Under whose administration was the practice of Sati officially abolished in British India?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Lord William Bentinck.

• The practice of Sati was officially abolished under the administration of Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835.

• Bentinck's government passed the Sati Regulation Act (1829), which made the practice illegal and punishable by law, marking a significant reform in British India.

• His administration was instrumental in many progressive reforms, including the promotion of education and the founding of institutions like the Fort William College for Indian languages.

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer, played a major role in advocating for the abolition of Sati and was a close ally of Bentinck in achieving this landmark reform.

Information Booster:

• Lord William Bentinck (Governor-General: 1828–1835): Bentinck is known for his progressive reforms, such as the abolition of Sati, support for education, and the introduction of legal reforms. He was a strong proponent of modernizing India’s administration.

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a key figure in the Brahmo Samaj, worked alongside Bentinck to end Sati and advocated for the rights of women in India.

Other Administrations and Key Reforms:

• Lord Cornwallis (Governor-General: 1786–1793): Cornwallis is known for introducing the permanent settlement system in Bengal, which led to the creation of a fixed tax system. 

• Lord Canning (Governor-General: 1856–1862): Canning is most famously known for his role during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After the rebellion, he was responsible for the reorganization of British rule in India, which led to the end of the East India Company's rule and the beginning of direct British Crown rule.

• Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General: 1848–1856): Dalhousie is best known for his administrative reforms and the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex Indian princely states if the ruler had no male heir. He also laid the foundation for the development of India's railway system and introduced other modern infrastructure projects.