With the death of the last surviving knight, the Maharaja Meghrajji III of Dhrangadhra, the order became dormant in 2010.

[6] Emperor Gojong of Korea was made an honorary Knight Grand Commander on 17 December 1900.

[11] The fictional characters Purun Dass, invented by Rudyard Kipling, and Harry Paget Flashman, invented by George MacDonald Fraser, were KCIEs; Kipling's engineer Findlayson in The Day's Work (1908) aspires to the CIE.[citation needed] The British sovereign serves as Sovereign of the Order.

[citation needed] At the time of foundation in 1878 the order had only one class, that of Companion, with no quota imposed.

Membership was expanded by letters patent of 10 June 1897, which permitted up to 32 knights grand commander.

[15] British officials and soldiers were eligible for appointment, as were rulers of Indian Princely States.

Knights grand commander were also entitled to receive heraldic supporters, and could encircle their arms with a depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter.

Knights commander and companions were permitted to display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms.