PRE-INDEPENDENCE

First War of Indian Independence: Sepoy Mutiny 1857

British Crown takes over the Indian Government 1858

The Queen of England proclaimed Empress of India 1877

First meeting of the Indian National Congress 1885

Congress declaration regarding Swaraj (self rule);formation of Muslim League 1905

Mahatma Gandhi leads the Congress; Non-co-operation Movement 1920

Lord Irwin promises Dominion Status for India;Jawaharlal Nehru hoists the National Flag at Lahore 1929

Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha (peaceful protest) leading to the first round table conference 1930

\Government of India Act (constitutional blue print) 1935

Congress adopts Quit India Resolution; Congress leaders arrested 1942

Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy; Cabinet Mission's plan announced

Interim Government formed; Constituent Assembly's first meeting 1946

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TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE

India obtains Independence from the British; Partition of

India; Jawaharlal Nehru becomes first Indian Prime Minister 15 Aug 1947

Maharaja of Kashmir accedes to Indian Sovereignty Oct 1947

Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi 30^th Jan 1948

B.R.Ambedkar presents first Draft Constitution to Constituent Assembly Nov 1948

New Constitution of India adopted and signed 26 Nov 1949

Constitution of India comes into force 26^th Jan 1950

AK Gopalan v State of Madras AIR 1950 SC 27

(upholds preventive detention act) 1950

State of Madras v Champakan Dorairajan AIR 1951 SC 226 (caste quotas for admission to state medical school unconstitutional) 1951

First Amendment to Constitution adds affirmative action exception to Article 15 1951

First General Election 1952

First Backward Classes Commission Appointed 1953

First Backward Classes Commission Report-not implemented 1955

Untouchability Act comes into force 1^st June 1955

Second General Election held Feb -June 1957

Dalai Lama flees from Tibet to India March 1959

Third General election Feb-June 1962

Indo-China war Oct 1962

Jawaharlal Nehru dies 27^th May 1964

Lal Bahadur Shastri becomes Prime Minister 9^th June 1964

Pakistan tanks penetrate India April 1965

Ceasefire agreed under UN auspices 30^th June 1965

India-Pakistan war 1^st Sep 1965

Tashkent Conference between Pakistan and Indian leaders 4^th 10^th Jan 1966

Lal Bahadur Shastri dies 11^th Jan 1966

Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister 24^th Jan 1966

Fourth General Election Feb 1967

Indira Gandhi expelled from Congress for indiscipline 12^th Nov 1969

Fifth General Election March 1971

India-Pakistan War; Formation of Bangladesh Dec 1971

Pakistan and India sign Simla Accord 1972

Emergency declared 26^th June 1975

Lok Sabha passes the 42^nd Amendment Bill Nov 1976

Sixth General Election; First Non-Congress Govt, led by Morarji Desai Jan 1978

Seventh General Election; Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister again Jan 1980

Sanjay Gandhi, younger son of Indira Gandhi, dies in plane crash 23^rd June 1980

Indira Gandhi imposes President's rule on Punjab 6^th Oct 1983

Indira Gandhi assassinated in Delhi; Rajiv Gandhi sworn in as Prime Minister 31^st Oct 1984

India's biggest Industrial disaster: Bhopal gas tragedy 2 Dec 1984

Eighth General Election: Congress wins Dec 1984

Ninth General Election: Congress loses; V.P. Singh becomes

Prime Minister Nov 1989

Second Backward Classes Commission Report (Mandal Report) May 1990

Rajiv Gandhi assassinated 21^st May 91

Tenth General Election: Congress wins; Narasimha Rao becomes Prime Minister May-June1991

Indra Sawhney v Union of India AIR 1993 SC 477 (upholds Mandal Report recommending affirmative action for other backward classes) 16^th Nov 1992

Demolition of Babri Masjid Mosque 6^th Dec 1992

Hindu-Muslim Riots in Bombay Jan1993

Eleventh General Election; BJP's Atal Behari Vajpayee becomes Prime Minister April-May 1996

BJP loses confidence vote; Deve Gowda takes over as Prime Minister of United Front coalition government June 1996

Congress withdraws and the Government falls March 1997

I.K.Gujral appointed Prime Minister 21^st April 1997

Nation celebrates 50 years of Independence 15 Aug 1997

Gujral government falls as Congress withdraws its support 28^th Nov 1997

BJP led alliance Government sworn in and Atal Bihari Bajpayee Is the Prime Minister 19^th March 1998

Twelfth General Elections and Atal Bihari Bajpayee sworn in as The Prime Minister October 1999

Kargil war with Pakistan May-July 2000