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Chronology of Important Events in Indian History
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Chronology of Important Events in Indian History: Indian History is a topic of interest to many including foreigners because of the cultures and civilizations that existed in this sub-continent. The history of India can be studied under political, cultural, religious, or economic heads. Chronologically, Indian History can be classified into three periods – Ancient India, Medieval India, and Modern India.
Here, we are giving the complete study material of ‘Chronology of Important Events in Indian History’ that will ease the journey of aspirants to crack the competitive examinations like UPSC, MPPSC, UPPSC, BPSC, and other state-level examinations.
Table of Contents
Chronology of Important Events in Indian History
Ancient India
| Year | Event | Importance |
| 50,0000 BC to 100,000 BC 100,000 BC to 40,000 BC 40,000 BC to 10,000 BC | Palaeolithic Period Lower Palaeolithic Middle Palaeolithic Upper Palaeolithic | Fire was discovered Tools made of limestones were used. They are found in Chotanagpur plateau and Kurnool district |
| 10,000 BC – 8000 BC | The Mesolithic Age | Hunters and Herders Microlith tools were used |
| 8000 BC – 2000 BC | The Neolithic age | Food producers Use of polished tools |
| 4000 BC to 1500 BC | Chalcolithic Age | Use of Copper – first metal |
| 2700 BC to 1900 BC | Harappan Phase | Bronze age civilization, development of Urban culture |
| 1500 BC-1100 BC | Early Vedic period | Rig Veda period |
| 1100BC-600BC | Later Vedic period | Growth of 2nd Urban phase with the establishment of Mahajanapadhas |
| 600 BC – 345 BC | Mahajanapadhas | 16 kingdoms with certain republics established |
| 544 BC – 413 BC | Haryanka Dynasty | Bimbisara, Ajatshatru and Udayin |
| 412 BC – 342 BC | Shisunga Dynasty | Shisunga and Kalashoka |
| 343BC – 321 BC | Nanda Dynasty | Mahapadmananda |
| 563 BC | Birth of Gautama Buddha | Buddhism established |
| 540 BC | Birth of Mahavira | 24th Tirthankara of Jainism |
| 550 BC | Persian Invasion | Darius |
| 483 BC | 1st Buddhist council | Rajgir |
| 383 BC | 2nd Buddhist Council | Vaishali |
| 326 BC | Macedonian Invasion | Direct contact between Greek and India |
| 250 BC | 3rd Buddhist council | Pataliputra |
| 324 BC – 187 BC 322 BC – 298 BC 298 BC – 272 BC 268 BC – 232 BC 232 BC – 185 BC | Mauryan Period Chandragupta Maurya Bindusara Ashoka Later Mauryans | The political unification of India, Dhamma policy of Ashoka, the growth of art and architecture |
| 181 BC – 71 BC | Sunga Dynasty | Pushyamitra Sunga |
| 71 BC – 27 BC | Kanva dynasty | Vasudeva founded the dynasty |
| Late 2nd century BCE–Early 3rd century CE | Sathavahana dynasty | Capital at Paithan, MH |
| 180 BC – 45AD | Indo-Greeks | Menander(165-145AD) |
| 90 BC – 150 AD | The Shakas | Rudradaman (130 AD – 150 AD) |
| 1st BC – 1st AD | The Parthians | St Thomas arrived in India during the reign of Gondophernes |
| 78 AD | The Kushans | Kanishka (78 AD – 101 AD) |
| 72 AD | 4th Buddhist Council | Kashmir |
| 300 BC – 300 AD | Sangam age | Convene of Sangam Commune, Rule of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas |
| 319 AD – 540 AD 319 – 334 AD 335 – 380 AD 380 – 412 AD 413 – 455 AD 455 – 467 AD | The Gupta Age Chandragupta I Samudragupta Chandragupta II Kumaragupta Skandagupta | 319 AD – Gupta Age The golden age of India Development of numerous art and literature. Nagara style of Temple Building |
| 606 AD – 647 AD | Vardhana Dynasty | Harsha (606-647 AD) Kannauj assembly and Prayag assembly held Huan-Tsang visited Harsha’s assembly |
| 6th century – 12th century | Chalukyas of Vatapi | Development of Vesera style |
| 275 – 897 AD | Pallavas of Kanchi | Structural temples in Dravida style started to develop |
Medieval India
Early Medieval Period (650 – 1206 AD)
| Year | Event | Importance |
| 750 – 1162 AD | Rule of the Palas | Capital at Munger, Bihar |
| 753 – 982 AD | The Rasthrakutas | Capital at Malkhed |
| 730 – 1036 AD | The Pratiharas | Ruled western India |
| 712 AD | First Muslim Invasion | Mahmud Bin Qasim invaded India |
| 850 – 1200 AD | The Cholas | Capital at Tanjore, epitome moment for Dravidian Architecture |
| 971 – 1030 AD | First Turk invasion | Mahmud of Ghazni |
| 1175 – 1206 AD | Second Turk invasion | Mahmud of Ghori |
| 1166 – 1192 AD | Prithviraj Chauhan | The first battle of Tarain in 1191 between Prithviraj and Mahmud of Ghori 1192, Second battle of Tarain |
The Sultanate Period (1206 – 1526 AD)
| The Slave Dynasty | ||
| Year | Event | Importance |
| 1206 – 1210 AD | Qutbuddin Aibak | Known as Lal Bakhsh, began the construction of Qutb Minar |
| 1210 – 1236 AD | Shamsuddin Iltumish | The real founder of Delhi sultanate |
| 1236 – 1240 AD | Razia Sultana | First and only Muslim lady who ever ruled India |
| 1240 – 1266 AD | Weak successors | |
| 1266 – 1287 AD | Ghiyasuddin Balban | Established Diwan-i-Arz |
| The Khalji Dynasty | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1290 – 1296 AD | Jalaluddin Khalji | Founder of Khalji dynasty |
| 1296 – 1316 AD | Allaudin Khalji | Did many administrative reforms, introduced the Dagh and Chehra system |
| The Tuglaq dynasty | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1320 – 1325 AD | Ghiyasuddin Tuglaq | Founder |
| 1325 – 1351 AD | Mohammed-Bin-Tuglaq | Introduction of administrative reforms and certain ambitious projects |
| 1351 – 1388 AD | Firoz Shah Tuglaq | Built great cities |
| 1398 – 1399 AD | Taimur Invasion | Taimur, the descendant of Chengiz Khan, invaded during the reign of Muhammad Shah Tuglaq |
The Sayyid dynasty 1414 – 1451 AD
| The Lodhi Dynasty (1451 – 1526 AD) | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1451 – 1488 AD | Bahlol Lodhi | Founder of Lodhi dynasty |
| 1489 – 1517 AD | Sikander Lodhi | Founded the city of Agra |
| 1517 – 1526 AD | Ibrahim Lodhi | Babur defeated Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat |
Vijaynagar and Bahmani Kingdoms
| Vijaynagar Kingdom | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1336 – 1486 AD | Sangama Dynasty | Founded by Harihara and Bukka |
| 1486 – 1506 AD | Saluva Dynasty | Saluva Narasimha |
| 1506 – 1565 AD | Tuluva Dynasty | Veer Narashima |
| 1509 – 1529 AD | Krishna Deva Raya | A gifted Scholar, contemporary of Babur |
| 1570 – 1647 AD | Aravidu Dynasty | Founded by Tirumala |
| Bahmani Kingdom | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1347 – 1358 AD | Alaudin Hasan Bahman Shah | Founded the Bahmani Kingdom at Gulbarga |
| 1397 – 1422 AD | Tajuddin Firoz Shah | |
| 1422 – 1435 AD | Ahmad Shah Wali |
Mughal Empire
| Yera | Event | Importance |
| 1526 – 1530 AD | Babur | Founder of Mughal empire after the 1st Battle of Panipat |
| 1530 – 1540 AD 1555 – 1556 AD | Humayun | He was defeated by Sher Shah |
| 1540 – 1555 AD | Sur Empire | Sher Shah defeated Humayun and ruled from 1540-45 AD |
| 1556 | 2nd Battle of Panipat | Akbar Vs. Hemu |
| 1556 – 1605 AD | Akbar | Established Din-i-illahi, expanded Mughal empire |
| 1605 – 1627 AD | Jehangir | Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe visited the Mughal court |
| 1627 -1658 AD | Shahjahan | The pinnacle of Mughal empire and art and architecture |
| 1658 – 1707 AD | Aurangazeb | Beginning of the decline of Mughal empire |
| 1707 – 1857 AD | Later Mughals | Decline and disintegration of Mughal empire with gaining strength of the British |
Maratha State and Maratha Confederacy
| Maratha state 1674 – 1720 AD | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1674 – 1680 AD | Shivaji | Contemporary of Aurangazeb and the biggest challenge for the Mughals in Deccan |
| 1680 – 1689 AD | Sambhaji | |
| 1689 – 1700 AD | Rajaram | |
| 1700 – 1707 AD | Tarabai | |
| 1707 – 1749 AD | Shahu | The rise of Peshwas |
| 1713 – 1718 AD | Balaji Vishwanath | The first Peshwa |
Maratha Confederacy 1720 – 1818 AD
| Year | Event | Importance |
| 1720 – 1740 AD | Baji Rao I | |
| 1740 – 1761 AD | Balaji Baji Rao | |
| 1761 AD | The third battle of Panipat | The defeat of Marathas by Ahmad Shah Abdali |
| 1761 – 1818 AD | Later successors |
Anglo Maratha Wars
| Year | Event | Importance |
| 1775 – 1782 AD | 1st Anglo Maratha War | British were defeated |
| 1803 – 1806 AD | 2nd War | Marathas were defeated and they signed the Subsidiary Alliance |
| 1817 – 1818 AD | 3rd War | Marathas were decisively defeated |
Modern India
| Bengal | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1717 – 1727 AD | Murshid Quli Khan | Capital of Bengal transferred to Murshidabad |
| 1727 – 1739 AD | Shujauddin | |
| 1739 – 1740 AD | Sarfaraj khan | |
| 1740 – 1756 AD | Alivardi Khan | |
| 1756 – 1757 AD | Sirajuddaulah | Battle of Plassey |
| 1757 – 1760 AD | Mir Jafar | |
| 1760 – 1764 AD | Mir Qasim | Battle of Buxar |
| Mysore | ||
| Year | Events | Importance |
| 1761 – 1782 AD | Haider Ali | Establishment of Modern Mysore state |
| 1766 – 1769 AD | 1st Anglo – Mysore war | Haider Ali defeated the British |
| 1780 – 1784 AD | 2nd Anglo – Mysore war | Haider Ali was defeated by Sir Eyrecoot |
| 1782 – 1799 AD | Tippu Sultan | Continued the 2nd war |
| 1790 – 1792 AD | 3rd Anglo – Mysore war | Tipu ceded half of his territory |
| 1798 – 1799 AD | 4th Anglo – Mysore war | Tipu sultan died |
| Punjab | ||
| 1792 – 1839 AD | Maharaja Ranjit Singh | Founder of Sikh rule |
| 1845 – 1846 AD | 1st Anglo – Sikh war | Sikhs were defeated |
| 1848 – 1849 AD | 2nd Anglo – Sikh war | Dalhousie annexed Punjab |
The advent of Europeans in India
| Year | Company | |
| 1498 | Portuguese East India company | Headquarters at Cochin and Goa |
| 1600 | English East India company | Madras, Calcutta and Bombay |
| 1602 | Dutch East India company | Pulicat, Nagapattinam |
| 1616 | Danish East India company | Serampore |
| 1664 | French East India company | Pondicherry |
Carnatic wars
| 1746-48 | 1st Anglo-French war | Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle |
| 1749-54 | 2nd Anglo-French war | Treaty of Pondicherry |
| 1758-63 | 3rd Anglo-French war | Treaty of Paris |
Freedom Struggle
| Year | Event | |
| 1857 | The First war of Indian independence | Revolt due to socio-religious and economic causes |
| 1885 | Formation of Indian National Congress | A.O. Hume |
| 1885 – 1905 | Moderate phase | Dominated by Dadabai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea |
| 1905 – 1917 | Extremists Phase | Dominated by Lal-Bal-Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh |
| 1905 | Bengal Partition | Curzon announced the partition |
| 1905 – 1908 | Swadeshi movement | Boycott of foreign products |
| 1906 | Muslim league formation | |
| 1906 | Calcutta Session of INC | Swaraj as the goal |
| 1907 | Surat split | Question on extending the movement to the rest of India |
| 1909 | Morley – Minto reforms | The separate electorate for Muslims |
| 1915 – 1916 | Home rule movement | BG Tilak and Annie Besant |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact | The pact between Congress and League |
| 1916 | Lucknow session | Extremists admitted in Congress |
Gandhian Era
| Early life | ||
| 1893 – 1914 | Gandhi in South Africa | Foundation of Natal Indian Congress, Sathyagraha and CDM against British excesses |
| 1915 – 1948 | Gandhi in India | |
| 1915 | Arrived in Bombay. First two years to tour India and not to participate in any political movement | |
| 1917 | Champaran Campaign | Against the Indigo cultivators |
| 1918 | Ahmedabad | First hunger strike |
| 1918 | Kheda | First non-cooperation movement |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Sathyagraha | Against the Rowlatt act and Jallianwala massacre |
| 1920-22 | Non-cooperation and Khilafat movement | |
| 1924 | Belgaum session | Gandhi elected as Congress president |
| 1930 -34 | Civil disobedience movement | Dandi MarchGandhi – Irwin Pact2nd Roundtable conferenceResuming the Civil disobedience movement |
| 1940-41 | Individual satyagraha | |
| 1942 | Quit India movement | Do or die |
Important Events during this period
| Year | Event | |
| 1919 | Rowlatt act | Gandhi gave a call for Rowlatt satyagraha |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Massacre | |
| 1920-22 | Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement | Hindu Muslim unity |
| 1922 | Chauri Chaura incident | Gandhi called off NCM |
| 1923 | Congress Khilafat Swaraj Party | Enter legislative councils |
| 1927 | Simon commission | All white commission to review the 1919 act |
| 1928 | Nehru committee report | To determine the principles of the constitution |
| 1929 | Jinnah’s 14 points | |
| 1929 | Lahore session | Purna Swaraj |
| 1930 | Civil disobedience movement | Dandi March |
| 1931 | Gandhi Irwin Pact | To ask Gandhi to participate in the 2nd RTC |
| 1931 | 2nd RTC held in London | |
| 1932 | Communal award | |
| 1932 | Poona Pact | |
| 1935 | Government of India act | Provisional autonomy |
| 1937 | 18 months rule of Congress begins | |
| 1939-45 | World War II begins | |
| 1939 | Congress ministries resign | |
| 1940 | August offer | Linlithgow proposed to seek India’s cooperation in the World War |
| 1941 | Individual Satyagraha | |
| 1942 | Cripps mission | |
| 1942 | Quit India movement | |
| 1943 | Gandhi’s 21 days fast | |
| 1944 | C R Formula | |
| 1945 | Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference | |
| 1945 | INA Trails | |
| 1946 | RIN Ratings Mutiny | |
| 1946 | Cabinet mission plan | |
| 1946 | Formation of Interim government | |
| 1946 | Formation of the constituent assembly | |
| 1947 | Atlee’s announcement | |
| 1947 | Mountbatten Plan | |
| 1947 | Indian independence act, 1947 |
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