Indian Orders.

Indian Orders. Three British orders of knighthood take their name from India. (1) The Imperial Order of the Crown of India, instituted 1st January 1878, consists of the Queen, certain of her daughters and daughters-in-law, of numerous native Indian princesses, and the wives and other female relatives of the viceroy of India, the governors of Madras and Bombay, and the Principal Secretary of State for India. (2) The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, instituted in 1861, and enlarged in 1866 and 1878, consists of the sovereign, a grand-master (the viceroy for the time being), and three classes of members—Knights Grand Commanders (G.C.S.I.), of whom there may be 30; Knights Commanders (K.C.S.I.), of whom there may be 72; and Companions (C.S.I.), 144 in number. The badge of the order is a light blue ribbon with thin white stripes, and the motto 'Heaven's Light our Guide.' (3) The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, instituted in 1878 to commemorate the proclamation of the Queen of England as Empress of India, and enlarged in 1886 and 1887, consists of the sovereign, a grand-master (the viceroy for the time being), and three classes of members—Knights Grand Commanders (G.C.I.E.), Knights Commanders (K.C.I.E.), and Companions (C.I.E.). The motto of the order is Imperatricis Auspiciis ('Under the favour of the Empress').