Synopsis In matters of administration the British Parliament was made the supreme authority, It enforced its control through the Governor-general. The British rule stood on three pillars -the civil service, the army and the police. This was so for two reasons. For one, the chief aim of British Indian administration was the maintenance of law and order and the perpetuation of British rule. Without law and order British merchants and British manufactures could not hope to sell their goods in every nook and corner of India. Again, the British being foreigners, could not hope to win the affections of the Indian people; they, therefore, relied on superior force rather than on public support for the maintenance of their control over India. During the rule of the Company, the Governor-general was the actual ruler of India.