Orders of the Indian Empire

Order of the Star of India

GCSI (Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India)
KCSI (Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India)
CSI (Companion of the Order of the Star of India)

After the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58 the British Crown assumed responsibility for the administration of the Indian sub-continent, taking over from the private trading company known as the Honourable East India Company. The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India was instituted by Queen Victoria, Empress of India, on 23 February 1861 as a mark of the Government's esteem for the merit and loyalty of the princes, chiefs and people of the Indian Empire.

The Order was divided into three classes: Knights Grand Commander (conferred on princes or chiefs of India, and upon British subjects for noted service to the Indian Empire), Knights Commander, and Companions (for services of thirty years or more in the department of the Secretary of State for India).

The mantle is of light blue satin lined with white silk and fastened with a cordon of white silk with two blue silk and silver tassels attached. The collar is composed of the lotus flower of India, of palm branches tied together in saltire (X formation), of the red and white Tudor rose, and in the centre the imperial crown, linked together by gold chains. The robes and collar would be worn at all investitures of the Order and on Collar Days.

The motto of the Order of the Star of India is 'Heaven's light our guide'.

The Order was no longer conferred after the independence of India in 1947.

Order of the Indian Empire

GCIE (Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)
KCIE (Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)
CIE (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire)

Instituted by Queen Victoria, Empress of India, on 31 December 1877 for services rendered to the Indian Empire, the Order of the Indian Empire was designed as a junior award to the Order of the Star of India.

In 1901 King Edward VII admitted new members of the Order for services rendered in military operations in China and South Africa.

The mantle of the Order is of purple satin lined with white silk and fastened by a cordon of white silk with two purple silk and gold tassels attached. The motto is 'Imperatricis auspiciis' (Under the auspices of the Empress). The collar of the Order is of silver gilt, formed of elephants, lotus flowers, peacocks and Indian roses; in the centre is the imperial crown, the whole linked together with chains.

No appointments have been made to this Order since the independence of India in 1947.