[1] There were contributions from Belgium, Ceylon, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Straits, Turkey and U.S.A.[4] The Australian colonies of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria were all hosted on the Indian Museum side of the fair.

In the Maidan there was an iron building that contained Indian courts, a machinery annex, a military shed and a refreshments room.

[8] The fair officials included Augustus Rivers Thompson (president executive committee), S.T.Trevor (vice president of the committee) and Jules Joubert (general manager).

[10] The opening talk was by Lord Ripon[11] and was attended by Governors of Bengal (also president of organising committee), Madras, and Bombay, several maharajas[12] and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught.

[4] The ceremony was boycotted by the Anglo-Indian community in protest at the recently introduced Ilbert Bill, it rained (unusual at that time of year) and the illuminations failed.