1947 - India gains freedom and Jawaharlal Nehru is sworn
in as the first Prime Minister of independent India
1947-48 - Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed
after partition
1948 - Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Nathuram Godse
1950 - India becomes a Republic. Dr Rajendra Prasad becomes
the first President of India
1952 - First general elections; Congress government comes
to power
1956 - The states are reorganised on a linguistic basis
1962 - War with China and India loses
1964 - Death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
1966 - Tashkent Agreement reached. Prime Minister LB Shastri
dies at Tashkent. Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister
1971 - Third war with Pakistan. India defeats Pakistan.
Bangladesh created.
1971 - Twenty-year treaty of friendship signed with Soviet
Union
1972 - Shimla agreement signed between India and Pakistan
1974 - India's first atomic device exploded at Pokhran in
Rajasthan
1975 - Indira Gandhi declares state of emergency
1977 - Indira Gandhi's Congress Party loses general elections.
Janata Party comes to power
1979 - Janata Party splits; Seventh general elections held
1980 - Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party
splinter group, Congress (Indira)
1984 - Operation Blue Star. Indira Gandhi assassinated;
son Rajiv Gandhi becomes Prime Minister
1987 - India deploys troops for peacekeeping operation in
Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. Goa becomes 25th state of India. 1989
- Rajiv Gandhi's Congress defeated in ninth general elections; minority
government led by Janata Dal's VP Singh comes to power
