Order of British India

The Order of British India
Insignia of the Order of British India, First Class
Awarded by the British Empire
Type	Order of merit
Eligibility	Officers of the British Indian Army holding a viceroy's commission, Indian Officers of Indian States Forces, Frontier Corps and Military Police
Awarded for	Long, faithful and honourable service
Status	No longer awarded after 1947
Post-nominals	OBI
Statistics
Established	17 April 1837
Precedence
Next (higher)	Royal Red Cross (Class II)
Next (lower)	Kaisar-i-Hind Medal
Ribbon 1837–1838 Ribbon 1838–1939 First Class ribbon 1939–1947 Second Class ribbon 1939–1947

The Order of British India was an order of merit which was bestowed by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service", beginning in 1837. The Company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British Honours System in 1859. The order became obsolete in 1947, after the partition of British India into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

The Order was awarded in two classes: first and second class. The recipients of the second class were entitled to the title Bahadur (hero) and recipients of the first class were entitled to use the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader), both using the post-nominal letters, OBI. The order was awarded for distinguished service on a particular campaign, but was also often awarded to officers for between 20 and 30 years service.

The following is an incomplete list of people appointed to the Order of British India:

Lieutenant Colonel Bahadur Hem Singh Bhati, was awarded OBI (Served in World War 1, Jodhpur Sardar Risala, Jodhpur). His son Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded by Param Veer Chakra for his extraordinary bravery and Sacrifice during Indo China War 1962 (War of Rezangla, Chusul).

17. Abdul Gaffar khan, Bahadur Lt. colonel, OBI IOM commandant Junagadh lancers, appointed 1937 Hon Aide de camp to his excellencies personal staff. ( file 89 HS, Br. Library)