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India as a British colony

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India didn't conform to any of the rules, not being a Dominion, but having some Dominion-like status (it was a member of the League of Nations) and not really being a colony either. Its flag was the Union Jack bearing the insignia of the Order of the Star of India. I think it had a Blue and Red Ensign too but can't swear to it.

Roy Stilling, 1996-FEB-06

It is my understanding that:

India flew the Union Jack, normal one
the Viceroy flew the UJ with star of the KCSI (Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India) with crown above, all in "proper" colors (from one I recall seeing, very nicely done, too).
Jacks (blue and red) with Star of India (no crown)
still have a question regarding what army and IAF did before 1947
there are still the princely states ....

Ed Haynes, 1996-FEB-06

Until 1858 the British possesions in India were fiefdoms of the East India Company. In that year those territories passed to the Crown, who nevertheless continued to appoint a Governor-General of the whole as the EIC had done. In 1876, at Disraeli's behest, Queen Victoria adopted the title of Empress of India, and henceforth India became known offically as the "Indian Empire" with a Viceroy instead of a Governor-General.

In theory, the large numbers of "Princely States" which made up 2/5 of the territory and 1/5 of the population (source: Whitaker's Almanac 1945) of the Indian Empire (the term "British India" was properly reserved for the territories under the British Crown) were indepndent, sovereign states. However, they all had treaties with the Crown that effectively made them protectorates, and events like the Delhi Durbar of 1910 emphasised the idea that the King-Emperor was suzerain over the whole sub-continent. As a digression, until just a few years ago it was possible to find 1948 shillings in one's change - the last British coins to have "IND. IMP." among the royal titles.

That the Princely States had no real freedom was made plain at independence in 1947 when they were ordered to chose absorption into either India or Pakistan (the choice of the Hindu Ruler of mainly-Muslim Kashmir to opt for India is the cause of the tensions there that persist to this day). Only Hyderbad, the largest and most populous State, atempted to re-assert its independence and IIRC it bowed to the inevitable and joined India in 1948. I beleive all the States had flags, but don't know of any.

Finally, India's special status was recognised within the British governmentt too - from 1858 to 1947 India had its own its own department, the India Office, and Secretary of State, quite separate from the Colonial Office.

Roy Stilling, 1996-FEB-08