There were different princely rulers in India and the British India came up with a single national flag. The first flag of India was designed was similar to the British colonies with a blue background and the Union Flag on the upper left and a Star of India capped by the royal crown in the middle of the right half. (The star being the Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India award created by Queen Victoria to honour the services to the empire by the Indian subjects). The British India flag remained the same from 1858 to 1947.