Cet atlas statistique de l'Inde a été préparé en vue de l'exposition coloniale et indienne (Colonial and Indian Exhibition), qui s'est tenue en 1886 au Royaume-Uni dans le district de South Kensington, non loin de Londres. Son but, selon les mots du Prince de Galles de l'époque, était "de stimuler le commerce et de renforcer les liens d'union qui existent maintenant en tout point de l'empire de Sa Majesté". L'exposition a été inaugurée par la reine Victoria et, à sa fermeture, elle avait accueilli 5,5 millions de visiteurs.

La préface de l'atlas précise : "The "Statistical Atlas", less complete in details and range of subject than Mr. Cotton's compilation, is intended only to give a general idea, to a great extent through the agency of maps, of the character of the country, its inhabitants and agriculture, with the addition of such statistics as may serve to illustrate its commercial and educational progress. The small scale on which the maps are drawn compels the elimination of many of the details which are to be found on the large Exhibition charts ; but inasmuch as the object in view is only to exhibit the characteristics of India in broad lights and shades, the absence of detail will perhaps be no disadvantage.".