Important Dates of History

B.C.

• First evidence of agriculture and animal domestication in India is from Mehargarh and Burzahom.
• 5000-4000 – Earliest evidence of sheep-goat domestication at Bagor and Adamgarh.
• 4000-3000 – Spread of Civilizations based on agriculture and animal domestication.
• 2500-1750 – Time period of Harappan Civilization on the basis of Radio Carbon dating.
• 1500 – Rigvedic Period, coming of Aryans in India.
• 1000 – Later Vedic Period, spread of Aryans in the Gangetic plain.
• 950 – Mahabharata (Kurukshetra War)
• 877 – Birth of Parshvanatha (23rd Tirthankara of Jainism)
• 600-550 – Emergence of Sixteen Mahajanapadas, composition of the Upanishads.
• 563 – Birth of Gautama Buddha Founder of Buddhism
• 540 – Birth of Mahavira Real Founder of Jainism
• 540-468– Life Period of Vardhamana Mahavira
• 544-412 – Haryanka Dynasty (Bimbisara, Ajatashatru and Udayin)
• 516 – Irani ruler Darius–I invation of India.
• 483 – Buddha attained Nirvana, First Buddhist Council in Rajagriha.
• 563-483 – Life Period of Gautama Buddha.
• 468 – Mahavira attained Nirvana
• 412-344 – Foundation and expansion of Nag Dynasty
• 383 – Second Buddhist Council in Vaishali.
• 362 – Nanda Dynasty came to power in Magadha
• 327-325 – Alexander’s invasion of India.
• 323 – Death of Alexander in Babylon.
• 321 – Chandragupta Maurya’s accession to the throne of Magadha.
• 305 – Defeat of Seleucus at the hands of Chandragupta Maurya.
• 298 – Bindusara became king.
• 273-232 – Ashoka’s reign.
• 261 – Conquest of Kalinga.
• 257 – Ashoka became follower of Buddhism.
• 251 – Third Buddhist conference in Patliputra.
• 230 – Establishment of Satvahanas.
• 200 – Greece’s invasion of India.
• 185 – Establishment of Sunga dynasty.
• 75 – Foundation of Kanva Dynasty
• 58 – Beginning of Vikram era
• 30 – Satvahanas dynasty in Deccan, Pandyan dynasty in South.
• 22 – Trade relations of Cholas and Pandayas with the Romans.

A.D.

• 14-15 – St. Thomas came to India.
• 40 AD – Sakas in power in Indus Valley and Western India
• 50 AD– The Kushans and Kanishkas
• 65 – Chinese King Sent representative in India for collecting information about Buddhism.
• 77 –Plini wrote book Natural History.
• 78 AD – Saka Era begins
• 78-100 – Regime of Kanishka.
• 86-128 – Resurgence of Satvahana dynasty by Satkarni and Pulumavi.
• 130-150 – Emergence of Rudradamana in West India.
• 225 – Foundation of Vakataka dynasty.
• 226 – Emergence of Sasaniyan dynasty in Parsia. 250 – Decline and disintegration of Satvahana dynasty.
• 240-280 – Foundation of Gupta dynasty.
• 280-319 – Regime of Ghatotkacha.
• 320 AD – Chandragupta I establishes the Gupta dynasty
• 360 AD – Samudragupta conquers the North and most of the Deccan
• 375 – Death of Samudra Gupta, Ram Gupta Became Successor.
• 380 AD – Chandragupta II comes to power; Golden Age of Gupta Literary Renaissance
• 405 AD – Fa-hein begins his travels through the Gupta Empire
• 415 AD–Accession of Kumara Gupta-I
• 415 – Establishment of Nalanda University.
• 467 AD – Skanda Gupta assumes power
• 476 AD – Birth of astronomer Aryabhatta

• 500-532 – Emergence of Hun dynasty by Tormana and Mihirkula.
• 532 – Yashovardhan defeated Mihirkula.
• 606 AD–Accession of Harshavardhan
• 609 – Pulakeshin-II became king.
• 622 AD – Era of the Hejira begins
• 629-645 – Hentsang came in India
• 636 – First invasion of Sindh by Arabians.
• 711 AD – Invasion of Sind by Muhammad Bin Qasim
• 725 – Nagbhatta founded Pratihara dynasty
• 753-973 – Regime of Rashtrakuta dynasty in deccan.
• 760-1142 – Regime of Pal dynasty in Eastern India.
• 770-810 – Regime of great Pal king Dharmpala, Establishment of Vikramshila University.
• 783-1036 – Regime of GurjarPratihara dynasty in Northen India by votsraj of Rajasthan.
• 788-820 – Period of Shankaracharya, philosopher of Advaita.
• 835-885 – Arab trader Suleman came in India, during the regime of Gurjar – Pratihara dynasty.
• 836 – Mihirbhoj became king.
• 850 – Vijayalaya defeated Pandya, became the king of Tanjore (Thanjavur).
• 851 – Arab Traveler wrote book over India.
• 860 – Sumatra’s king Balputra established Buddha Vihar in Nalanda.
• 871-1173 – Regime of Chola dynasty in Tanjore.
• 883-1026 – Hindushahi in Punjab and Kabul.
• 892 AD – Rise of the Eastern Chalukyas
• 907 – Coronation of Chola king Parantak–I.
• 915-925 – Arab traveler Al-Masudi came in India, during the regime of great Rashtrakuta’s king Indra– III.
• 916-1205 – Regime of Chandel dynasty in Jejakbhukti, establishment of temples in Khajuraho by chandel dynasty.
• 950-1195 – Regime of Tripuri’s kalachuri in central India.
• 973-1238 – Regime of Solanki in Anhilwada (Kathiyavad).
• 977 – Invasion of Subuktageen in India.
• 985 AD – The Chola Dynasty: Accession of Rajaraja, the Great
• 1001 AD – Defeat of Jaipal by Sultan Mahmud
• 1026 – Mahmud Ghazni sacks Somnath Temple
• 1027 – Last invasion by Mahmud Ghazni.
• 1030 – Death of Mahmud Ghazni, Albruni came in India.
• 1191 – Prithviraj Chauhan routs Muhammad Ghori: the first battle of Tarain
• 1192 – Ghori defeats Prithviraj Chauhan: the second battle of Tarain
• 1194 – Jayachanda defeated in battle of Chandavar.
• 1206-1210 – Qutubuddin Aibak establish Slave dynasty.
• 1210-1211 – Aram Shah came to the throne. 1211-1236 – Iltutmish
• 1221 – Invasion of Changej Khan in India.
• 1236-1240 – Raziya Sultan
• 1240-1242 – Bahram Shah
• 1242-1246 – Masud Shah
• 1246-1266 – Nasiruddin
• 1266-1287 – Ghiyasuddin Balban
• 1279 – Revolt by Tugaril Khan in Bengal.
• 1287-1290 – Kaikubad
• 1290-1296 – Jalaluddin Khalji establishes Khalji dynasty.
• 1296-1316 – Alauddin Khalji
• 1309-1313 – Deccan mission by Malik Kafur.
• 1315 – Returning of Malik Kafur from Deccan.
• 1316-1320 – Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji
• 1320-1325 – Ghiyasuddin Tughluq founded Tughlaq dynasty
• 1325-1351 – Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• 1333-1342 – Ibn Battuta traveled in India.
• 1336 – Foundation of Vijayanagar Empire by Harihar and Bukka
• 1347 – Bahmani dynasty founded by Bahamanshah.
• 1351-1388 – Firoz Tughlaq
• 1390-1394 – Nasiruddin Muhammad Shah
• 1393 – Foundation of Jaunpur kingdom.
• 1394-1412 – Mahmud Shah Tughlaq
• 1398 – Taimur invades India
• 1414-1421 – Khizr Khan, power in the hands of Sayyids, emergence of Sayyid dynasty.
• 1421-1434 – Mubarak Shah
• 1434-1443 – Muhammad Shah
• 1443-1451 – Alauddin Alam Shah
• 1451-1489 – Bahlol Lodhi, establishment of Lodi dynasty
• 1455 – Birth of Sant Kabir
• 1469 – Birth of Guru Nanak founder of Sikh religion.
• 1472 – Birth of Sher Shah Suri
• 1483 – Birth of Jahiruddin Babur in Fargana.
• 1489-1517 – Sikandar Lodhi
• 1490 – Nizam Shahi dynasty at Ahmednagar
• 1498 – First voyage of Vasco da Gama

• 1509 – Krishnadev Raya became king.
• 1510 – Portuguese capture Goa
• 1517 – Coronation of Ibrahim Lodi
• 1518 – Kutub Shahi dynasty at Golkunda
• 1519 – Entry of Babur in India
• 1526 – Establishment of the Mughal Dynasty; First Battle of Panipat: Babur defeats Lodhis
• 1526-1530 – Reign of Babur
• 1527 – Battle of Khanwa, Babur defeated Rana Sanga.
• 1529 – Ghagara battle Babur defeated Afgani invaders.
• 1530 – Humayun succeeds Babur
• 1532 – Birth of Tulsidas.
• 1538 – Death of Guru Nanak
• 1539 – Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun and becomes Emperor of Delhi
• 1555 – Humayun recovers the throne of Delhi
• 1556 – Death of Humayun; Accession of Akbar;
• 1562 – End of slavery system by Akbar
• 1563 – Abolishment of tax on pilgrims.
• 1564 – Akbar abolishes poll tax on Hindus
• 1565 – Battle of Talikota: Muslim rulers in Deccan defeats and destroys Vijayanagar Empire
• 1568 – Fall of Chittor
• 1569 – Birth of Jahangir
• 1571 – Foundation of Fatehpur Sikri by Akbar
• 1572 – Akbar annexes Gujarat
• 1573 – Surat surrenders to Akbar
• 1575 – Battle of Tuk
• 1576 – Battle of Haldighati: Akbar defeats Rana Pratap; Subjugation of Bengal
• 1577 – Akbar troops invade Khandesh
• 1579 – Akbar introduces Mahjarnama
• 1580 – Accession of Ibrahim Adil Shah II in Bengal; Rebellion in Bihar and Bengal
• 1581 – Akbar’s march against Muhammad Hakim and reconciliation with him
• 1582 – Divine Faith promulagated
• 1586 – Annexation of Kashmir
• 1591 – Mughal conquest of Sind
• 1592 – Annexation of Odisha
• 1595 – Siege of Ahmednagar; Annexation of Baluchistan
• 1597 – Akbar completes his conquests
• 1600 – Charter to the English East India Company
• 1602 – Formation of the United East India Company of Netherlands
• 1605 – Death of Akbar and Accession of Jahangir
• 1606 – Rebellion of Khusrav; Execution of the Fifth Sikh Guru, Arjun dev by Jahangir
• 1607 – Sher Afghan first, husband of Nur Jahan, killed
• 1608 – Malik Ambar takes Ahmednagar
• 1609 – The Dutch open a factory at Pulicat
• 1611 – The English establish a factory at Masulipatnam
• 1611 – Marriage of Jahangir and Nurjahan
• 1612 – The Mughal Governor of Bengal defeats the rebellious Afghans; Mughals annex Kuch Hajo
• 1615 – Submission of Mewar to the Mughals; Arrival of Sir Thomas Roe in India
• 1616 – The Dutch establish a factory at Surat
• 1620 – Capture of Kangra Fort; Malik Ambar revolts in the Deccan
• 1622 – Shah Abbas of persia besieges and takes Qandahar
• 1623 – Shah Jahan revolts against Jahangir
• 1624 – Suppression of Shah Jahan’s revolt
• 1626 – Rebellion of Mahabat Khan
• 1627 – Death of Jahangir; Accession of Shah Jahan
• 1628 – Shah Jahan proclaimed Emperor
• 1631 – Death of Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal; The construction of Taj Mahal
• 1632 – Mughal invasion of Bijapur; Grant of the “Golden Firman” to the English Company by the Sultan of Golkunda
• 1633 – End of Ahmednagar Dynasty
• 1636 – Aurangzeb appointed Viceroy of Deccan
• 1639 – Foundation of Fort St. George at Madras by the English
• 1646 – Shivaji captures Torna
• 1648 – Construction of Shahajanabad started by Shahjahan.

• 1656 – The Mughals attack Hyderabad and Golkunda; Annexation of Javli by Shivaji
• 1657 – Invasion of Bijapur by Aurangzeb; Aurangzeb captures Bidar and Kalyani
• 1658 – Coronation of Aurangzeb
• 1659 – Battles of Khajwah and Deorai
• 1659 – Shivaji kills Afjal Khan
• 1661 – Cession of Bombay to the English; Mughal capture of Cooch Bihar
• 1664 – Shivaji sacks Surat and assumes royal title
• 1664 – Francis East India Company established.
• 1665 – Treaty of Purandar between Shivaji and Mughals
• 1666 – Death of Shah Jahan; Shivaji’s visit to Agra and his escape
• 1670 – Shivaji again sacks Surat
• 1674 – Shivaji assumed the title of Chhatrapati
• 1675– Execution of Guru Tegbahadur by Aurangzeb
• 1678– Marwar occupied by the Mughals
• 1679 – Aurangzeb imposes Jazia tax on non-Muslims
• 1680 – Death of Shivaji; Rebellion of Prince Akbar
• 1685 – British Shift’s company headquarters to Mumbai from Surat.
• 1686 – English war with the Mughals; Fall of Bijapur
• 1689 – Execution of Sambhaji
• 1690 – Peace between the Mughals and the English
• 1691 – Aurangzeb at the zenith of his power
• 1698 – The new English company trading to the East Indies
• 1699 – First Maratha raid on Malwa
• 1700 – Death of Rajaram and regency of his widow Tara Bai
• 1702 – Amalgamation of English and the London East India Companies
• 1707 – Death of Aurangzeb; Battle of Jajau

• 1708 – Death of Guru Govind Singh in Nanded (Maharashtra)
• 1712 – Death of Bahadurshah-I, Jahand became king
• 1713 – Balaji Vishwanath became Peshwa.
• 1714 – Husain Ali appointed Viceroy of the Deccan; The treaty of the Marathas with Husain Ali
• 1715 – Execution of Shikh Leader Bandabahadur.
• 1717 – Farukh Siyyar Permits East India Company for free trade.
• 1720 – Accession of Baji Rao Peshwa at Poona
• 1739 – Nadir Shah conquers Delhi; The Marathas capture Salsette and Bassein
• 1740 – Accession of Balaji Baji Rao Peshwa; The Marathas invade Arcot
• 1740 – Aliwardi Khan becomes king of Bengal.
• 1742 – Marathas invade Bengal
• 1747 – Ahmad Shah Abdali invades India
• 1748 – First Anglo-French war
• 1750 – War of the Deccan and Carnatic Succession; Death of Nasir Jung
• 1751 – British wins Arcot
• 1751 – Treaty of Alivardi with the Marathas
• 1756 – Siraj-ud-daulah captures of Calcutta
• 1757-63 – Third Anglo-French war
• 1757 – Battle of Plassey: The British defeat Siraj-ud-daulah
• 1758 – Francis wins Fort Saint David.
• 1760 – Battle of Wandiwash: The British defeat the French
• 1760 – Mir Kasim becomes Nawab of Bengal.
• 1761 – Third battle of Panipat: Ahmed Shah Abdali defeats the Marathas; Accession of Madhava Rao Peshwa; Rise of Hyder Ali
• 1762 – Madhava Rao takes power in his own hands. Raghunath Rao approaches Nizam for help.

• 1763 – Expulsion of Mir Qasim. Reinstatement of Mir Jafar. Raghunath Rao recaptures power and keeps Madhava Rao in confinement.
• 1764 – Battle of Buxar. The English defeat Shah Alam, Shuja-ud-daula and Mir Qasim.
• 1765 – Grant of the ‘Diwani’ of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha to the East India Company by Shah Alam II under Treaty of Allahabad. Clive, Company’s Governor in Bengal. Death of Mir Jafar.
• 1765-1767 – Clive’s second Governorship.
• 1766 – Nizam cedes Northern Sarkars to the English.
• 1767 – Departure of Clive. Verelst, Company’s Govenor in Bengal.
• 1767-1769 – The First Mysore War. Hyder Ali advances on Madras and forces the English to enter into a defensive alliance.
• 1770 – The Great Bengal Famine
• 1771 – Marathas attack Hyder Ali. Marathas occupy Delhi and restore Shah Alam who was till then under English protection at Allahabad.
• 1772-1785 – Warren Hastings, Governor of Fort William.
• 1772 – Marathas invade Rohilkhand.
• 1772-1833 – Raja Rammohan Roy.
• 1773 – The Regulating Act passed, bringing the Comapny partially under Parliament’s control and the Presidencies under Calcutta’s control.
• 1774 – The Marathas again invade Rohilkhand. Nawab of Awadh assists Rohillas. Marathas withdraw but Rohillas refuse to pay Rs. 40 lakhs to Awadh as agreed upon. Establishment of Supreme Court, at Calcutta. Rohilla War between Rohillas and Nawab of Awadh assisted by the English. Rohilla Chief Hafiz Rahmat Khan killed. Rohilkhand annexed by Awadh.
• 1775 – Trial and execution of Nanda Kumar who alleged that Warren Hastings had taken bribe from the Begums of Awadh.
• 1775-1782 – The First AngloMaratha War.
• 1776 – The Treaty of Purandhar between the English and Poona’s Ministers, who were opposed to Raghunath Rao.
• 1777 – Birth of Kunwar Singh
• 1779 – Convention of Wadgaon stipulating that all acquisitions of Maratha territory, made since 1773 by the Company, be restored and the advance of English force from Bengal be stopped.
• 1780 – Capt. Popham’s capture of Gwalior.
• 1780-1784 – Second Mysore War, Both parties agree to give up their conquests under the Treaty of Mangalore.
• 1781 – Deposition of Chait Singh of Banaras. Calcutta Madras founded by Warren Hastings to conciliate the Mohammedans of Calcutta.
• 1782 – Asaf-ud-daula exports money from the Begums of Awadh with the English help. The Treaty of Salbai between the English, the Marathas and Hyder Ali, Death of Hyder Ali.
• 1782-1798 – Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore.
• 1783 – Fox’s India Bills give more powers to Parliament and to the Governor-General.
• 1784 – Treaty of Mangalore between Tipu and the English who promise not to assist enemies of Tipu, in return for Tipu giving up English territory. Pitt’s Act passed, setting up Board of Control for East India Company. Asiatic Society of Bengal founded.
• 1786-1793 – Lord Cornwalis, Governor-General.
• 1786 – Marathas and Nizam raid Mysore.
• 1787 – Treaty between Tipu, Marathas and Nizam, Marathas the gainers.

• 1788 – Ghulam Kadir Rohilla seizes Delhi and blinds Shah Alam II. Bedar Bakht put on Delhi’s throne.
• 1788-1795 – Impeachment of Warren Hastings.
• 1789-1803 – Marathas control Delhi.
• 1789 – Tipu attacks Travancore.
• 1790-1792 – Third Mysore War following ‘Triple Alliance’ between English, Marathas and Nizam against Tipu.
• 1792 – Tipu surrenders half his kingdom. Ranjit Singh succeeds his father as leader of a Sikh Misl. Sanskrit College founded at Varanasi by English resident, Jonathan Duncan “for endearing our Government to the native Hindus”.
• 1793-1798 – Sir John Shore, Governor-General.
• 1793 – The Permanent Settlement of Bengal.
• 1794 – Death of Mahadavji Sindhia at Poona.
• 1795 – Battle of Kharda between the Nizam and the Marathas.
• 1796 – Baji Rao II Peshwa.
• 1797 – Jacobin club sets up by Francis in Shrirangpattanam.
• 1797 – Zaman Shah, grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali, takes Lahore. Death of Asaf-ud-daula of Awadh and succession of Wazir Ali.
• 1798 – Wazir Ali deposed and succeeded by Sa’dat Ali at Awadh.
• 1798-1805 – Wellesley, GovernorGeneral.
• 1799 – English attack Tipu without provocation. Fourth Mysore War. Fall of Shrirangpattnam. Death of Tipu. English restore previous Hindu dynasty in Mysore. Partition of Mysore. Shah Zaman appoints Ranjit Singh as the Governor of Lahore. William Carey opens Baptist Mission at Serampore.
• 1800 – Death of Nana Phadnavis. Establishment of the College of Fort William.
• 1801 – Annexation of the Carnatic and part of Awadh by the English.
• 1802 – Holkar defeats combined forces of Sindhia and the Peshwa at Poona, Peshwa Baji Rao flees to Bassein and signs the Treaty of Bassein with the English.
• 1803 – Treaty of Surji Arjun Village
• 1803 – Occupation of Delhi by Lord Lake, War with scindia.
• 1803-1805 – Second Anglo-Maratha War.
• 1804 – Emperor Shah Alam places himself under British protection. Lake’s war with Holkar.
• 1805 – Siege of Bharatpur fails and Lake makes peace with the Raja.
• 1805-1807 – George Barlow, Governor-General.
• 1806 – Mohd, Akbar II succeeds his father Shah Alam II. 1807-1813 – Lord Minto I, Governor-General,
• 1809 – Treaty of Amritsar-Ranjit Singh and British sign treaty of perpetual amity.
• 1809-1811 – Ranjit Singh takes Kangra from the Gurkh
• 1813-1823 – Lord Hastings, Governor-General.
• 1814-1816 – Anglo-Gurkha War resulting in the cession of Garhwal and Kumaon by the Gurkhas to the English. 1817-1818 – Pindari War-Peshwar defeat at Kirkee.
• 1817-1905 – Debendranath Tagore who reorganised the Brahmo Samaj.
• 1817-1898 – Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of Aligarh Muslim University.
• 1817-1819 – Last Anglo-Maratha War. Hostile princes like Sindhia and Holkar become allies of the English.
• 1818 – First Bengali newspaper, the weekly Samachar Darpan published by the Baptist Mission, Serampore.

• 1819-1827 – Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay.
• 1820 – Munro, Governor of Madras.
• 1821 – Sanskrit college founded at Poona.
• 1823-1828 – Lord Amherst, Governor-General.
• 1823 – Raja Rammohan Roy’s memorial to Government protesting against the Press Ordinance of 1823.
• 1824 – Mutiny at Barrackpore. Large numebr of Indian soldiers killed on parade for demanding more pay for fighting in Burma. 1824-1826 – First Burmese War. Arakan and Tenasserim annexed.
• 1824-1883 – Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj.
• 1826 – English caputre Bharatpur. Conquest of Assam by East India Company. Treaty of Yandbu.
• 1828-1835 – Lord William Bentinck, Governor-General.
• 1829 – Brahmo Samaj founded by Raja Rammohan Roy, Prohibition of Sati.
• 1829-1837–Suppression of Thuggee.
• 1830-1833 – Raja Rammohan Roy visits England.
• 1831 – Raja of Mysore deposed and its administration taken over by the Company. Meeting of Ranjit Singh and William Bentinck at Rupar.
• 1832 – Annexation of Jaintia.
• 1833 – Abolition of the Company’s trading rights. Legislative power centralised. Indian Law Commission appointed.
• 1834 – Annexation of Coorg. Maculay, Law member. Government establishes tea garden. Formation of Agra Province.
• 1835-1836 – Sir Charles Metcalf, Governor-General.
• 1835 – Macaulay’s Education Resolution. English made official language instead of Persian. Abolition of Press restrictions and inland transit duties.Company strikes its own coins omitting Mughal emperor’s name.
• 1836-1842 – Lord Auckland, Governor-General.
• 1837 – Bahadur Shah II succeeded by Akbar II.
• 1838 – Tripartite Treaty among Shah Shuja, Ranjit Singh and the English.
• 1838-1884 – Kesav Chandra Sen, another pillar of Brahmo Samaj.
• 1839 – Death of Ranjit Singh.New treaty forced on the Amirs of Sind. Work begun on G.T. Road, between Calcutta and Delhi. English declare Shah Shuja, Amir of Kabul.
• 1839-1842 – The First Anglo-Afghan War.
• 1840 – Amir Dost Mohammad surrenders.
• 1841 – Foundation of “Desh Hiteshi Sabha” in Calcutta.
• 1842 – Simla Proclamation of Ellenborough. Govenror-General agrees to recognise the Amir of Afghans’ choice.
• 1842-1844 – Lord Ellenborough, Governor-General.
• 1843 – Return of Dost Muhammad to Afghanistan as its Amir. Conquest of Sind by the British. Slavery prohibited in British India.
• 1844-1848 – Lord Hardinge, Governor-General.
• 1844 – Lord Hardinge decides to employ, in Government service, Indians educated in English schools.
• 1845 – First Anglo-Sikh War.
• 1846 – Defeat of the Sikh Army, Treaty of Lahore.
• 1847 – Engineering College founded in Roorkee.
• 1848-1856 – Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General.
• 1848 – Annexation of Satara. Rising at Multan.
• 1848-1849 – Second Anglo-Sikh War.

• 1849 – Defeat of Sikhs and annexation of the Punjab. Opening of a Hindu Girls’ Schools in Calcutta by Drinkwater Bethune. Dalhousie’s proposal to end Mughal dynasty in Delhi.
• 1851 – Foundation of “British Indian Association” in Calcutta.
• 1852 – Second Anglo-Burmese War. Annexation of Rangoon and Pegu.
• 1853 – Railway opened from Bombay to Thane. Telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra. Annexation of Nagpur and Jhansi. Cession of Berar by Nizam. Competitive examiantion for Civil Service.
• 1855 – Santhal insurrection in Bihar. Beginning of the jute industry in India. Foundation of Anjuman-iIslami in Calcutta.
• 1856 – Annexation of Awadh. University Act. Hindu Widow’s Remarriage Act.
• 1856-1862 – Lord Canning, Governor-General and viceroy.
• 1857 – Universities set up at Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras.
• 1857-1858 – Revolt of 1857. Revolt at Meerut begins on May 10, 1857.
• 1858 – British India placed under the direct Government of the Crown. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation.
• 1859 – Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.
• 1859-1861 – Indigo Riots in Bengal.
• 1860 – Introduction of Budget.
• 1861 – Indian Councils Act. Indian High Courts Act. Archaeological Survey of India set up.
• 1862 – Penal Code introduced. Amalgamation of the Supreme and Sadar courts into High Courts.
• 1862-1863 – Lord Elgin, Viceroy.
• 1863 – Death of Amir Dost Muhammad. Afghan War of Succession. Sher Ali, Amir of Afghanistan receives an annual grant of six lakh of rupees.
• 1863 – Formation of “Mohmmaden Association” in Calcutta, Establishment of Patna College.
• 1863-1902 – Swami Vivekananda.
• 1864-1869 – Sir John Lawrence, Viceroy.
• 1865 – Telegraphic communication with Europe opened.
• 1866 – Establishment of Allahabad High Court.
• 1869 – Ambala Conference with Amir Sher Ali. Amir Yakub’s rebellion in Afghanistan. Opening of Suez Canal. Birth of M.K. Gandhi (2 October).
• 1869-1872 – Lord Mayo, Viceroy.
• 1870 – Mayo’s Provincial Settlement. Erection of Red Sea telegraph.
• 1872 – First census in India 1872 – Kuka Revolt.
• 1872 – Assassination of Lord Mayo
• 1872-1876 – Lord Northbrook, Viceroy.
• 1874 – Bihar Famine.
• 1875 – M.A.O. College, Aligarh founded by Syed Ahmad Khan. Mayo College, Ajmer, opened. Visit of the Prince of Wales. Arya Samaj founded by Swami Dayananda.
• 1876 – Occupation of Quetta. Indian Association of Calcutta. The Queen of England proclaimed Empress of India.
• 1876-1880 – Lord Lytton, Viceroy.
• 1877 – Lytton’s Delhi Durbar.
• 1878 – Vernacular Press Act.
• 1878-1880 – Second Afghan War. Flight of Sher Ali.
• 1878 – Appointment of Famine Commission under the presidency of Richard Strachey.
• 1879 – Madam Blavatsky (Russian) and Col. Olcott (American) come to India from USA and set up Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras.
• 1880 – Abdur Rahman recognised as Amir of Afghanistan. Famine Commission.
• 1880-1884 – Lord Ripon, Viceroy.
• 1881 – Factory Act. Rendition of Mysore.
• 1882 – Repeal of Vernacular Press Act.

• 1882 – Hunter Commission. Indian Education Commission. University of Punjab set up.
• 1883 – Indian National Conference held in Calcutta.
• 1883-1884 – Illbert Bill controversy.
• 1884-1888 – Lord Dufferin, Viceroy.
• 1885 – First Meeting of the Indian National Congress. Bengal Tenancy Act. Bengal Local Self-Government Act. Third Anglo-Burmese War.
• 1886 – Annexation of Upper Burma. Ramakrishna Mission founded. Delimitation of Afghan northern boundary.
• 1888–University set up at Allahabad.
• 1888 – Establishment of “United Indian Patriotic Association” by colonel Beck.
• 1888-1894 – Lord Landsdowne, Viceroy.
• 1889 – Second visit of the Prince of Wales.
• 1891 – Factory Act, Age of Consent Act. Manipur Rebellion.
• 1892 – Indian Councils Act introduces the principle of election.
• 1893 – Durand’s mission to Kabul. Mrs. Besant arrives in India.
• 1894-1899 – Lord Elgin II, Viceroy.
• 1895 – Shivaji Festival started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• 1897 – Frontier Risings. Plague at Bombay. Indian Education Service set up.
• 1897 – Tilak Sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
• 1898 – Ramakrishna Math and Mission founded at Belur by Swami Vivekananda.
• 1899-1905 – Lord Curzon, Viceroy.
• 1900 – Famine Commission, Land Alienation Act, North-West Frontier Province created.
• 1902 – Gurukul Kangri started at Haridwar.
• 1904 – Act passed empowering the Universities to appoint professors and lecturers. Cooperative Societies Act. Archaeological Department established by Curzon. The Youghsband Expedition to Tibet.
• 1905 – First Partition of Bengal. Morley, Secretary of State for India.
• 1905-1910 – Lord Minto II, Viceroy.
• 1906 – Muslim League formed at Dhacca (Dhaka). Congress declaration regarding ‘Swaraj’.
• 1907 – Surat Congress, Moderateextremist clash. The Anglo-Russian Convention. Mrs. Annie Besant succeeds Col. Olcott as President of Theosophical Society.
• 1908 – Newspapers Act. Tilak convicted of sedition (July 22).
• 1908 – khudiram Bose sentenced to death.
• 1908 – Imprisonment to Gandhi (First time)
• 1909 – Morley-Minto Reforms. Appointment of S.P. Sinha to the Governor-General’s Council. Indian Councils Act passed (May 21). Madan Lal Dhingra shoots dead Curzon Whyllie in London (July 1).
• 1909 – Gandhi writes book “Hind Swaraj”
• 1910-1916–Lord Hardinge II, Viceroy.
• 1910 – Death of Edward III and accession of George V.
• 1911 – Delhi Durbar. Partition of Begal modified. Census of India. Transfer of Capital to Delhi announced.
• 1912 – Removal of the Imperial Capital of Delhi. Province of Delhi created by a proclamation, Attempt of Lord Hardinge’s life.
• 1913 – Education Resolution of the Government of India. Nobel Prize for Rabindranath Tagore.
• 1913 – Formation of “Gadar Party” in San Francisco.
• 1914-1918 – First World War.
• 1914 – Tilak released from Mandale Prison.
• 1915 – Gandhi arrives in India (January). Defence of India Act. Death of Gokhale (February 19).
• Mrs. Besant announces the formation of the Home Rule League (September 25).

• 1916– Sadler Commission. Lucknow Pact of Indian National Congress and All-India Muslim League. Foundation of Women’s University at Poona. Banaras Hindu University established at Varanasi.
• 1916 – Formation of Home Rule League by Tilak and Mrs. Besant.
• 1916-1921–Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy.
• 1917 – British declaration on Indian self-government. Montague becomes Secretary of State, visits India. Announcement of granting of responsible government. Gandhi tried for Champaran Satyagraha (April 18).
• Mrs. Besant interned by Madras Government (June 15).
• 1918 – Indians made eligible for King’s Commission, Rowlatt (Sedition) Committee submits its report.
• 1919 – Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. Rowlatt Act passed. Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar (April 13). Third Afghan War. Royal Proclamation. Government of India Act, 1919 passed.
• 1920 – Khilafat Movement and NonCooperation Movement. Lord Sinha, Governor of Bihar and Orissa. Mahatma Gandhi Leads the Congress. All India Trade Union Congress founded. Aligarh Muslim University established.
• 1921 – Chamber of Princes inaugurated. Moplah Rebellion. Prince of Wales visits India. Census of India.
• 1921-1926 – Lord Reading, Viceroy.
• 1921 – Harappa excavations begin.
• 1922 – Resignation of Montague. Mohenjodaro excavations begin. Chauri Chaura incident. Visvabharati University started by Rabindranath Tagore.
• 1923 – Swarajists in India Councils. Certification of Salt Tax. Tariff Board set up. Question of Indianising the command of certain regiments.
• 1923 – Foundation of Indian Party by madan Mohan Malviya.
• 1924 – Kanpur Conspiracy Case.
• 1924 – Gandhi became president of Congress session at Belgao (Belgaum)
• 1925 – All-India Depressed Class Association. Cotton excise abolished. Reforms. Enquiry Report. Death of Chittaranjan Das (C.R.) Sikh Gurdwaras Act passed to enable Sikhs to take over control of Gurdwaras from Mahants. Vithalbhai J. Patel elected at the first Indian President of the Legislative Assembly.
• 1926 – Trade Union Act passed. Swami Shraddhanand Assassinated (December 23).
• 1926-1931 – Lord Irwin, Viceroy.
• 1927 – Indian Navy Act. Appointment of Simon Commission.
• 1927 – Foundation of All India Woman Conference.
• 1928 – Simon Commission comes to India. All Parties’ Conference set up. Nehru Report. Royal Commission on Agriculture appointed.
• 1928 – Foundation of Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA)
• 1929– Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutt drop bombs in the Legislative Assembly (April 8). Establishment of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. Meerut Conspiracy case trial begins.
• 1929 – Lahore session of Congress presided by Pt. JL Nehru, Passed a resolution declaring Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) to be the congress objective.
• 1930-1932 – Boycott of the Simon Commission. Civil Disobedience Movement.
• 1930 – Sharda Act Passed. 1930 – Gandhijis Dandi March, Rebellion in Burma. Round Table Conference (First Session). January 26, Independence Pledge.
• 1931 – Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed. Census of India. Round Table Conference (Second Session). Publication of the Royal Labour Commission’s Report.

• 1931 – Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged till death on March 23 at Lahore Jail.
• 1931-1936 – Lord Willingdon, Viceroy.

• 1932 – Second Civil Disobedience Movement. Round Table Conference (Third Session), Communal Award announced. Poona Pact signed. Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun set up.
• 1934 – Civil Disobedience Movement called off. Bihar Earthquake (January 16).
• 1934 – Foundation of congress socialist party in Patna, Foundation of Royal Indian Navy.
• 1935 – Indo-British Agreement signed. Government of India Act,
• 1935 passed by British Parliament (August 2).
• 1936 – Death of King George V (January 21). Accession and abdication of Edward VIII. Accession of George VI.
• 1936-1944 – Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy.
• 1937 – Inauguration of Provincial Autonomy (April 1). Congress Ministries formed in seven out of eleven Provinces. In NWFP the pro-Congress Red Shirt Party of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan wins majority.
• 1938 – V.D. Savarkar elected President of the Hindu Mahasabha. Death of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee (born 1876) and of Sir Muhammad Iqbal (born 1877). Subhash Chandra Bose elected President of the Indian National Congress.
• 1939 – Second world war begins. Subhash Chandra Bose elected president of Congress again but resigned latter.
• 1940 – Proposal of separate Pakistan first passed in Lahore session by the Muslim League.
• 1940 – Individual Satyagraha started. Vinoba Bhave was the first Satyagrahi.
• 1941 – Subhash Chandra Bose escaped to Berlin from Calcutta.
• 1942 – Quit India Movement started (8 August, 1942).
• 1943 – Subhash Chandra Bose took the charge of Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore and set up Indian Provisional Government.
• 1944-1947 – Lord Wavell, Viceroy.
• 1944 – Gandhi-Jinnah talks opened in Bombay on Rajagopalachari’s proposals for solution of constitution deadlock (September 9). Talks break down on Pakistan issue (September 27). INA reaches Indian soil.
• 1945 – Labour Government in Britain. Lord Wavell’s broadcast announcing British Government’s determination to go ahead with the task of fitting India for self-government (September 19). End of Second World War. Germany surrenders (May). Japan surrenders (June) INA Surrenders to the British (May), Congress leaders released (June). First trial of INA men (November 5).
• 1945 – Elections to the Central Legislative Assembly held (December).
• 1946 – Mutiny of the Indian Naval ratings in Bombay (February 18).
• Violence in Bengal. Announcement of special Mission of Cabinet Ministers of India (February 19).
• Cabinet Mission’s plans announced (June 16).
• Muslim League decides to participate in Interim Government. Congress announces acceptance of the longterm part of May 16 plan, but refuses invitation to participate in Interim. Government (June 25).
• Jawaharlal Nehru takes over Presidentship of the Congress (July 6).
• Muslim League withdraws its acceptance and decides on a policy of direct action (July 29).
• This leads to outbreak of mob violence in Calcutta (August 16). Interim Government formed (September 2).
• Muslim League members sworn in (October 26). Constituent Assembly’s first meeting (December 9).

• 1947-1948 – Lord Mountbatten, Viceroy.
• 1947 – British Government’s historic announcement of transfer of power to “responsible hands”, not later than 1948 (February 20).
• Announcement of Lord Mountbatten’s plan for Partition of India (June 3).
• Indian Independence Act passed (July).
• Creation of free India and Pakistan (August 14-15, 1947).