2500 -1500 BC

Mohenjo-daro and Harrapa flourished in the Indus Valley.

The first wave of Aryan immigration into India began

Alexander the Great invaded India.

Mauryan dynasty, the first historical dynasty in the history of India.

Vasco-da-Gama lands at  Calicut.

Portuguese capture Goa 

First battle of Panipat. Establishment of the Mughal Dynasty.

Mughal rule in India.

East India Company constituted

Battle of Plassey 

First War of Independence 

India comes under direct rule of the British crown after failed Indian mutiny. 

Indian National Congress founded

First partition of Bengal

Formation of Muslim League

The massacre at Jalianwallabagh

1930

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Salt Satyagraha, First Round Table Conference 

1942-43

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Quit India movement.

1947 

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India gains freedom, and Jawaharlal Nehru is sworn in as the first Prime Minister of independent India. 

1947-48

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Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed after partition.

1948

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Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Nathuram Godse.

1950

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India becomes a Republic. Dr Rajendra Prasad is the first President of India. 

1952

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First general elections; Congress government comes to power

1956

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The states are reorganized on a linguistic basis

1962

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War with China and India loses 

1964

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Death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

1965

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War with Pakistan; ceasefire declared

1966

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Tashkent Agreement reached. Shastri dies at Tashkent. Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister.

1971

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Third war with Pakistan 

1971

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Twenty-year treaty of friendship signed with Soviet Union.

1972

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Shimla agreement signed between India and Pakistan.

1974

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India's first atomic device exploded at Pokhran in Rajasthan. 

1975

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Indira Gandhi declared state of emergency.

1977

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Indira Gandhi's Congress Party loses general elections.  Janata Party comes to power 

1979

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Janata Party splits; Seventh general elections held

1980

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Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party splinter group, Congress (Indira).  

1984

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Operation Blue Star. Indira Gandhi assassinated; son Rajiv Gandhi becomes Prime Minister

1987

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India deploys troops for peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. Goa becomes the 25th state of India. 

1989

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Rajiv Gandhi's Congress defeated in ninth general elections; minority government led by Janata Dal's V.P Singh comes to power

1990

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Indian troops withdrawn from Sri Lanka.

1991

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V.P Singh's government falls . Rajiv Gandhi assassinated.  Congress government return to power with P.V. Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister

1992

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The dome of Babri Masjid in  Ayodhya demolished by hindu fanatics;  triggering widespread Hindu-Muslim violence.

1996

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Congress suffers worst ever electoral defeat as Hindu nationalist BJP emerges as largest single party. In May 16 AB Vajpayee is PM, until May 28; United Front Coalition forms government under Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda

1997 

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Congress withdraws support to coalition government; I.K. Gujaral sworn in Prime Minister. 

1998

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BJP forms coalition government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

1999

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Vajpayee makes historic bus trip to Pakistan to meet Premier Nawaz Sharif and to sign bilateral Lahore peace declaration.

1999

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Intense fighting in Kargil 

2004

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Congress Party win in general elections. Dr. Manmohan Singh is sworn in as Prime Minister.