(Lord Stanley first Secretary of State for India)

The office of the Secretary of State for India and Burma came to an end on 14th August 1947. A British Cabinet minister used to serve as the Secretary of the State of India. Commonly known as India Secretary, the Secretary of the State of India was the political head of the Indiaoffice. The India Secretary was responsible for the smooth governance of the British Raj (India), Burma. The post was created on 2nd August 1858 after the end of the East India Company’s rule in Bengal. Except for the princely states, India was brought under the direct control of the Government in London. This marked the official beginning of the British rule in India.

(Lord Pethwick-Lawrence, the Secretary of State for India and Burma )

In 1937 the process of governance was revised and the India office was separated with Burma office. However, the same Secretary of State headed both the offices and the title was revised to Secretary of State for India and Burma. The Secretary of State was appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and there was no fixed term length. Lord Stanley served as the first Secretary of Statefor India from 2nd August 1858 to 11th June 1859. William Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel served as the final Secretary of State for India and Burma from 14th August 1947 to 4th January 1948.

(Robert Gascoyne-Cecil Secretary of State for India)

After the United Kingdom granted independence to India via the Indian Independence Act, two independent dominions were created known as Dominion of India and Dominion of Pakistan. Burma achieved independence in the year 1948. Before the Secretary of State, it was the President of the Board of Control overseeing the British East India Company. The President of the Board of Control was a British government official responsible for the Indian affairs in the late 18th century.

(William Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel served as the final Secretary of State for India and Burma)