GCSI

Most Exalted Order of the Star of India
Insignia of a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Awarded by Sovereign of the United Kingdom
Type	Order
Motto	HEAVEN'S LIGHT OUR GUIDE
Awarded for	At the monarch's pleasure
Status	Not awarded since 1947 Dormant order since 2009
Sovereign	Elizabeth II
Grades	Knight Grand Commander(GCSI) Knight Commander(KCSI) Companion(CSI)
Former grades	Knight Companion
Statistics
Established	1861–2009
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Bath
Next (lower)	Order of St Michael and St George
Ribbon bar of the Star of India

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:

No appointments have been made since the 1948 New Year Honours, shortly after the Partition of India in 1947. With the death of the last surviving knight, the Maharaja of Alwar, the order became dormant in 2009.

The motto of the order is Heaven's light our guide. The "Star of India", the emblem of the order, also appeared on the flag of the Viceroy of India and other flags used to represent British India.

The order is the senior order of chivalry associated with the Indian Empire (British Raj); the junior order is the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and there was also, for women only the Imperial Order of the Crown of India. It is the fifth-most-senior British order of chivalry, following the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, and the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Several years after the Indian Mutiny and the consolidation of Great Britain's power as the governing authority in India, it was decided by the British Crown to create a new order of knighthood to honour Indian Princes and Chiefs, as well as British officers and administrators who served in India. On 25 June 1861, the following proclamation was issued by the Queen: