long-term blueprint to develop an education system comparable to Britain, including universal elementary education. |
Famine Commissions
| Viceroy | Commission | Year | Chairman | Key Objective / Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Lytton (1876–1880) | Famine Commission | 1880 | Sir Richard Strachey | Investigated famine conditions and suggested relief measures and long-term famine policy. |
| Lord Elgin (1894–1899) | Famine Commission | 1897 | Sir James Lyall | Reviewed earlier famine policies and recommended improvements in relief administration. |
| Lord Curzon (1899–1905) | Famine Commission | 1900 | Sir Antony MacDonnell | Suggested reforms for famine prevention, irrigation, and relief management. |
| Lord Wavell (1943–1947) | Famine Inquiry Commission (Woodhead Commission) | 1943–44 | Sir John Woodhead | Investigated the causes and impact of the Bengal Famine (1943). |
Economic Committees / Commissions
| Viceroy | Committee / Commission | Year | Chairman | Key Objective / Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894) | Herschell Committee | 1893 | Lord Herschell | Recommended reforms relating to currency and coinage. |
| Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894) | Opium Committee | 1893 | — | Examined the effects of opium consumption and the opium trade. |
| Lord Elgin (1894–1899) | Henry Fowler Commission | 1898 | Henry Fowler | Submitted recommendations on currency reforms. |
| Lord Curzon (1899–1905) | Irrigation Commission | 1901 | Sir Colin Scott-Moncrieff | Recommended measures for the expansion and improvement of irrigation. |
| Lord Hardinge (1910–1916) | Maclagan Committee | 1914–15 | Sir Edward Maclagan | Suggested reforms for the development of the Co-operative Movement. |
| Lord Irwin (1926–1931) | Linlithgow Commission | 1928 | Lord Linlithgow | Examined agricultural problems and submitted recommendations for agricultural development. |
| Lord Irwin (1926–1931) | Whitley Commission | 1929 | J.H. Whitley | Investigated labour conditions in industries and plantations. |
| Lord Willingdon (1931–1936) | Indian Delimitation / Measurement Committee | 1935 | Liaquat Hamid (as per the provided notes) | Recommended labour representation in the Federal Assembly. |
| Lord Linlithgow (1936–1943) | National Planning Committee | 1938 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Prepared a comprehensive National Economic Planning framework for India. |
Administrative Committees / Commissions
| Viceroy | Committee / Commission | Year | Chairman | Key Objective / Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Dufferin (1884–1888) | Aitchison (Public Service) Commission | 1886 | Sir Charles Aitchison | Recommended greater Indian participation in the Civil Services. |
| Lord Curzon (1899–1905) | Fraser Commission | 1902 | Sir Andrew Fraser | Examined the organisation and functioning of the Police. |
| Lord Hardinge (1910–1916) | Royal Commission on Civil Services (Islington Commission) | 1912 | Lord Islington | Recommended that 25% of higher Civil Service posts be reserved for Indians. |
| Lord Reading (1921–1926) | Lee Commission | 1924 | Lord Lee of Fareham | Recommended reforms to Indianise the Civil Services and improve recruitment. |
| Lord Reading (1921–1926) | Skeen Committee (Sandhurst Committee) | 1926 | General Sir Andrew Skeen | Recommended Indianisation of the Army and expansion of military training for Indians. |
| Lord Irwin (1926–1931) | Butler Committee | 1927 | Sir Harcourt Butler | Examined the constitutional relationship between the Crown and the Princely States. |
