Provinces of British India

In 1858 the control of British India was transferred to the Crown whose representative was the Governor-General otherwise known as the Viceroy. The land was divided into Provinces under local administrations. At the turn of the 20th century the division was as follows:
Major Provinces comprising the older provinces which had enjoyed a longer period of settled government. They were headed by a Governor or Lieutenant-Governor (except Central Provinces) and were Bengal, Madras, Bombay, United Provinces, Central Provinces, Punjab and Assam.
Minor Provinces that were administered by a Chief Commissioner and were North West Frontier Province. British Baluchistan, Coorg, Ajmer-Merwara and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The provinces were further broken down into Divisions each of which had a number of Districts. See articles on Bengal Districts and Madras Districts.