Modern Indian History Chronology (1707–1950) – Super Expanded

I. Decline of the Mughals & Rise of Regional Powers (1707–1757)

• 1707 – Death of Aurangzeb
o After Aurangzeb, weak successors ascended.
o Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, and provincial governors (Bengal, Awadh,
Hyderabad) asserted autonomy.
o Significance: India politically fragmented, Europeans exploited divisions.
• 1739 – Nadir Shah’s Invasion of Delhi
o Defeated Mughals at Karnal; massacred Delhi.

o Took away Peacock Throne & Koh-i-Noor.

o Significance: Mughal prestige collapsed; exposed India’s vulnerability.
• 1746–63 – Carnatic Wars (British vs French)
o Dupleix vs Robert Clive.

o British victory at Battle of Wandiwash (1760) sealed French defeat.

o Significance: British supremacy in south; French confined to Pondicherry.

II. British Expansion & Consolidation (1757–1857)

• 1757 – Battle of Plassey
o Siraj-ud-Daulah defeated by Robert Clive due to Mir Jafar’s betrayal.
o Significance: Beginning of British political control; Bengal became colonial
base.
• 1764 – Battle of Buxar
o British defeated combined armies of Bengal, Awadh, and Mughal Emperor.

o Treaty of Allahabad (1765): Company got Diwani rights.

o Significance: Firm political foothold in India.
• 1773 – Regulating Act
o Created office of Governor-General (Warren Hastings).
o Supreme Court at Calcutta.
o Significance: First step of Parliamentary control over Company.
 • 1793 – Permanent Settlement (Cornwallis)
o Zamindars made landlords; peasants exploited.
o Significance: Stagnation of agriculture, rural poverty.
• 1799 – Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
o Tipu Sultan killed; Mysore annexed.
o Significance: British secured South India.
• 1803–05 – Second Anglo-Maratha War
o Marathas defeated; British supremacy extended.
o Significance: Decline of Maratha power.
• 1829 – Abolition of Sati
o By Lord William Bentinck, supported by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

o Significance: First major social reform law.

• 1835 – Macaulay’s Minute on Education
o Promoted English education.
o Significance: Created new educated elite → rise of nationalism.
• 1849 – Annexation of Punjab
o After Anglo-Sikh Wars; Sikh kingdom dissolved.
o Significance: British control extended over all India.
• 1857 – Revolt of 1857
o Causes: greased cartridges, annexations (Doctrine of Lapse), economic
exploitation, social-religious fears.
o Leaders: Rani Lakshmibai, Kunwar Singh, Nana Saheb, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
o Outcome: Brutally suppressed.
o Significance: First major challenge to British; led to end of Company rule.

III. Crown Rule & Rise of Nationalism (1858–1905)

• 1858 – Government of India Act

o Crown rule begins; Secretary of State appointed.

o Mughal dynasty abolished.
 • 1861 – Indian Councils Act
o Introduced Indians in legislatures (nominated).
• 1877 – Delhi Durbar
o Queen Victoria proclaimed “Empress of India”.
• 1878 – Vernacular Press Act
o Curbed freedom of Indian-language newspapers.
• 1885 – Indian National Congress (INC) founded
o First session at Bombay, presided by W.C. Bonnerjee.
o Moderates demanded reforms, not independence.
• 1892 – Indian Councils Act
o Enlarged councils; Indians could now discuss budget (limited).

• Social/Religious Reform Movements

o Brahmo Samaj (1828): Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
o Arya Samaj (1875): Dayanand Saraswati, shuddhi movement.
o Aligarh Movement: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, modern Muslim education.
o Ramakrishna Mission (1897): Vivekananda, service to society.

IV. Rise of Extremism, Partition of Bengal & Early Gandhian Era (1905–1919)
• 1905 – Partition of Bengal (Curzon)
o Triggered Swadeshi & Boycott Movement.
o Extremists (Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Pal) gained popularity.
• 1906 – Muslim League founded (Dacca)
o Initially loyalist; later demanded Pakistan.
• 1907 – Surat Split
o Moderates vs Extremists in Congress.
• 1909 – Morley-Minto Reforms
o Expanded councils, but introduced separate electorates.
o Significance: Communal politics institutionalised.
• 1911 – Partition of Bengal annulled
 o Capital shifted to Delhi.
• 1916 – Lucknow Pact
o INC and Muslim League joint demands; Home Rule Leagues formed (Tilak,
Annie Besant).
• 1917 – Champaran Satyagraha (Gandhi)
o Against indigo planters in Bihar.
o Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in India.
• 1919 – Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh massacre
o Rowlatt Act: detention without trial.
o Massacre in Amritsar by General Dyer shocked India.

• 1919 – Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

o Dyarchy introduced in provinces.

V. Gandhian Mass Movements (1919–1935)

• 1920–22 – Non-Cooperation Movement

o Boycott of schools, law courts, foreign cloth.
o Widespread participation.
o Called off after Chauri Chaura (1922) violence.
• 1923 – Swaraj Party formed
o C.R. Das & Motilal Nehru entered councils to oppose govt.
• 1927 – Simon Commission
o All-White; boycotted by Indians.
o Slogan: “Simon Go Back”.
• 1928 – Nehru Report
o Draft constitution demanding Dominion Status.
o Jinnah’s “Fourteen Points” rejected it.
• 1929 – Lahore Session (INC)

o Purna Swaraj declared.

o 26 January to be celebrated as Independence Day.
 • 1930 – Civil Disobedience Movement
o Launched with Salt March (Dandi, 240 miles).
o Boycott of taxes, foreign cloth, liquor.
• 1931 – Karachi Session
o Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy.
• 1932 – Poona Pact (Gandhi–Ambedkar)
o Agreement on political representation of Depressed Classes.
• 1935 – Government of India Act 1935
o Provincial autonomy introduced.
o Federal scheme (never implemented).
o Largest colonial constitution of its time.

VI. Freedom Struggle & Partition (1935–1947)

• 1937 – Provincial Elections
o Congress ministries formed in 8 provinces.
• 1939 – WWII & Congress Resignation
o India dragged into war without consent.
o Congress resigned ministries.
• 1940 – Lahore Resolution (Muslim League)
o Formal demand for Pakistan.
• 1942 – Quit India Movement
o Gandhi’s call: “Do or Die”.
o Widespread protests, violent clashes, mass arrests.
• 1943 – Bengal Famine
o 3–4 million deaths due to food shortage.
• 1945 – INA Trials
o Officers Shah Nawaz, Sehgal, Dhillon tried in Red Fort.
o Sparked nationalist unity.
• 1946 – Cabinet Mission Plan
 o Proposed federation; failed due to Hindu-Muslim conflict.
o Direct Action Day (16 Aug) → communal riots.
• 1947 – Indian Independence Act
o Partition of India and Pakistan.
o 15 August – India independent.

VII. Nation-Building (1947–1950)

• 1947–49 – Integration of Princely States
o Led by Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon.
o Junagadh, Hyderabad (Operation Polo), Kashmir (Instrument of Accession).
• 1949 – Constitution adopted (26 Nov)

o Drafted by Constituent Assembly under Ambedkar.

• 1950 – Republic of India (26 Jan)
o Constitution came into force.
o India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
o Dr. Rajendra Prasad became first President.