Which viceroy had shortest tenure?

The Viceroy of India held the paramount administrative and political authority in British India. Their tenures varied, often reflecting the political climate and the urgency of specific historical periods. Identifying the shortest tenure helps highlight a period of rapid change.

• Correct Option A: Mountbatten had the shortest tenure as the last Viceroy of India, serving from March 1947 to August 1947. His primary and urgent mandate was to oversee the partition of British India into independent India and Pakistan, a process completed within months.
• Option B: Elgin (specifically Lord Elgin II) served a full term from 1894 to 1899.
• Option C: Wavell served from 1943 to 1947, a significant period during World War II and the lead-up to independence.
• Option D: Ripon served from 1880 to 1884, known for his liberal reforms.

Mountbatten's brief tenure was uniquely defined by the accelerated transfer of power.