Order of the Star of India was introduced by Queen Victoria as an imperial title by Letters Patent dated the 23 February 1861. The Order consisted of a Grand Master, 25 Knights and uncertain number of Honorary Knights.

A massive public contact drive was undertaken after the sepoy revolt, 1857 which was caused, as parliament and India Office perceived the crisis, by a persistent lack of communication between the rulers and the ruled. One of the measures that the government undertook to close up the social and political gap was the introduction of the Order of Knighthood designated as 'The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India'. It was intended to be a mark of public honour on the part of the recipient. The Order was particularly addressed to distinguished subjects of British India and native princes well known for their virtue, merit, contributions and loyalty to the raj.

Earliest among the Bengal elite to be honoured with the Order were Abdul Ghani, abdool luteef, and Maharaja of Burdwan. [Sirajul Islam]