Question

what was the value of india to britain in 1900?

Answer 1

You mean as a dependencies, instead of an independent nation? Negative. It cost a lot of energy and treasure to run, and keep subservient, and returned very little. There was little need for cadet nobility to find some other field of venture, since business was no longer the shameful occupation it was in the 1700s. The export of English language, law and customs that made India a prosperous trading partner had already been accomplished, and would not have been affected by India becoming independent.

The only outside use I can imagine is that Indians served in HM's military forces, and (as it turned out) fought valiantly on the side of the English in the First World War.

Answer 2

This is not to say that India did not loom large in the political and social mythology of the day, and that *as a symbol* (e.g. of national puissance) India as a dependency did not have value. I am assuming you mean genuine economic value.