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1 year ago in British Imperial History , Economic History By Nazia
How many foreign or overseas staff worked in India under British rule in the 1890s?
My dissertation analyzes the fiscal burden of the colonial salary system. To calculate the cost, I first need an accurate headcount of the overseas staff drawing higher, sterling-based salaries. I’ve reviewed budgetary documents but need a consolidated personnel figure to cross-reference with expenditure data.
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By Raghav V Answered 11 months ago
Focusing on the fiscal angle is astute. In my analysis of colonial budgets, I’ve seen that the "overseas" or "European" establishment was the major drain on the treasury. For the 1890s, a reliable consolidated figure for all government departments (civil, railway, public works, police) is around 12,000 to 15,000 individuals. I would recommend you distinguish this broader "European establishment" from the much smaller elite Indian Civil Service (about 1,000 strong). Their higher pay scales indeed created a significant financial transfer.
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