Final answer:
The British Raj began in 1858 with two major forms of administration in India: directly ruled territories and autonomous princely states under nominal control. Local elites managed administration, trained in British disciplines.
Step-by-step explanation:
British colonial administration began in 1858 after the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny and the subsequent dissolution of the British East India Company. The transition to British crown rule introduced a new era called the British Raj, which saw the establishment of different models of governance in India. Two main types of administrative units existed: the directly ruled territories by the British and the princely states that remained under nominal local rule but were de facto controlled by the British. In the directly ruled territories, viceroys governed in the name of the monarch, with local administrators aiding governance. The local elite were trained in English, engineering, science, and British imperial law to effectively manage the administration. This imperial model of governance expanded beyond India, influencing British practices in other colonies and making India a cornerstone of Britain's global empire.