Viceroy's Executive Council

The Viceroy's Executive Council, formerly known as Council of Four and officially known as the Council of the Governor-General of India (since 1858), was an advisory body and cabinet of the Governor-General of India, also known as Viceroy. It existed from 1773 to 1947 in some form or the other.^[1]

It was established by the Regulating Act 1773, with four members it was then known as the Council of Four. The Indian Councils Act 1861 transformed it from an advisory council into a cabinet with portfolio system. Each member was assigned specific portfolios such as revenue, military, law, finance, and home. In 1874, a sixth member was added to be in charge of public works.