<P> The title of viceroy was abandoned when British India split into the two independent dominions of India and Pakistan, but the office of governor - general continued to exist in each country separately--until they adopted republican constitutions in 1950 and 1956, respectively . </P> <P> Until 1858, the governor - general was selected by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to whom he was responsible . Thereafter, he was appointed by the sovereign on the advice of the British government; the Secretary of State for India, a member of the UK Cabinet, was responsible for instructing him on the exercise of his powers . After 1947, the sovereign continued to appoint the governor - general, but did so on the advice of the Indian government . </P> <P> Governors - General served at the pleasure of the sovereign, though the practice was to have them serve five - year terms . Governors - General could have their commission rescinded; and if one was removed, or left, a provisional governor - general was sometimes appointed until a new holder of the office could be chosen . The first Governor - General of British India was Warren Hastings, and the first Governor - General of independent India was Louis Mountbatten . </P> <P> Many parts of the Indian subcontinent were governed by the East India Company, which nominally acted as the agent of the Mughal Emperor . In 1773, motivated by corruption in the Company, the British government assumed partial control over the governance of India with the passage of the Regulating Act of 1773 . A Governor - General and Supreme Council of Bengal were appointed to rule over the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal . The first Governor - General and Council were named in the Act . </P>

Who was the first governor general of free india