Hello both
I am struggling a bit here as I have only just started on India research myself and my Lewin family were definitely Civil Servants which makes the options pretty clear.
I have had a look at the FIBIS site and Cathy Day's again to see if I can find anyting useful.
I think this sets the picture
(from Cathy Day's site)
Church Records
India had no civil registration (including birth certificates) as such. The next best thing for a genealogist is to use Church Records. About 80% of all baptism, marriage and burial records have survived today, and the good news is that they are all indexed and available on microfilm. Records of baptisms, marriages and burials are available 1698-1968, and are housed in the OIOC in London. If you live outside London, then the best way to have access to these records is to use the LDS (Mormon) microfilms, which will be available in an LDS Family History Centre near you. For details on how to use the OIOC records on microfilm, some transcriptions, addresses and photos of churches in India, visit the webpage on Church Records.
Some regiments of the British Army (not the HEIC Army) chose to have their records included in the General Registrar's Office records at what was formerly called St Catherine's House, in London. If your ancestor was in the British Army and you are unable to find your ancestor's baptism record in the church records held at the OIOC or on microfilm, there is a chance that they will be available in the Army Ecclesiastical Returns of the General Registrar's Office. Indexes to these records are available in most genealogical libraries and family history societies.
I think that may answer your question Jen. The India Office reading room is in The British Library.
Details here:
http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/family.htmlI have had a look at my reference books to find out the position of overseas births generally. The Family Tree Detective by Colin D Rogers says
" It has always been optional for British Citizens (males only until 1983) to register the birth of their legitimate or legitimated children born abroad with a British consul........"
Also
"Those births which are registered with a Consul are recorded in the Consular Returns and/or the Chaplain's Returns from 1849 or occasionally earlier"
I have no personal experience of looking for Army Records or overseas births (other than the East India Company ones).
My inclination would be to try the Ecclesiastical Returns if other options have failed.
Incidentally Richard Lewin, one of the ancestors I am researching, died in Bellary in 1858 so I know it is in the Madras Presidency.
Hope this helps
Barbara