Lord Curzon, in full George Nathaniel Curzon, Marquess Curzon, also called (1898–1911) Baron Curzon of Kedleston or (1911–21) Earl Curzon of Kedleston, (born January 11, 1859, Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, England—died March 20, 1925, London), British statesman, viceroy of India (1898–1905), and foreign secretary (1919–24) who during his terms in office played a major role in British policy making.

1. Dr.R.Pricila

2. LORD CURZON (1899-1905)
 George Nathaniel Curzon, popularly
known as Lord Curzon became the
Governor-General and Viceroy of India in
1899 in succession to Lord Elgin II.
Dr.R.Pricila

3. INTERNALADMINISTRATION
 In the internal sphere Lord Curzon
introduced a number of measures to make
the administration more efficient.
 There was hardly any department of
government administration which escaped
his attention.
 He appointed a number of expert
commissions to look into the working of the
various departments and enacted necessary
laws in the light of the recommendations
made by these Commissions.
Dr.R.Pricila

4. FAMINE POLICY
 As a result of the serious famine and draught
of 1899-1900 the people of South, Central and
Western India had to face great hardship.
More than 10 lakh people lost their lives in
British India alone.
Further the relief measures adopted by the
Government cost the exchequer over six
million sterling's.
Despite this the people were quite dissatisfied
with the government arrangement.
Dr.R.Pricila

5.  Lord Curzon appointed a Famine Commission
under Sir Anthony MacDonnell to inquire into the
results of the famine operations.
 The commission reported that the relief provided to
the people was excessive undue emphasis had been
laid on the gratuitous measures.
 It also laid down rules for dealing with the fodder
famine.
 The other recommendations made by the
Commission included the securing of co-operation
from non-official agencies in the relief work,
construction of more railways so that foodstuffs
may be quickly transported to the famine affected
areas at time of need, establishment of agriculture
banks and co-operative credit societies, greater
irrigation facilities etc.
Dr.R.Pricila

6. AGRICULTURAL REFORMS
 Curzon introduced a number of reforms
to improve the conditions of the peasants.
 First of all he paid attention to the
deteriorating conditions of the
agriculturalists in Punjab where the
money lenders and Mahajans had
deprived a number of agriculturists of
their land by mortgaging the same.
Dr.R.Pricila

7.  Curzon was not certainly opposed to the
extremely high rate of interest.
 He therefore decided to save the
agriculturalists from the clutches of the
money-lenders and enacted the Punjab
Alienation Act,1900.
 Under this Act the non-agriculturists were
deprived of the right to purchase land
from the agriculturalists without the
permission of the Government.
 They could not keep any agricultural land
under mortgage for more than 20 years.
Dr.R.Pricila

8.  The Act also laid down that the
agriculturist’s land could not be attached in
payment of debt.
 With a view to free the agriculturists from
the clutches of the money-lender class
Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies
were set up all over the country.
 These societies provided loans to the
agriculturists at reasonable rate of interest.
 As result of this reform the money-lenders
were forced to soften their terms of lending
which greatly benefited the agriculturists.
Dr.R.Pricila

9.  Lord Curzon set up a new Department of
Agriculture at the centre.
 This department was headed by a senior
officer known as Inspector General of
Agricultural Department.
 This department encouraged scientific
methods of cultivation and rearing of live
stocks.
 For the purpose of conducting research in
agriculture Lord Curzon set up a Research
Institute at Pusa in Bihar.
Dr.R.Pricila

10.  Greater irrigation facilities were provided for
the improvement of agriculture.
 The canal system provided for the
improvement of agriculture.
 The canal system in Punjab was greatly
improved.
 He also under took the construction of
Upper Jhelum, Upper Chanab, Doab and
Lower Bari Doab canals for this purpose.
 But properly the most significant step in the
direction of improving the condition of the
agriculturists was the Land Resolution of
1902 which pleaded for greater elasticity in
revenue collection and reduction of
assessment in case of the failure of crops.
Dr.R.Pricila

11.  In other word this resolution insisted that
the Government ‘s demand should
depend on the character of the season.
 It was also provided that any increase in
the land revenue, was to be gradual.
FINANCIAL REFORMS
Lord Curzon carried out a number of
financial reforms too.
Under the Indian Coinage and Paper
Currency Act of 1899 the British Sovereign
was made a legal tender in India, and its
rate was fixed at fifteen rupees to a
sovereign.
Dr.R.Pricila

12.  Thus India was put on gold standard.
 However, this system could not work
properly and government was forced to
make certain modifications.
 Under this Gold Exchange Standard Plan
evolved subsequently the government
decided to give rupee in return for gold and
gold for rupees only in case of foreign
remittances.
 The other important financial measures of
Curzon included the reduction of salt tax by
about 50 percent, raising of the limit of
taxable income from Rs. 500 to 1000, and
remission of taxes during the outbreak of
famine of 1899-1900.
Dr.R.Pricila

13. RAILYWAY REFORMS
 Lord Curzon also introduced certain
reforms in the railways.
 When he assumed office two systems of
railway management were operating side
by side.
 While certain railways under the
management of Companies, the others
were being controlled by the Public
Works Department of the Government.
Dr.R.Pricila

14.  Lord Curzon set up a railway Commission
under Sir Robertson to suggest
improvements in the railway administration.
 The commission suggested that the railways
should be run on commercial lines.
 Lord Curzon accepted the recommendation
of the Commission and accordingly
introduced radical changes in the railway
administration.
 He abolished the Railway Branch of the
Public Railway Board consisting of three
members.
Dr.R.Pricila

15.  He also paid attention to the expansion of
railways and opened a number of new
lines.
 It is estimated that during his times more
than 28,150 miles of railway lines were
completed while another 317 miles of
railway line was under construction.
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
 According to Frazer one of the greatest
achievement of Lord Curzon was in the
field of education.
Dr.R.Pricila

16.  In 1902 he appointed a Universities
Commission under Sir Thomas Raleigh,
the Law Member of the Government of
India.
 The Indian members were also associated
with the Commission.
 The Commission after five months of
deliberations submitted its report which
formed the basis of the Universities Bill
enacted in March 1904.
 Under the Universities Act of 1904 the size
of the Syndicate and Senates of the
Universities was reduced.
Dr.R.Pricila

17.  This led to greater government control
over the Universities.
 The senate of a University was to have
not less than 50 and not more than 100
members.
 The strength of the elected fellows was
fixed at 20 for the Universities of Calcutta,
Bombay and Madras; and 15 for the other
two universities.
 The educational reforms of Curzon met
with severe criticism at the hands of
Indians.
Dr.R.Pricila

18.  Lord Curzon introduced these changes
with purely political motives and wanted
to prevent the Universities from becoming
the nurseries of nationalism and to
continue imperialistic rule in India.
 However, it cannot be denied that
education did receive a new impetus
under curzon. He improved the pay scale
of teachers and paid attention to female
and technical education.
Dr.R.Pricila

19.  Curzon assumed office with the
determination to improve the efficiency
of administration.
 Curzon therefore decided to stream-line
the administrative system.
 He laid down uniform regulations for the
working of the Secretariat.
 He also directed the provincial
governments to carry out necessary
administrative reforms.
Dr.R.Pricila

20.  The pay scales of the government servants
were revised to attract more efficient and
sincere workers.
 Lord Curzon did not give due share to the
Indians in the administration of their
country.
 He believed that the Indians were not as
competent to shoulder the administrative
responsibilities as the Englishmen.
 He did not believe in the policy of
educating Indians in the art of
administration for the sake of freedom in
future.
Dr.R.Pricila

21. Curtailment of Local Self-
Government
 Lord Curzon had no love for self-
government institutions and was in
favour of centralised administration.
Police Reforms
Lord Curzon found the police system highly
defective and set up a Commission in
1932 Sir Andrew Frazer to look into the
matter and make necessary
recommendations for its improvement.
Dr.R.Pricila

22.  With a view to improve the effciency of
police administration , the commission
recommended
 A) direct recruitment to higher police posts,
although some of the higher posts may be
filled up on the basis of promotion also;
 B) the police force should consist of
“European Service from England. Provincial
Service recruited in India, Upper Subordinate
Service consisting of inspectors and Sub-
Inspectors and Lower Subordinate Service
consisting of head constables.
Dr.R.Pricila

23.  C) improvement in salaries of policemen
to attract better candidates and provide
greater incentive hard work;
 D) establishment of training schools for
the training of officers and constables.
 E) increase in the strength of the
provincial police personnel and
 F) establishment of a Criminal
Investigation Department in every
province, which should work under the
general supervision of Director of
Criminal Intelligence appointed at the
Centre.
Dr.R.Pricila

24.  These recommendations of the Frazer
Commission were accepted Lord Curzon
and he carried out necessary police
reforms in 1905.
 However, even after the introduction of
these reforms the Police failed to win the
co-operation of the people. It also
continued to be corrupt, inefficient and
oppressive.
Dr.R.Pricila

25. MILITARY REFORMS
 With the assistance of Lord Kitchner, the
Commander-in-chief certain military
reforms were introduced.
 The Indian army was grouped into two
commands –Northern Command with
headquarters at Murree and Southern
Command with headquarters at Poona.
 Each division was to consist of three
brigades two native battalions and one
British battalion.
Dr.R.Pricila

26.  Each brigade was to be under the charge
of a Brigadier who was responsible for its
efficiency.
 British arms were supplied to the British
troops.
 A training college on the model of
Camberley College of England was set up
at Quetta for the training of officers.
 Better guns were also greatly improved.
 In 1901 Curzon started the Imperial Cadet
Corps to give military training to the sons
of princes and nobles.
Dr.R.Pricila

27.  The Naval Defence squadron created in
1871 for the defence of Indian coasts was
amalgamated with the Royal Navy in
1903.
 Thereafter the responibility for the
defence of Indian coasts passed on to the
Royal Navy.
Dr.R.Pricila

28. JUDICIAL REFORMS
 With a view to effect improvement in the
judicial administration Lord Curzon
increased of the Calcutta High so that the
cases could be quickly disposed.
 He also increased the salary of High Court
judges as well as other judges of the
subordinate courts.
 He also revised the Indian Code of Civil
Procedure.
Dr.R.Pricila

29. PROTECTION OF ANCIENT
MONUMENTS
 Lord Curzon was a keen student of
history and wanted preserve old
monuments of historical importance.
 For the attainment of this objective he
enacted the Ancient Monument Protection
Act, 1904.
 This Act provided for repair, restoration
and protection of historical monuments in
the country.
Dr.R.Pricila

30.  An amount of Rs.50,000 was provided for
repairs to historical buildings.
 Lord Curzon also exerted pressure on the
Indian princes to maintain the rich Indian
heritage and to preserve monuments like
Ajanta-Ellora Caves, Sanchi Stupa etc.
 He encouraged the provincial
governments to open museum etc. for the
custody of rare objects of art.
Dr.R.Pricila

31.  Any damage to historical monument was
considered a punishable offence.
 At the time of the Grand Darbar Lord
Curzon ordered the collection of the
specimens of works of arts representing
the traditions and culture of various parts
of the country and arranged an exhibition
of the same.
 By this action he succeeded in arousing a
healthy interest in the still vital
capabilities of Indian art.
Dr.R.Pricila

32. The Partition of Bengal (1905)
 The most important and controversial
measure of Curzon in the sphere of
internal administration was the partition
of Bengal.
 Curzon took this measure with a view to
ensure greater administrative efficiency.
 At that time province of Bengal consisted
of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa covering an
area of 189,000 square miles and a
population of approximately 78 millions.
Dr.R.Pricila

33.  As a result of the vast size of the province
the administration of far laying provinces
suffered.
 It may be noted that the idea of the
partition of Bengal was not initiated by
Lord Curzon.
 The plan for the division of province
originated with Sir William War, the chief
Commissioner of Assam in 1896 when he
suggested that the Chittagong, Dacca and
Mymensingh divisions of the province
should be transferred to Assam.
Dr.R.Pricila

34. Dr.R.Pricila

35. Dr.R.Pricila

36. Dr.R.Pricila

37. Dr.R.Pricila

38.  The idea was again revived in 1901 by
Lord Curzon.
 After a personal tour of Eastern Bengal in
1904, Curzon went ahead with his plan of
partition of Bengal.
 The new province of Eastern Bengal and
Assam was created which was to include
Assam and division of Dacca, Rajshahi
and Chittagong.
 The new province had an area of 106,504
square miles and a population of about 31
million people.
Dr.R.Pricila

39.  This province was placed under the
charge of a separate Lieutenant Governor.
 This province had Muslim majority.
 The rest of the areas were included in the
Western Bengal.
 This state had an area of 141,580 square
miles and a population of over fifteen
millions.
 The majority of the people of West Bengal
province were Hindus.
Dr.R.Pricila

40.  The partition of Bengal evoked strong
reaction from the people of India in
general and that of Bengal in particular.
 While the Bengalis saw in the partition a
serious attack on the solidarity of Bengali
nationalism, tradition, culture etc. the
Indian nationalists saw in it a clear plan
on the part of Curzon to draw a wedge
between the two communities of India
(Hindus and Muslims).
Dr.R.Pricila

41.  There was a growing demand from the
people for the annulment of partition.
 However Lord Curzon stood to his
position and asserted that “Partition of
Bengal is a settled fact; and what is settled
cannot be unsettled.”
 This rigid stand of Lord Curzon greatly
infuriated the nationalist leaders and they
continued their agitation for annulment of
the partition of Bengal. Their demand was
ultimately conceded in 1911.
Dr.R.Pricila

42.  Whatever might have been the motive of
Lord Curzon in undertaking the partition
of Bengal, it cannot be denied that it
provided a new impetus to the nationalist
movement and people of different parts of
country rose as one man against this act.
 It also created a breach between the
Hindus and the Muslims. The Muslim
particularly felt bitter about the
annulment of the partition because they
were deprived of the opportunities which
were made available to them by the
creation of the Muslim majority province.
Dr.R.Pricila