Star of India (flag)

Photograph of the Red Ensign, used to represent British India in international organisations

The Star of India can refer to a group of flags used during the period of British rule in the Indian subcontinent. British India had a range of flags for different purposes during its existence. The flags included the Union Flag with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India superimposed, or the Red or Blue Ensign with the Star of India superimposed. The official state flag for use on land was the Union Flag of the United Kingdom and it was this flag that was lowered on Independence Day in 1947.

While the Blue Ensign was used for military and naval purposes, the Red Ensign was used for representing India in most international events. The Star of India had a sunburst with the words Heaven's Light Our Guide around them, and was the badge of the Order of the Star of India, a chivalric order of knighthood. A blue state (government) ensign also existed, and was defaced with a lion holding a Tudor Crown.^[1]

The Star of India flags were replaced by the Tiranga (Indian Tricolour) after Independence on 15 August 1947 in the independent Dominion of India, and by the Flag of Pakistan in independent Dominion of Pakistan, which used the star as the basis of its' Coat of Arms.

The flags and emblems used in British India

	1733-1833	Flag of the Governors of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal)	Flag of the East India Company.
	1858–1947	The official flag of the British Empire	The flag of the United Kingdom
	1885–1947	Flag of the Governor-General of India	A Union Flag defaced with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India surmounted by the Tudor Crown used by the Government of India.
	1880–1947	Flag used to represent British India at international events	A red ensign with the Union Flag in the corner and the Star of India displayed in the fly.
	1863–1947	1879–1928 ensign of Her Majesty's Indian Marine / Royal Indian Marine 1928–1947 naval jack of the Royal Indian Marine / Royal Indian Navy	A Blue Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly
	1928–1950	Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine / Royal Indian Navy	The White Ensign of the Royal Navy
	1861 - 1947	The insignia of the Order of the Star of India	Silver five pointed star encircled by a blue ribbon bearing the motto Heaven's light our guide all surrounded by a gold sunburst.

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