India is, on paper, the jewel of the British Empire: enormous manpower and an industry with huge potential. The catch is that you start with very little autonomy and an independence movement that can't be ignored forever.
Starting Point
With the lowest starting autonomy of all the British dominions, a large part of your game revolves around deciding how much independence you want to gain, and at what pace. Meanwhile, your role as a manpower provider for the rest of the Empire is huge if you know how to use it.
Recommended Route
- Aggressive industrialization focuses from the start — you have the population base to sustain it.
- Autonomy focuses in parallel, carefully deciding how far you drift from London and when.
- Use your manpower for large infantry templates while your industry matures.
- Watch internal stability — the independence movement doesn't disappear just because you ignore it.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is treating India as a simple troop source for the UK without investing in your own industry. The second is ignoring independence tension until it becomes a stability problem that can no longer be managed calmly.
Next Steps
This guide will expand with a breakdown of the routes toward greater autonomy or independence. Also check out the production guide to make the most of your huge potential factory base.