Important Dates in Indian History: History is the subject where learners can gain knowledge about the country’s good and bad situations. In Indian History, people struggled a lot for freedom and also achieved so many great things. Indian History commenced with the evolution of the Indus Valley Civilization and we can consider some of the important dates and days of our rich cultural heritage.
Nowadays, kids are very responsive to new ideas and innovative knowledge. To have a great grip on Indian history, learn History subject thoroughly, and answer a maximum number of questions in GK Quizzes and various competitive exams. In Indian history, memorizing the important events and their dates is very tough but now we have shared the list of important dates of ancient to modern Indian history for a quick revision.
Here, you will find the list of important dates in Indian History which improves your chances of gaining more knowledge about the history of India and make use of the skill in cracking various competitive exams.
Do Refer: Important Days and Dates in 2021 Month-wise
List of Important Dates in Indian History
The below provided list covers very significant events and dates of Indian history which shows an impact on our history and geography. It will help students to memorize the date for their competitive exams such as UPSC, PSC, CPF, CDS, NDA, and many others. Have a look at the tables prevailing below and ace up your preparation for annual or govt or competitive examinations.
| BC |
|---|
| 3000-1500: Indus Valley Civilisation. |
| 1500: Early Vedic Period (to 1000 BC). Arrival of Aryans. |
| 606-647: Harsh Vardhana’s reign. |
| 576: Birth of Gautam Buddha. |
| 527: Birth of Mahavir. |
| 327-326: Alexandar’s invasion of India. It opened land route between India and Europe. |
| 313: Accession of Chandragupta Maurya. |
| 305: Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus. |
| 273-232: Ashoka’s reign. |
| 261: Conquest of Kalinga. |
| 58: Beginning of Vikram Era |
| AD | |
| 78 | Beginning of Saka era. |
| 78-101 | Kanishka’s reign. |
| 319–320 | Commencement of Gupta era. |
| 380 | Accession of Chandragupta II ‘Vikramaditya’ |
| 405–411 | Visit of Chinese traveller Fahien. |
| 415 | Accession of Kumargupta I. |
| 455 | Accession of Skandagupta. |
| 606–647 | Harshavardhan’s reign. |
| II. Medieval | |
| 712 | First invasion in Sindh by Arabs (Mohd. Bin Qasim). |
| 836 | Accession of King Bhoja of Kannauj. |
| 985 | Accession of Rajaraja, the Chola ruler. |
| 998 | Accession of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni. |
| 1001 | First invasion of India by Mahmud Ghazni who defeated Jaipal, ruler of Punjab. |
| 1025 | Destruction of Somnath Temple by Mahmud Ghazni. |
| 1191 | First battle of Tarain. |
| 1192 | Second battle of Tarain. |
| 1206 | Accession of Qutubuddin Aibak to the throne of Delhi. |
| 1210 | Death of Qutubuddin Aibak. |
| 1221 | Chengiz Khan invaded India (Mongol invasion). |
| 1236 | Accession of Razia Sultana to the throne of Delhi. |
| 1240 | Death of Razia Sultana. |
| 1296 | Accession of Alauddin Khilji. |
| 1316 | Death of Alauddin Khilji. |
| 1325 | Accession of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. |
| 1327 | Transfer of capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) in Deccan by the Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. |
| 1336 | Foundation of Vijaynagar empire in the South. |
| 1351 | Accession of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. |
| 1398 | Timur’s invasion of India. |
| 1469 | Birth of Guru Nanak. |
| 1494 | Accession of Babur in Farghana. |
| 1497–98 | First voyage of Vasco da Gama to India (discovery of sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope) |
| 1526 | First Battle of Panipat; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi; foundation of Mughal dynasty by Babur. |
| 1527 | Battle of Khanwa-Babur defeated Rana Sanga. |
| 1530 | Death of Babur and accession of Humayun. |
| 1539 | Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and became India’s emperor. |
| 1555 | Humayun recaptured the throne of Delhi. |
| 1556 | Second Battle of Panipat (Bairam Khan defeated Hemu). |
| 1565 | Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi). |
| 1576 | Battle of Haldighati-Rana Pratap was defeated by Akbar. |
| 1582 | Din-i-Ilahi founded by Akbar. |
| 1600 | English East India Company established. |
| 1605 | Death of Akbar and accession of Jahangir. |
| 1606 | Execution of Guru Arjun Dev, the 5th Guru of Sikhs. |
| 1611 | Jahangir marries Nurjahan. |
| 1615 | Sir Thomas Roe visits Jahangir. |
| 1627 | Birth of Shivaji and death of Jahangir. |
| 1628 | Shahjahan becomes emperor of India. |
| 1631 | Death of Mumtazmahal. |
| 1634 | The English permitted to trade in India (in Bengal). |
| 1659 | Accession of Aurangzeb, Shahjahan imprisoned. |
| 1665 | Shivaji imprisoned by Aurangzeb. |
| 1666 | Death of Shahjahan. |
| 1675 | Execution of Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Guru of Sikhs. |
| 1680 | Death of Shivaji. |
| 1707 | Death of Aurangzeb. |
| 1708 | Death of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs. |
| 1739 | Nadir Shah invades India. |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey, establishment of British political rule in India at the hands of Lord Clive. |
| 1761 | Third battle of Panipat. |
| III. Modern | |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar. |
| 1765 | Clive appointed Company’s Governor in India. |
| 1767–69 | First Angle-Mysore War. |
| 1780 | Birth of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. |
| 1780-84 | Second Anglo-Mysore War. |
| 1784 | Pitt’s India Act. |
| 1790-92 | Third Anglo-Mysore War. |
| 1793 | The Permanent Settlement of Bengal. |
| 1799 | Fourth Anglo-Mysore War;Death of Tipu Sultan. |
| 1802 | Treaty of Bassein. |
| 1809 | Treaty of Amritsar. |
| 1829 | Practice of Sati prohibited. |
| 1830 | Raja Rammohan Roy visits England. |
| 1833 | Death of Raja Rammohan Roy at Bristol, England. |
| 1839 | Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. |
| 1839–42 | First Anglo-Afghan War. |
| 1845–46 | First Anglo-Sikh War. |
| 1852 | Second Anglo-Burmese War. |
| 1853 | First Railway line opened between Bombay and Thane and a Telegraph line in Calcutta. |
| 1857 | The Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence. |
| 1861 | Birth of Rabindranath Tagore. |
| 1869 | Birth of Mahatma Gandhi. |
| 1885 | Foundation of Indian National Congress. |
| 1889 | Birth of Jawaharlal Nehru. |
| 1897 | Birth of Subhash Chandra Bose. |
| 1903 | Tibet Expedition. |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon. |
| 1906 | Foundation of Muslim League. |
| 1911 | Delhi Darbar, King George V and Queen visit India; Delhi becomes the capital of India. |
| 1914 | World War I begins. |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact signed by Muslim League and Congress, Foundation of BHU, Home Rule League founded. |
| 1918 | World War I ends. |
| 1919 | Montague-Chelmsford Reforms introduced, Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar. |
| 1920 | Khilafat Movement launched, first meeting of All-India Trade Union Congress, Hunter Commission Report on Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Published First Non-cooperation movement launched by Gandhi. |
| 1922 | Violent incidents at Chaura Chauri Gandhi calls of Non-cooperation movement. |
| 1925 | Communist Party of India organised at Kanpur. |
| 1927 | Boycott of Simon Commission, Broadcasting started in India. |
| 1928 | Death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Nehru Report. |
| 1929 | Resolution of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (complete independence) passed at Lahore Session of INC. |
| 1930 | Civil disobedience movement launched, Dandhi March by Mahatma Gandhi (April 6, 1930) First round table conference held in London. |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Civil Disobedience movement suspended Second round table conference held. |
| 1932 | MacDonald announces communal award (modified by Poona Pact, September 24). |
| 1935 | Government of India Act. |
| 1937 | Provincial Autonomy, Congress forms ministries. |
| 1938 | All India Kishan Sabha formed. |
| 1939 | World War II begins (September 3), Resignation of Congress Ministries in Provinces. |
| 1941 | Escape of Subhash Chandra Bose from India and death of Rabindranath Tagore. |
| 1942 | Arrival of Cripps Mission in India, Quit India movement launched (August 8). |
| 1943–44 | SC Bose forms Provisional Government of Free India and Indian National Army in Singapore; Bengal famine. |
| 1945 | Trial of Indian National Army at Red Fort, Shimla Conference; World War II ends. |
| 1946 | British Cabinet Mission visits India; Interim government formed at the Centre. The Muslim league decides on “Direct Action” for winning Pakistan. |
| 1947 | Division of India; India and Pakistan form separate independent dominions. |
Important Days of India List
| Important Days of India | |
|---|---|
| January 12 | National Youth Day |
| January 15 | Army Day |
| January 26 | Republic Day |
| January 30 | Martyrs’ Day |
| February 24 | Central Excise Day |
| February 28 | National Science Day |
| April 5 | National Maritime Day |
| May 11 | National Technology Day |
| August 9 | Quit India Day |
| August 15 | Independence Day |
FAQs on Indian History Important Dates
1. What are the top-most important dates in Indian history?
The following list makes you memorize the most important days in history:
- The Sealing of Magna Carta – 1215,
- William The Conqueror Defeats Harold At The Battle of Hastings – 1066,
- William Shakespeare Is Born – 1564,
- The Plague (Black Death) Arrives in England – 1346,
- Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot Are Discovered – 1605,
- Wars Of The Roses Begins – 1455,
- The Battle of Waterloo – 1815.
2. What are some major events of Indian history?
Here are the few important events of Indian history:
- 2500–1600BC. Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation,
- c. 260BC. King Ashoka converts to Buddhism,
- 1500BC onwards. Central Asian Aryans migrate to the Indian subcontinent,
- c. AD320. Gupta empire is established,
- 563BC. Birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha,
- c. 325BC. Chandragupta Maurya founds the Mauryan empire.
3. What is the duration of Indian history?
Ancient India, Medieval India, and Modern India are three periods that Indian history classified chronologically.