Lord Bentinck's 1829 Reform: Prohibition of Sati

The question asks to identify the reform movement that occurred during Lord William Bentinck's term as Governor-General, specifically in the year 1829.

Identifying the 1829 Reform

• Lord William Bentinck served as the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835.
• During his tenure, a significant social reform measure was enacted in 1829.
• This reform was the Prohibition of Sati, aimed at abolishing the practice of widow self-immolation.
• The relevant act was Regulation XVII of 1829, which declared the practice of Sati illegal and punishable by law.

Analyzing Other Options

• Widow remarriage: While a significant reform, the Widow Remarriage Act was passed later, in 1856, under Lord Dalhousie.
• Morley Minto Reforms: These reforms were introduced much later, in 1909, focusing on constitutional changes.
• Doctrine of lapse: This policy was associated with Lord Dalhousie and implemented in the mid-19th century, not 1829.

Therefore, the reform movement that took place during Lord William Bentinck's term in 1829 was the Prohibition of Sati.