3000 BC-1500 BC: Indus Valley Civilization began in Harappa, and was one of the worlds three

earliest urban civilizations, contemporary to Sumer (in Mesopotamia/Iraq) and ancient Egypt. The cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro become large metropolises. It had superior urban planning and sewage systems.
1900 -1700 BC: Aryan invasion, conquered Afghanistan and Punjab, begining of Vedic

Civilization, though Aryan invasion theory is now disputed by many.

1500 BC: Rig Veda is composed. 600 BC: Sixteen Maha Janapadas emerge. A number of these Maha Janapadas are semidemocratic

republics.
563 BC: Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism is born. 549 BC: Mahavira, founder of Jainism is born. 500 BC: Panini standardizes the grammar and

morphology of Sanskrit in the text Ashtadhyayi.

327 BC: Alexander crossed the Indus and invaded India. 326 BC: Porus who ruled parts of the Punjab, fought Alexander at the Battle of the Hydaspes

River
322-185 BC: Age of Maurya Dynasty; Mauryan Empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya. 305 BC: Chandragupta Maurya defeats Seleucus Nicator of the Seleucid Empire 273 BC: Ashoka the Great, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ascends as emperor of the

Mauryan Empire.
261 BC: Ashoka conquers the kingdom of Kalinga. 260 BC: Ashoka inscribes the Edicts of Ashoka giving his theory of Dhamma. 184 BC: The Mauryan Empire collapsed after its emperor Brihadrata was assassinated by his

general Pusyamitra Sunga who then established the Sunga dynasty.

200-100 BC: Tholkappiyam standardizes the grammar and morphology of Tamil and the oldest

existing grammar in the text.

180 BC: Establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom. 80 BC: Establishment of the Indo-Scythian kingdom. 65 BC: Pandyan king sends Ambassodars to Greek and Roman court.

58 BC: Beginning of Vikrami Calendar. AD 68 AD: Establishment of the Kushan empire by Kujula. 78 AD: Beginning of Saka Era; Accession of Kanishka (the Kushan King). Saka Era started during

his reign.
320 AD: Gupta Era begins. Chandragupta Vikramaditya was the greatest king of this dynasy,

during his reign art and culture reached its zenith.

405 AD: Fahien (Chinese pilgrim) visited India during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. 450-475 AD: Hun invasion. 606-647 AD: Reign of Harshavardhana, King of North India the last great Hindu king of Northern

India. Hiuen-tsang (Chinese pilgrim) visited India during his reign.

712 AD: Arab invasion of Sind by Mohd.-bin-Qasim. 820 AD: Death of Sankaracharya, the great hindu philosopher. 900 AD: Rise of Chola dynasty. 1000-1026 AD: Sultan Mahmud Ghazni attacks India. king of Punjab by Mahmud Ghazni. 1025-26 AD: Somnath Temple destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni. 1191 AD: First Battle of Traori (or Tarain). 1192 AD: Second Battle of Traori; Fall of Prithvi Raj Chauhan King of Delhi and Ajmer at the

hands of Muhammad Ghori.

1192-1290 AD: Establishment of Muslim Rule in Northern India; Reign of Slave Kings. 1206 AD: Qutab-ud-Din Aibak founded the first Muslim dynasty in India. Assassination of Mohd.

Ghori. 1221 AD: First Mangol invasion by Changez Khan.

1232 AD: Qutab Minar built near Delhi(started by Qutab-ud-din Aibak and completed by his

successor Iltutmish).
1330 AD: Copper coins introduced and made legal tender by Mohammad Tughlaq. 1334 1342 AD: Ibn Batuta in India. 1336 AD: Vijayanagar Empire founded in South India by Harihar and Bukka.

1347 AD: Bahmani kingdom founded in South India by Hasan Gangoo. 1398 AD: Invasion of Timur Lang; Delhi sacked. 1469 AD: Birth of Guru Nanak Dev (founder of the Sikh faith). 1486-1533 AD: Life time of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, great exponent of Bhakti movement. 1498 AD: Vasco-da-Gama discovered the sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope; arrived at

Calicut (May 20).

1510 AD: Goa conquered by AlbuquerquePortuguese Viceroy in India. 1526 AD: Baburs invasion; First Battle of Panipat; foundation of Mughal Rule in North India. 1540-1545 AD: Reign of Sher Shah Suri; Mughal King Humayun in exile. 1556 AD: Second Battle of Panipat; Humayuns death; Accession of Akbar to the throne. 1556-1605 AD: Reign of Akbar; expansion of Mughal Empire. 1576 AD: Battle of Haldighat pass; Akbar defeated Rana Pratap. 1582 AD: Promulgation of a new faith Din-i-Elahi by Akbar. 1600 AD: East India Company established in India. 1605 AD: Death of Akbar. 1605-1627 AD: Reign of Jehangir. 1612 AD: First English factory at Surat. 1627 AD: Birth of Shivaji. 1627-1657 AD: Reign of Shah Jehan. 1634 AD: Firman permitting the English to trade in Bengal. 1648 AD: Taj Mahal at Agra completed by Shah Jehan. 1658 AD: Coronation of Aurangzeb. 1666 AD: Shivajis visit to the Mughal court at Agra, his imprisonment and escape. 1668 AD: First French Factory at Surat.

1674 AD: Shivajis coronation. 1686-1687 AD: Fall of the kingdom of Bijapur and Golkonda. 1707 AD: Death of Aurangzeb; Death of Guru Gobind Singh; decline of Mughal Empire begins. 1714 AD: Peshwa dynasty founded by Balaji Vishwanath. 1739 AD: Nadir Shah invaded India; The Peacock Throne taken away by him to Iran. 1742 AD: Dupleix appointed Governor of Pondicherry. 1757 AD: Battle of Plassey; Lord Clive established British Rule in India. 1760 AD: Battle of Wandiawash; end of French power in India. 1761 AD: Third Battle of Panipat. This battle gave a severe blow to Maratha power.

1765 AD: Grant of Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the British. 1770 AD: Famine in Bengal. 1774 AD: Regulating Act passed by British Parliament. 1774-85 AD: Warren Hastingsthe first Governor- General of India. 1784 AD: Pitts India Bill passed by British Parliament. 1793 AD: Permanent settlement of land(land revenue system) in Bengal. 1799 AD: Fourth Mysore War; Death of Tipu Sultan; Partition of Mysore; Ranjit Singh occupied

Lahore and made it his capital.

1809 AD: Treaty of Amritsar between Sikhs and British. 1818 AD: The Fourth and the last Anglo-Maratha War. 1829 AD: Prohibition of sati by Lord William Bentinck. 1833 AD: Death of Raja Ram Mohan Royfounder of Brahmo Samaj. 1835 AD: Introduction of English as medium of instruction as recommended by Lord Macaulay. 1849 AD: Annexation of the Punjab to the British territories (March 29).

1853 AD: The first Indian railway line opened from Bombay to Thane; the first telegraph

communication.
1857 AD: First war of Indian Independence; so-called Indian Mutiny of 1857 (May 10). After so

many tough expeditions English finally managed to retain India.

1858 AD: India comes under direct rule of the British crown after failed Indian mutiny. Queen

Victorias Proclamation.
1861 AD: Birth of Dr Rabindranath Tagore. 1863 AD: Birth of Swami Vivekananda. 1869 AD: Birth of Mahatma Gandhi at Porbandar (Kathiawar) (Oct 2). 1875 AD: Arya Samaj founded by Dayanand Saraswati. 1885 AD: Indian National Congress founded by A.O. Hume. The first session of the Indian

National Congress was held at Bombay, under the Presidentship of W.C. Bannerji (Dec 28).
1886 AD: Burma annexed by the British and made a part of India. 1889 AD: Birth of Jawaharlal Nehru (Nov 14). 1900 AD: Introduction of Agrarian Reforms and passing of the Punjab Alienation Act during the

Viceroyalty of Lord Curzon.

1905 AD: First Partition of Bengal (during the Viceroyalty of Lord Curzon). Swadeshi and

Boycott Movements were associated with the first partition of Bengal in 1905.
1906 AD: Formation of the All India Muslim League at Dacca. 1909 AD: Indian Council Act or Morley-Minto Reforms Bill passed. 1911 AD: The capital of India transferred from Calcutta to Delhi. Partition of Bengal revoked. 1912 AD: Bihar separated from Bengal on April 1. 1914 AD: World War I declared (July 28) 1915 AD: Defence of India Act. 1916 AD: Lucknow Pact between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League;

formation of the Home-Rule League.

1917 AD: E.S. Montagus declaration about the political future of India.

1918 AD: End of World War I (Nov 11). 1919 AD: Government of India Act (or the Montagu- Chelmsford Reforms); division of Provinces

into two halves, unofficially known as dyarchy. Rowlatt Act or the Black Bills passed; Tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar (April 13).
1920 AD: Indian National Congress comes under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi; Bal

Gangadhar Tilak passed away; first Civil Disobedience Movement in India (March 19).
1921 AD: Moplah Rebellion in Malabar. 1922 AD: Chaura Chauri incident and suspension of civil disobedience movement by Mahatma

Gandhi. Death of C.R. Dass.

1928 AD: Visit of Simon Commission and its boycott; Death of Lala Lajpat Rai; The Nehru

Report.
1929 AD: Congress Resolution for complete independence (Purna Swaraj) in Lahore Session

under the Presidentship of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

1930 AD: Historical Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi (April 6); First Round Table Conference

in London.
1931 AD: Gandhi-Irwin Pact; Second Round Table Conference. Announcement of Communal

Award by British Premier Ramsay Mcdonald which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi on the ground that it divides Hindus. Later on matter was resolved through Poona pact with Dr. Ambedker.
1935 AD: Government of India Act 1935 passed. 1937 AD: Formation of provincial govts.; Congress ministries in 7 provinces. 1939 AD: Beginning of Second World War; resignation of congress ministries. 1942 AD: Cripps proposal for Dominion status; Quit India Resolution by Indian National

Congress (August 8); Massive revolt against British rule. Movement brutally supressed by govt.
1943 AD: Bengal famine. Formation of Indian National Army at Singapore by Subhash Chandra

Bose.
1944 AD: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first to address Mahatma Gandhi as Father of the

Nation at Rangoon.
1945 AD: INA trial at Red fort, Delhi; Shimla conference and failure of Wavell plan.

1946 AD: Formation of Interim government; Visit of Cabinet Mission; Mutiny in the Royal Indian

Navy; First meeting of the Indian constituent assembly.

1947 AD: Partition of India; India achieves independence; and creation of Pakistan. 1948 AD: Kashmir acceded to India. Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (Jan 30). 1948-50 AD: Integration of the Princely States into the Indian Union by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 1948 AD: C. Rajagopalachari appointed the first Indian Governor-General of free India in

succession to Earl Mountbatten.

1949 AD: Enactment of the Indian Constitution (Nov 26). 1950 AD: India becomes a sovereign democratic republic (Jan 26). Death of Sardar Vallabhbhai

Patel (Dec 15).

1951 AD: The First Five- Year Plan launched. 1952 AD: First General Elections held in India. Congress wins massive majority. 1953 AD: Andhra State created. 1956 AD: France relinquishes her sovereignty over her possessions in India and transfers

establishments of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam (May 28). States Reorganisation Act comes into force (Nov 1).
1961 AD: Liberation of Goa. 1962 AD: All-out Chinese attack on India (Oct 20) in NEFA and Ladakh areas. China unilaterally

declares ceasefire along the entire Sino-Indian border (Nov 21).

1963 AD: Death of President Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Feb 28); Nagaland inaugurated as the 16th

Indian State (Dec 1).

1964 AD: Death of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (May 27), Lal Bahadur Shastri takes over as Prime

Minister of India.
1965 AD: Indo-Pak War; Indian army marches towards Lahore on Sept 6 and crosses Jammu-

West Pakistan border in drive towards Sialkot on Sept 8. India and Pakistan agree to a ceasefire from Sept 23.
1966 AD: Indo-Pak summit at Tashkent; Tashkent Pact (Jan 11). Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri at

Tashkent (Jan 11); Indira Gandhi installed as Prime Minister of India (Jan 24); Punjab divided States of Punjab and Haryana come into being (Nov. 1). Chandigarh made Union Territory.

1967 AD: Dr. Zakir Hussain installed as the third President of India (May 13). 1969 AD: Death of President Zakir Hussain (May 3); V.V. Giri elected President of India (Aug.

20). Madras State named as Tamil Nadu.

1970 AD: Meghalaya inaugurated (April 2); Princes derecognised by Presidential Order (Sept 7). 1971 AD: Himachal Pradesh gets full Statehood (Jan 25); Indo-Pak War (Dec 3-17); defeat of Pakistan; Bangladesh freed (Dec 16); India declares unilateral ceasefire. 1972 AD: Assam State reorganised Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura become fullfledged States

and new Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram inaugurated (Jan 20-21); Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan (July 3).
1974 AD: India becomes the sixth nuclear power in the world (May 18); Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed

assumes office as the fifth President of India (Aug 25).

1975 AD: India enters space age by launching Aryabhata (April 19); Sikkim becomes 22nd State

of the Indian Union (May 16); State of Emergency declared for the first time since independence. Censorship imposed on Press (June 26).
1976 AD: India and China agree to establish diplomatic relations at Ambassadors level (April 16-

17).
1977 AD: Emergency rules relaxed. Death of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (Feb 11); Janata

Party gains absolute majority in the Lok Sabha (March 23), Morarji Desai sworn in as Prime Minister of India (March 24); Neelam Sanjiva Reddy elected President of India (July 21).
1978 AD: Congress (I) formed with Indira Gandhi as President (Jan 2). 1979 AD: Indias first coalition Government between Janata (S) and the Congress sworn in with

Charan Singh as Prime Minister (July 26); Death of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan (Oct 8).
1980 AD: Indira Gandhi sworn in as Prime Minister (Jan 14); India successfully launches SLV-3

into space carrying Rohini satellite into earth orbit (July 18).
1981 AD: APPLE, Indias first three-axis body-stabilised geostationary experimental

communication satellite, launched into space from Kourou, French Guyana (June 19); Bhaskara II launched.
1982 AD: Zail Singh elected the seventh President of India on July 15. 1983 AD: INSAT-IB, Indias unique three-axis, geostationary, communication satellite launched

from American Space Shuttle Challenger (Aug 30).

1984 AD: Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma becomes Indias first spaceman (April 3); 34-year-old Sikkim

mountaineering instructor Phu Dorjee becomes the first Indian to climb Mount Everest without Oxygen (May 9). Bachendri Pal becomes the first Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest (May 23); Army launches operation Bluestar to flush out terrorists from Golden Temple in Amritsar (June 3); Indira Gandhi assassinated (Oct 31). Massive riots in northern Indian cities. Rajiv Gandhi becomes new Prime Minister.
1985 AD: Air Indias jet Kanishka crashes into Atlantic ocean off the coast of Ireland killing 329

people (June 23); The Punjab accord is signed (July 24); Assam accord is signed (August 20).
1986 AD: Mizoram accord is signed thus paving way for the peace in this state long torn by the

extremist violence.
1987 AD: Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh attain Statehood (Feb 20). Goa attains Statehood (May

11).
1989 AD: Indias first Super-Computer, Cray X-MP- 14, is dedicated to the nation (March 25);

First intermediate range missile of India, Agni, is successfully launched(May 22); V.P. Singh becomes the 7th Prime Minister of India (Dec 2).
1990 AD: Implementation of Mandal Commission report; Chandra Shekhar is sworn-in as the 8th

Prime Minister of India (Nov 9).

Battle of Hydaspes 326 B.C. Alexander the Great, defeated Porus, the Paurava king.

Impressed by the valour of Porus, ultimately Alexander returned his kingdom to him.
Battle of Kalinga 261 B.C. Ashoka defeated the king of Kalinga. Ashoka embraced Buddhism

and preached it during the rest of his life after this war.
First Battle of Tarain or Thaneswar A.D. 1191 Prithvi Raj Chauhan defeated Mohammed Ghori. Second Battle of Tarain A.D. 1192 Mohammed Ghori defeated Prithvi Raj Chauhan.

Ghoris victory paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in India.
First Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi. This laid the foundation of the

Mughal rule in India.

Battle of Khanwah 1527 Babar defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar. This battle resulted in the

defeat of the powerful Rajput confederacy.

Second Battle of Panipat 1556 Bairam Khan (Akbars General) defeated Hemu (the Hindu

General and right-hand man of Mohd. Adil Shah). It also ended the Afghan Rule and Mughal Rule began instead.
Battle of Talikota 1564- 65 United alliance between Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmednagar and

Golkonda under Hussain Nizam Shah defeated Ram Raja of Vijayanagar. It destroyed the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar.
Battle of Haldighati 1576 Akbars forces headed by Raja Man Singh defeated Rana Pratap, the

brave Rajput king. Though defeated, Rana Pratap refused to accept Mughal authority and carried on warfare till his death.
Battle of Plassey 1757 The English under Lord Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.It brought

Muslim Rule in Bengal to an end and laid foundations of the British Rule in India.
Battle of Wandiwash 1760 The English defeated the French. The battle sealed the fate of the

French in India and paved the way for English rule in India.
Third Battle of Panipat 1761 Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Marathas. It gave a terrible blow

to the Maratha power. It made the field clear for the English.
Battle of Buxar 1764 Fought in 1764 between the forces of the English and the combined

forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Oudh) and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam. The English victory at Buxar finally riveted the shackles of the Companys rule upon Bengal.
First Mysore War (1767- 68) In 1768, Haider Ali was defeated by the English relinquishing

all his rights over Mysore in favour of the English.

Second Mysore War 1780 A grand alliance between Haider Ali, the Nizam and the Marathas

was formed and Haider Ali. He defeated the English and took possession of Arcot and became the undisputed master of the Carnatic.
Third Mysore War 1790- 92Fought between the English and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had to

submit and was compelled to sign the Treaty of Seringapattam stripped him of half his territory.
Fourth Mysore War 1799 The British forces under Arthur Wellesley defeated Tipu Sultan,

which brought the end of the Tipu Sultan. Maratha War 1803-05It weakened the Maratha power. The English annexed Tanjore, Surat and Carnatic.
Fourth Maratha War 1817- 18The British forces defeated Marathas and this campaign finally

extinguished the Maratha Empire.

Battle of Cheelianwala 1849 Forces of the East India Company under Lord Hugh Gough

defeated the Sikhs under Sher Singh.

Burmese War 1885 As a result of this War, the whole of Burma was occupied by the English

and made a part of India.

Afghan War III 1919 As a result of this War, Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed by which

Afghanistan was recognised as an independent State.

lndo-Pak War 1965 This was Pakistans second attack on India. While India had the upper

hand, the fighting was brought to a stop by a call for ceasefire issued by the Security Council. Later on, Tashkent accord was signed between the two nations. lndoPak War Dec 1971 Pakistan started the war attacking India on Dec 3. India defeated Pakistan

on all fronts. Pakistani occupation forces, numbering about one lakh, in East Bengal (Bangladesh) surrendered. Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

Ahichhatra: Originally Ahikshetra in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh was once the capital of

Panchalas.
Aihole: Situated in Karnataka contains chief sites of Chalukyan architecturenearly 50 structural

stone temples. Ajanta Caves: Situated 66 miles north of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State. These are rock-cut Buddhist caves. These caves represent a record of unique painting, sculpture and architecture of the period from about the 2nd century B.C. to about 7th century A.D.
Amaravati: A historical site near modern Vijaywada, believed to have flourished under the

Satavahana dynasty.
Arikamedu: It was a seaport near Pondicherry during Chola times. Ayodhya: Situated in modern Faizabad (UP), was capital of the Kosala. Birth place of Lord Rama.

Badami (or Vatapi): Situated in Karnataka is wellknown for Chalukyan sculpture found in the cave temples here. These are groups of Hindu temples dating back to 7th or 8th century and are examples of pure Dravidian architecture.
Bodh Gaya: It is situated six miles south of Gaya in Bihar State. It is famous as the place where

Buddha got enlightenment.

Belur: Situated in Karnataka is famous for its elaborately sculptured Cheena Kesava temple of the

Hoysala period.
Bhubaneswar: Situated in Orissa and is known for ancient temples viz., Rajarani; Lingraja;

Brahmesvara.
Chidambaram: A town 150 miles south of Chennai was once the capital of the Chola kingdom.

Its temples are among the oldest in India and are gems of Dravidian architecture. It is famous as the abode of Natraja, the Dancing Siva.
Elephanta Caves: Situated on the island of the same name about 6 miles from Mumbai harbour

are rock-cut caves of the 7th and 8th century.

Ellora Caves: Situated about 15 miles north west of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State are about

34 caves excavated in the face of a hill.

Halebid: Situated in Karnataka, 10 miles from Belur, is well-known for its elaborately sculptured

temples of the Hoysala period. The monuments rank among the masterpieces of Hindu art.
Harappa: Situated in Montgomery district of Punjab, now in West Pakistan, is known for

excavations carried out here showing signs of Indus Valley Civilization.

Junagadh: Situated in Gujarat State is one of the most ancient cities of India. It is situated below

the Girnar Hill. The temples on the Hill are known for their architecture and paintings.
Kalibangan: Situated in Rajasthan where recent excavations brought to light the varied

achievements of Indus Valley Civilisationtown planning and use of burnt bricks.

Kanauj: It was the Capital of Harshavardhan. Kanchipuram: Situated 45 miles south-west of Chennai is known for Kailashnath temple. It was

the capital of successive dynasties of Hindu rulers.

Kapilvastu: a small ancient kingdom in the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha. Khajuraho: in Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh is famous for its group of highly ornate mediaeval

Hindu temples. Kusinagar: in the district of modern Gorakhpur, is the place where Buddha died.
Lothal: ancient town, situated on the sea-plain of former Saurashtra, 450 miles south-east of

Mohenjo-Daro. The excavation made here represent the Indus Valley Civilization.
Mamallapuram (now Mahabalipuram) : Situated 53 miles from Chennai, it is known for rock-

cut temples, monolithic figures and carvings of the 7th and 8th centuries A.D.
Mithila: was the home of the three scholar sagesGargi, Maitreya and Kapila. It was the capital

town of Raja Janaks territory.

Madurai: popularly known as the City of Festivals, was till the 14th century the capital of the

Pandyan kingdom which had sea-borne trade with Rome and Greece. It is famous for Minakshi temple.
Mohenjo-daro: in the Larkana district of Sind (now in Pakistan) is the site of excavation

revealing pre-Aryan Indus Valley Civilization.

Nalanda: in Bihar was the seat of an ancient Buddhist University. It contains a group of Buddhist

temples and monasteries.

Patan: (or Som Nath) in Gujarat State is the site of the famous Som Nath temple which was

destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni.

Pragjyotishpur: was the capital of an ancient tribal kingdom in Kamarupa or modern Assam. (It

is the new capital of Assam State).

Rajgir: 8 miles south-west of Nalanda by road is an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists.

It was the capital of Bimbisara in ancient times. The Buddha preached at Rajgir, and so did Mahavir, the great preceptor of the Jains.
Sanchi: in Madhya Pradesh is famous for the largest and the most well-preserved Buddhist Stupa

(108-foot in diameter and 42-foot in height).

Sarnath: near Varanasi is the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after he became

the Enlightened One. The place is known for Buddhist temples and remains.
Seringapatam: in Karnataka was the ancient capital of Tipu Sultan. Sravanabelgola: in Karnataka is famous for its Jain temples and the colossal statue of

Gomateswara65-foot high erected in A.D. 983, the tallest monolithic in the world.
Srirangam: an island on the Cauvery river two miles north of Tiruchirapalli. It contains one of the

largest temples in south India of the Vijayanagar period.

Tamralipti: A flourishing sea port in ancient India. Tanjore: was the capital of Cholas. It is situated in the delta of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu.

Also known for Brihadeeswara temple.

Taxila: ancient capital of Gandhara and one of the most renowned cities of ancient north west

India.
Tirupati: in Andhra State, situated about 100 miles to the north-west of Chennai is one of the

holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateswara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.
Ujjain: known to be the seat of king Vikrama, is situated on the Sipra in Madhya Pradesh. It is one

of the seven sacred cities also known as Avanti. Mahakaleshwar temple here is known as a pilgrimage centre.
Vikramasila: was a great Tantrik University established by the Pala King Dharampala in AD 810.

It was a hotbed of moral corruption, sorcery and idolatry. In AD 1198, the soldiers of Ikhtiar Khilji razed the structure to the ground and killed all the monks in the university.
Vaishali: Modern Besarch in the district of Muzzaffarpur in Bihar. It was the capital of the famous

Vaishali clan in ancient India.

Kanyakumari It is situated in Tamil Nadu and is famous for temple (the virgin goddess) . It is situated at Cape Comorin on the extreme southern tip of India where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. It is also a picturesque spot which is frequented by tourists. Also famous for Vivekanand Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekanand meditated.

Important Foreign Travelers/Envoys to India 1-Megasthenes (302-298 B.C.): An ambassador of Seleucus Nieator. who visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He wrote an interesting book India in which he gave a vivid account of Chandragupta Mauryas reign. 2-Fa-Hsien (405-411 A.I).): He came to India during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikiamaditya. The object of his visit was to see the holy places of Buddhism and to collect Buddhist hooks and relics. He was the first Chinese pilgrim to visit India. 3-Hiuen-Tsang (also spelt Yuan Chwang) (630-645 A.D):He usiied India during the reign of Harsha. 4-1-tsing (671-695 A.D): A Chinese traveller, he visited India in connection with Buddhism. His work Biographies of eminent Monks, provides us useful information about the social, religious and cultural life of the people of this country. 5-Al-Masudi (957 A.D): An Arab traveller, he has given an extensive account of India in his work Murujul Zahab. 6-Al-beruni (1024-1030 A.D.): His real name was Abu Rehan Mahamud and he came to India along with Mahmud of Ghazni during one of his India raids. He travelled all over India and wrote a book Tahqiq-lHind. The book dealt with the social, religious and political conditions in India. 7-Marco Polo (1292-1294 A.D.): A Venetian traveller, he visited South India in 1294 A.D. His work The Book of Sir Marco Polo givers an invaluable account of the economic history of India. 8-Ibn Butula (1333-1347 A.D.): A Morrish traveller, he visited India during the reign of MuhammadbinTughlaq. His book Rehla (the Travelogue) throws a lot of light on the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and the geographical, economic and social sonditions in India. 9-Shihabuddin al-Umari (1348 A.D): He came from Damascus. He gives a vivid account of India in his book, Masalik albsar fi-mamalik al-amsar. 10-Nicolo Conti (1420-1421 A.D.): A Venetian traveller, he gives a comprehensive account of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar. 11-Abdur Razzaq (1443-1444 A. D.): He was a Persian traveller who came to India and stayed at the court of the Zamorin at Calicut. He has given a vivid account of the Vijayanagar empire, especially of the city.He describes the wealth and luxurious life of the king and the nobles. 12- Athanasius Nikitin (1470-1474 A.D): lie was a Russian merchant, who visited south India in 1470. he describes (he condition of the Bahmani kingdom under Muhammad III (1463-82). 13-Duarte Barbosa (1500-1516 A.D.): He was a Portuguese traveller. He has given a valuable narrative of the government and the people of the Vijayanagar empire. 14-Domingos Paes 11520-1522 A.D): He was a Portuguese traveller who visited the court of Krishnadeve Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire.

15-Fernao Nuniz (1534-1537 A.D): A Portuguese merchant who visited the Vijayanagar empire. He wrote the history of the empire from its earliest dines lo (he closing years of Achyutdeve Rayas reign. 16-John Hnghen Von Linschbotten (1583 A.D): he was a Dutch traveler, who has given a valuable account of the social and economic life of South India. 17-William Hawkins (1608-1611 A.D.): He was an English ambassador of the British King James lo die court of Jahangir (1609). 18- Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619 A.D.): He was an ambassador of James I, King of England, at (he court of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor. 19-Franciso Palsaert (1620-1627 A.D.): He was a Dutch traveller who stayed at Agra and gave a vivid account of the flourishing trade at Sural. Ahmedabad, Broach. Cambay, Lahore. Multan, etc. 20-John Albert de Mandesto (1638 A.D.): He was a German traveller, who reached Surat in 1638. 21- Peter Mundy (1630-34 A.D): He was an Italian traveller (o (he Mughal empire m the reign of Shah Jahan. He gives valuable information about the living standard of the common people in (he Mughal Empire. 22-Jean Baptiste Tavernier (1638-1663 A.D.): He was a French traveller who visited India six limes. His account covers the reign of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. 23-Nicolae Manucci (1656-1708 A.D.): He was an Italian traveller, who got service at (he court of Data Shikoh. 24-Francois Bernier (1656-1717 A.D.): He was a French physician and philosopher. Danishamand khan, a noble of Aurangzeb, was his patron. 25-Jean de Thevenot (1666 A.D.): He was French traveller. Who has given a good account of cities like Ahmedabad.Cambay, Aurangabad and Golconda. John Fryer (1672-1681 A.D.): He was an English traveller who has given a vivid account of Surat and Bombay. 26-Gemelli Careri (1695 A.D.): He was an Italian traveler who landed at Daman. His remarks on the Mughal emperors military organization and administration are important.

TREATIES

First Anglo-Mysore War

The First Anglo-Mysore War (17671769) was a war in India between theSultanate of Mysore and the British East India Company
Result Treaty of Madras

Treaty of Mangalore
The Treaty of Mangalore was signed between Tippu Sultan and the British East India Company on 11 March 1784. It was signed inMangalore and brought an end to the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Treaty of Seringapatam

The Treaty of Seringapatam(also called Srirangapatinam), signed 19 March 1792, ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Its signatories included Lord Cornwallis on behalf of the British East India Company, representatives of the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Mahratta Empire, and Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore.

Treaty of Purandar (1665)

The Treaty of Purandar () was signed on June 11, 1665, between the Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who was commander of the Mughal Empire, and Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Treaty of Purandar (1776)

The Treaty of Purandar (or Treaty of Purandhar) was a doctrine signed on March 1, 1776 by the peshwa of the Maratha people and the supreme government of the British East India Company in Calcutta.[1] Based on the terms of the accord, the British were able to secure Salsette.[2]

Treaty of Salbai
The Treaty of Salbai was signed on May 17, 1782, by representatives of the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company after long negotiations to settle the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Treaty of Surat
The Treaty of Surat (1775) was a treaty by which Raghunathrao, one of the claimants to the throne of the Peshwa, agreed to cedeSalsette and Bassein Fort to the English, in consideration of being himself restored to Poona. The military operations that followed are known as the First Maratha War. Warren Hastings, who in his capacity of Governor General claimed a right of control over the decisions of the Bombay Government, signed the treaty of behalf of the British.

Carnatic Treaty
The Carnatic Treaty was signed on July 31, 1801. Based on the terms of the treaty, the Nawab of Arcot (sometimes called the Nawab of the Carnatic) ceded all his lands to British rule, including the territory of the polygars. He was paid two hundred rupees in exchange

Treaty of Pondicherry
The Treaty of Pondicherry was signed in 1754 bringing an end to the Second Carnatic War. It was agreed and signed in the French settlement of Pondicherry in French India. The favoured British candidate Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan was recognized as the Nawab of the Carnatic.[1] Despite intending to be a lasting solution, a Third Carnatic War broke out just two years later in 1756.

Treaty of Amritsar
The Treaty of Amritsar was signed on March 16, 1846, to settle a dispute over territory in Kashmir after the First Sikh War with theUnited Kingdom, ceding some land to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra.
Important Battles of Indian History

BC 327-26 305 216 c. 155 c. 90 AD 454 495 711-712 1000-27 The first Huna invasion The second Huna invasion The Arab invasion of Sind under Mohammed-bin-Qasim Mahmud Ghazni invades India 17 times Invasions 1175-1206 1192 of Muhammad Muhammad Ghori defeats Ghori. Prithvi First Chauhan; Battle Battle of of Tarain. Chandawar, Alexander invades India. Defeats Porus in the Battle of Hydaspes (Jhelum) 326 BC Chandragupta Maurya defeats the Greek King Seleucus. The Kalinga War. Conquest of Kalinga by Ashoka. Menander's invasion of India The Saka invade India

1191 - Prithvi Raj Chauhan defeats Muhammad Ghori; Second Battle of Tarain, 1194 - Muhammad Ghori defeats Jayachandra Gahadvala of Kanauj.

1294 1398 1526

Alauddin Khilji invades the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri. The first Turkish invasion of the Deccan. Timur invades India. Defeats the Tughlaq Sultan Mahmud Shah; the Sack of Delhi Babur invades India and defeats the last Lodi Sultan Ibrahim Lohi in the first Battle of Panipat. Battles of Chusa or Ghaghra (1539) and Kanauj or Ganges (1540) in which Sher Shah defeats Humayun. Battle (siege) of kalinjar and death of Sher Shah Suri. Second Battle of Panipat. Akbar defeats Hemu. Battle of Rakatakshasi-Tangadi (Talikota) in which the forces of the empire of Vijanagar

1539-40 1545 1556

1565

under King Sadasiva Raya and his regent Rama Raya are routed by the confederate forces of the Deccani states of Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar.

1576 1632-33 1658 1665

Battle of Haldighati, Akbar defeats Rana Pratap of Mewar. Conquest of Ahmadnagar by Shah Jahan. Battles of Dharmat (April-May 1658) and Samugarh (June 8, 1658). Dara Shikoh, elest son of Shah Jahan, defeated by Aurangzeb. Shivaji defeated by Raja Jai Singh and Treaty of Purandhar.

1739 1746 1748-54 1756-63 1757 1760 1762 1764 1767-69 1774 1775-82 1780-82 1780-84 1792 1799 1802-04 1817-18 1845-46 1846 1848-49 1857

Invasion of India by Nadir Shah. First Carnatic War. Second Carnatic War. Third Carnatic War. Battle of Plassey. Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, defeated by Clive. Battle of Wandiwash, in which the English under Sir Eyre Coote defeated the French under Lally. Third Battle of Panipat. Marathas defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali. Battle of Buxar. The English (under Munro) defeated Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal and Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah of Awadh. First Mysore War. The Rohilla War between the Rohillas and the Nawab of Awadh supported by the East India Company. First Maratha War Maratha War Second Mysore War Third Mysore War Fourth Mysore War, Defeat and death of Tipu Sultan Second Maratha War Third Maratha War first Sikh War Battle of Aliwal between the English and the Sikhs. The Sikhs were defeated. Second Sikh war and annexation of the Punjab to British India. The Revolt of 1857 (The First War of Indian Independence)

Literary Works of Foreign Authors

Author Book Subject Valuable information Magasthenes(G) Indica on administration and socio-economic of Mauryan India

Geographical Ptolemy(G) Geography treatise on India in 2nd Century AD Accounts Pliny(G) Naturakus Historia relations trade between

Rome and India in 1st Century AD

Periplus Anonymous(G) Sea

of Records of

personal Indian

the Erythrean voyage

coasts in 80 A.D.

Record of the Records the Gupta Fa-Hien(C) Buddhist Countries Buddhist Hiuen Tsang(C) Records the World A record of as in and Studies period Gupta the in Gupta Sri 7th of Western Empire in the 5th Century AD Describes the social, economic religious and conditions

of India in the 5th and 7th Century AD.

the Buddhists religion I-tsing(C) practised India Malay Archipelago. Life of Hiuen Tsang Year of Excavation 1921 Excavators Daya Sahni

under the

Century AD.

Accounts Tsang's India.

Hiuen travel in

Hwuili(C)

es Harappa

Region/River

Features 1. City followed of six place of of burial

Ram Montgomery district of Punjab (Now in Pak) on the left bank of Ravi

grid planning 2. Row 3. Only having evidences coffin burial 4. Evidence fractional granaries

and coffin burial 5. Cemetery-H alien people. 1. City followed of

grid planning 2. A large granary and Great Bath, a college 3. Human skeletons showing invasiona Larkana district in Sind on the Mohenjo-daro 1922 R.D.Banarjee right Pak) bank of in Indus(Now massacre. 4. Evidence Horse from level. 5. A piece of woven cotton alongwith spindle whorls and needles 6. Town flooded then times. 1. The city has no citadal 2. Famous for bead makers shop 3. A N. Chanhu-daro 1931 Mackey Gopal Situtated Sind on in the small pot, an possibly inkpot 4. Foot prints of a dog cat 5. Three cultural different layers, chasing a Majumdar, was more seven of come superficial and

bank of Indus

Indus,Jhukar and Jhangar

1. Shows both Pre Harappan 2. Evidence furrowed land 3. Evidence Situated Kalibangan 1953 A. Ghosh Rajasthan the Bank Ghaggar in on of of seven fire altars and camel bones 4. Many had well 5. Kalibangan stand for black bangles 6. Evidence wooden furrow 1. A titled floor bears of houses their own and of Harappan phase

which

intersecting design of circles 2. Remains of rice husk 3. Evidence Situated Gujarat Lothal 1953 S.R. Rao Bhogava near Cambay Gulf in on river of horse figurine 4. A ship designed on a seal 5. Beads ports 6. An for instrument measuring & trade from terracotta of a

angles,pointing to modern day compass Town Associated with Different Industries Levan Sukar Stone tools factory Stone tools factory

Lothal

Stone

tools

factory

Factory for metallic finished goods Factory for pearl finished goods,

Balakot

Bangle's factory Beads Factory finished finished goods goods factory factory

Chanhudaro

Pearl Metallic

Bangle's factory Evidence from Chief Sites Cemetery & R-37 Prepared Garments Lower fortified town Port town Evidence Rice Coffin Burial Horse Bone Fire Altar Temple palace like of H Harappa

Mohenjodaro

Kalibangan Lothal Lothal, Rangpur Harappa Surkotada Kalibangan & Lothal Mohenjodaro

Horse's Tooth Rana Ghundai Pashuptai Seal Goddesses Mohenjodaro Mohenjodaro

Copper Rhino Diamabad Copper Diamabad

Chariot Copper Elephant Granery Bronze Female Dancer Granery outside fort Beads Factory Copper ox Bangles Factory Graveyard Phallur Worship Bronze Bufallo Evidence Earthquake Evidence Plough Copper dog of of Harappa Mohenjodaro Diamabad Mohenjodaro Harappa &

Chanhudaro, Balakot Kalibangan Chanhudaro, Balakot Harappa, Lothal Harappa

Diamabad

Kalibangan

Kalibangan Lothal

Camel's Bone Kalibangan Stone Covered Grave Canals Malavan Surkotada

Woodenn Drainage

Kalibangan Original Home of Aryans

Region

Theorist Asia

Central Asia Tibet Pamirs

Max Muller Dayanand Saraswati Mayor

Turkistan Hurz Feld Bactria Steepes J.C. Rod Brandstein

metals Known to Rig Vedic People Gold Iron Copper Hiranya Shyama Ayas Rig Vedic Gods He was the most important divinity. He played the role of a warlord, leading the Aryan soldiers to victory against the Indra demons. 250 hymns are devoted to him in the Rig Veda. He was associated with thunder and storm and is addressed by various names: Ratheshtha, Jitendra Somapa, Purandra, Varitrahan and Maghayam He was the second important divinity. He was intermediary Agni between Gods and men. 200 hymns of the Rig Veda are devoted to him. Varuna He was the upholder of Rita or cosmic order or natural order. He personified water.

Soma Yama Surya Savitri Pusan Vishnu Vayu Dyaus Aditi Maruts Gandharvas Ashvins Ribhus Apsaras Rudra Vishvadeva Aranyani Usha Prithvi

He was considered to be the God of plants. An intoxicant drink was also called soma. He was the guardian of the world of dead. Similar to that of the Greek God Helios The famous Gayatri mantra is addressed to Savitri Lord of jungle path, main function was that of guarding of roads, herdsmen and cattle. A relatively minor God at that time. Wind God Father of Heaven Goddess of Eternity Storm Spirits Divine Musicians Healers of diseases and experts in surgical art Gnomes Mistresses of Gods An archer of God, whose anger brought disease Intermediate Deities Goddess of Forest Goddess of Dawn Goddess of Earth

Early Turkish Rulers (1206-1290) Qutbuddin Aibak 1206 - 1210

Shamsuddin Raziya Ghiyasuddin Balban

1210 - 1236 1236 - 1240 1266 - 1287

The four Agnikula Rajputs Clans

i. ii. iii. iv.

The Parihara :Also known as Pratihara, based themselves in southern Rajasthan. The Chauhans:Helped Pratihara against Arabs, based in eastern Rajasthan. The Solankis :Also called Chalukayas of Gujarat, based in Kathiwara. The Pawars of Parmars :Established their control in Malwa with their capital at Dhar near Indore.

The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526)

1. The Slave dynasty (1206-1290) 2. The Khijli Dynasty (1290-1320) 3. The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414) 4. The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451) 5. The Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)
The Slave Dynasty 1.Qutb-ud-din-aibak 2. Shamsuddin Iltutmish 3. Razia Sultan 4. Balban The Khilji Dynasty

1. Jalauddin Khalji 2. Alauddin Khalji 3. Shihabuddin Omar 4. Mubarak Khan

5. Khusro Khan

The Tughlaq Dynasty Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq Muhammad Tughlaq Firoz Shah Tughlaq Mohammad Khan Ghiyassuddin Tughlaq Shah II Abu Baqr Nasiruddin Muhammad Humayun Nasiruddin Mahmud Sayyid Dynasty Khizr Khan Mubarak Shah Muhammad Shah Alauddin Alam Shah 1414-21 AD 1421-33 AD 1421-43 AD 1443-51 AD 1320-24 AD 1324-51 AD 1351-88 AD 1388 AD 1388 AD 1389-90 AD 1390-94 AD 1394-95 AD 1395-1412 AD

Important Central Departments Department Diwan-i-Risalat (Foreign Minister) Diwan-i-Ariz Diwan-i-Bandagan Diwan-i-Qaza-i-Mamalik Diwan-i-Isthiaq Diwan-i-Mustakhraj Diwan-i-Khairat Function Department of appeals Military department Department of slaves Department of justice Department of pensions Department of arrears Department of charity

Diwan-i-Kohi

Department of agriculture

INDIAN CONSTITUTION
dea for a Constituent Assembly for drafting a constitution for India was first provided by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1895. The elections for the first Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946. Initially it had 389 members, but later the reformed Assembly had 324 members. The State of Hydrabad did not participate in elections to the Constituent Assembly. The first meeting of Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946 its president was Dr Sacchidanand Sinha. The second meeting was held on December 11, 1946. Its president was Dr Rajendra Prasad. The Objectives Resolution was passed under chairmanship of J.L. Nehru. The Draft of Indian Constitution was presented in October 1947. President of the Drafting Committee was Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The Flag Committee worked under J.B. Kripalani. The total time consumed to prepare the draft was 2 years, 11 months, 18 days. Total 11 meetings were held for this. The Indian Constitution was enacted on November 26, 1946 and put into force on January 26, 1950. The Constitution today has 444 Articles and 12 schedules. Originally there were 395 Articles and 8 schedules. SOCIALIST, SECULAR, INTEGRITYthese words were added to the Preamble later, through the 42nd Amendment, 1976. The Preamble contains aims and objectives of our Constitution. Fundament Rights are contained in Part III called Magna Carta of the Constitution. The idea was borrowed from USA. Initially there were 7 fundamental rights, now there are only 6. (The Right to Property was deleted by the 44th amendment in 1978. It is now a judicial rightit has been moved to Article 300(A).) The Supreme Court judgement in Keshwanand Bharti vs Kerala case provided that Fundamental Rights can be altered by the Parliament as long as the basic structure of the Constitution remains intact. The Minerva Mills case ruling of the Supreme Court, however, ruled that Fundamental rights are basic part of the Constitution. The power to alter them was snatched away. Fundamental Right of Equality provides for:

Equality in government jobs (Article 16). No discriminations (Article 15). No untouchability (Article 17). Abolition of titles (Article 18). The important freedoms granted are: Against exploitation (Article 23). Against child labour (Article 24). The Right to Constitutional Remedies is provided under Article 32. The Constitution provides that High Courts and the Supreme Court can issue various writs (written orders) to safeguard freedom of an individual. There are five types of writs: Habeas Corpusmay I have the bodyit orders to present reasons as well as physical presence of a body in court, within 24 hours of arrest. Mandamusissued to person, office or courtto enforce dutiesalso called Param Aadesh. Prohibitionissued to inferior courts, by superior courtsit prohibits (stops) action of acts outside their jurisdiction. Quo Warrantoit asks how one has gained unauthorised office. Certiorari Higher Court takes over case from lower courts. Dr Ambedkar has called this article as soul of the Constitution. Directive Principles of State Policy act as guidelines or morals for the government. They are contained in Part IV of the Constitution. They were borrowed from Ireland. Some important directive principles are: Gram Panchayats (Article 40). Uniform civil code (Article 44). Free and compulsory education (Article 45). Fundamental duties are contained in part IV(A). There are ten fundamental duties listed in the Constitution. This idea was borrowed from Russia. The Vice President is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. However, he is not a member of any House. If a member is found sitting in another House of Parliament, of which he is not a member, he has to pay a fine of Rs 5000. Rajya Sabha has 250 members238 elected and 12 nominated by the President. Uttar Pradesh elects maximum number of members for the Rajya Sabha (34), followed by Bihar (22) and Maharashtra (19). In one year time, the President must hold at least two meetings of the Rajya Sabha. If a state of Emergency is declared, the Lok Sabha is dissolved, but not the Rajya Sabha (It is a permanent House). Lok Sabha has 547 members545 elected and 2 nominated from the Anglo-Indian Community. During a state of emergency, the tenure of Lok Sabha can be extended by a maximum of one year. Maximum number of members of Lok Sabha are elected from Uttar Pradesh (80 members), followed by Bihar (54) and Maharashtra (48).

Minimum age for becoming member of Lok Sabha is 25 years and Rajya Sabha is 30 years. Minimum age to be eligible for the post of the President is 35 years. The President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The Vice President is elected by all members of the Parliament. To discuss an important topic, the normal procedure of the Parliament is stopped under the Adjournment motion. Decision about whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not is taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The first High Courts in India were established at Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, in 1862. Allahabad and Delhi were established next in 1866. Maximum age to remain a High Court judge is 62 years and maximum age to remain a Supreme Court judge is 65 years. The process for removal of Comptroller and Auditor General of India is same as that of judges of the Supreme Court. Attorney General is the law expert to government. He can participate and speak in both Houses of Parliament, but is not allowed to vote. The idea of having a Lokpal to check corruption at the highest level has been borrowed from Ombudsman of Sweden. In the States, we have the Lok Ayukta. There are three types of Emergencies that can be proclaimed by the President. Emergency under Article 352due to war or internal rebellion. (Implemented three times (1962, 71, 75).) Emergency under Article 356Constitutional problems. (Implemented many times, in various States like J&K, Punjab, etc.) Emergency under Article 360Financial Emergency. (Not implemented so far). The Constitution initially recognised 14 National Languages. Later, four more were added. These were: Sindhi (21st amendment), Nepali, Konkani and Manipuri (71st amendment). To gain the status of a National Party, a political party must be recognised in four or more States, attaining at least 4% votes on national scale and 9% in each State. The flag of the Congress party was accepted as the National Flag (with few changes) on July 22, 1947. The new Flag Code of India gives freedom to individuals to hoist the flag on all days, but with due respect to the flag. The Question hour in the Parliament is observed from 11 am to 12 noon. The Zero hour is observed from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee suggested a three-tier structure for Panchayati RajGram Panchayat village level, Panchayat Samiti at block level and Zila Parishad in districts.

First Constitutional Amendment1951put a ban on propagating ideas to harm friendly relations with foreign countries. Planning Commission is only an advisory and specialist body. Its chairman is the Prime Minister. National Development Council is the main body concerned with the actual planning process. Its chairman is also the Prime Minister. The first leader of the Opposition was Ram Subhag Singh, in 1969. The shortest Lok Sabha span was 13 days (12th Lok Sabha in 1998). Although the Parliament can pass impeachment motion against judges, their conduct cannot be discussed by it. There are at present 18 High Courts in India. Article 370 gives special status to Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Constitution was the first of the preceding two centuries which was not imposed by an imperial power, but was made by the people themselves, through representatives in a Constituent Assembly. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is not enforceable in a court of law. It states the objects which the Constitution seeks to establish. The Indian Constitution endows the Judiciary with power of declaring a law as unconstitutional if it is beyond the competence of the Legislature according to the distribution of powers provided by the Constitution, or if it is in contravention of the fundamental rights or of any other mandatory provision, e.g. Articles 286, 299, 301 and 304. As part of the integration of various Indian States into the Dominion of India a three-fold process of integration, known as the Patel Scheme, was implemented. (i) 216 States were merged into the respective Provinces, geographically contiguous to them. These merged States were included in the territories of the States in Part B in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The process of merger started with the merger of Orissa and Chattisgarh States with the then province of Orissa, on January 1, 1948. The last instance was merger of Cooch-Behar with West Bengal in January 1950. (ii) 61 States were converted into Centrally-administered areas and included in Part C of the First Schedule. (iii) The third form was consolidation of groups of States into new viable units, known as Union of States. The first Union formed was the Saurashtra Union on February 15, 1948. The last one was Union of Travancore-Cochin on July 1, 1949. As many as 275 States were integrated into five UnionsMadhya Bharat, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Travancore-Cochin. These were included in Part B of the First Schedule. Besides, Hyderabad, J&K and Mysore were also included in Part B. At the time of accession to the Dominion of India, the States had acceded only on three subjects (Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications). Later, revised Instruments of Accession were signed by which all States acceded in respect of all matters included in Union and Concurrent Lists, except only those relating to taxation.

The process of integration culminated in the Constitution (7th Amendment) Act, 1956, which abolished Part B States as a class and included all the States in Part A and B in one list.

List of Important Amendments of the Indian Constitution

BHARTI PREETI

The Constitution (24th Amendment) Act, 1971: It affirms the power of the Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution including Fundamental Rights. The Constitution (31st Amendment) Act, 1973: Increases the elective strength of the Lok Sabha from 525 to 545. Under the Act, the upper limit of representatives of the States goes up from 500 to 525 and that of the Union Territories decreases from 25 to 20. The Constitution (36th Amendment) Act, 1975: By this Act, Sikkim became the 22nd State of the Indian Union. The Bill received the Presidential assent on May 16, 1975 but the Act came into force from April 25. 1975, the day on which it was passed by the Rajya Sabha. (The Bill, before being given the Presidential assent, was rectified by the Legislative Assemblies of 13 States. Under the Constitution, the amendment is required to be rectified by the Legislatures of not less than half of the States). The Constitution (37th Amendment) Act, 1975: Was passed by the parliament on April 26, 1975 to provide for a Legislative Assembly and 1 Council of Ministers to Arunachal Pradesh, the country's north-eastern most nation Territory. (Arunachal Pradesh Assernbh ntis inaugurated on August 15, 1975) Pr Constitution (38th Amendment) Act, 1975: It received esidential assent on August 1, 1975. The Act makes the declaration of emergency non-judiciable. Constitution (39th Amendment) Act, 1975: The Bill was passed 1979 on August 7 and received Presidential assent on August The Act places beyond challenge in courts the election to Parliament of a person holding the office of Prime Minister or Speaker and the election of President and Vice-President. The Constitution (40th Amendment) Act, 1976:

This Amendment has three-fold objectives : 1. It places beyond challenge in courts some major Central laws; 2. It gives similar protection to several State enactments, mostly relating to land legislation, by including them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and 3. It provides that the limits of the territorial waters and the maritime zones of India shall be specified from time to time by laws made by Parliament. The Constitution (43rd Amendment) Act, 1978: It received the Presidential assent on April 13, 1978. This Act repealed some of the provisions of the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act passed during the Emergency. It restored civil liberties by deleting Article 3ID which gave powers to Parliament to curtail Trade Union activity. This Act, which was rectified by more than half of the States, also restored legislative powers to the States to make appropriate provision for anti-national activities consistent with the Fundamental Rights. Under the Act, the judiciary was also restored to its rightful place. The Supreme Court was given the power to invalidate State laws, a power taken away by the 42nd Amendment Act. The High Courts could also look into the question of constitutional validity of Central laws thereby enabling persons living in distant places to obtain Speedy Justice without having to come to the Supreme Court. The Constitution (45th Amendment) Act, 1980: Passed by the Parliament in January 1980 seeks to extend reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the Anglo- Indians in the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies for 10 years, i.e., upto January 25, 1990. The Constitution (46th Amendment) Act, 1982: Passed in July 1982, enables the State Governments to plug loopholes and realise sales tax dufes and also to bring about some uniformity in iax rates in case of certain items. The Constitution (49th Amendment) Act, 1984: The Amendment of 1984 has enabled the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution to be made applicable to the tribal areas of the State of Tripura. This amendment is intended to give a constitutional security to the autonomous District Council functioning in the State. The Constitution (52nd Amendment) Act, 1985: The act has made defection to another party, after elections illegal. Any member defecting to another party after elections will be disqualified from being member of Parliament or State Legislature. The Constitution (53rd Amendment) Act, 1986:

It confers Statehood on Mizoram and ensures against unnecessary interference by the Central Government by the laws relative to spheres of social relationship and community conduct applicable to Mizoram. The Constitution (54th Amendment) Act, 1986: It enhances the salaries of Judges of High Courts and Supreme Court of India. The salary of Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India will be Rs. 10,000; Chief Justice of High Courts Rs. 9,000/-. Judges of Supreme Court Rs. 9,000/- and Judges of High Courts Rs. 8,000 The Constitution (55th Amendment) Act, 1987: It grants Statehood to Arunachal Pradesh which consequently became the 24th State of the Indian Union. The Constitution (56th Amendment) Act, 1987: It confers Statehood on Goa and forms a new Union Territory of Daman and Diu. Goa thus became the 25th State of the Indian Republic. The Constitution (57th Amendment) Act, 1987: It made a special provision for the setting up of the new State of Goa. Consequently Daman and Diu were separated from the former to form a Union Territory. The Constituiion (58th Amendment) Act, 1988: It provides for special arrangements with regard to reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the State of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. By amending Article 322 the adjustment of seats has been frozen until 2000 A.D. The Constitution (59th Amendment) Act, 1988: It empowered the Central Government to impose Emergency in Punjab when deemed necessary. Under the amendment, President's rule can be extended upto three years. Earlier maximum period was two years. The Constitution (61st Amendment) Act, 1989: It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The Constitution (62nd Amendment) Act, 1989: It provided for the extension by another 10 years of reservation of seats in the Parliament and State Assemblies for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and reservation for Anglo Indian Community by nomination. The Constitution (63rd Amendment) Act, 1989:

It repealed Amendment 59 which empowered the government to impose emergency in Punjab. The Constitution (64th Amendment) Act, 1990: It extended the President's rule in Punjab by six months. The Constitution (66th Amendment) Act, 1990: To bring land reforms within the purview of 9th Schedule of the Constitution. The Constitution (69th Amendment) Act, 1991: Delhi made National Capital Region. The Act also made provision for Legislative assembly and a council of ministers for Delhi. The Constitution (70th Amendment) Act, 1992: Before this act was made Article 54 relating to the election of the President provided for an electoral college consisting only of the elected members of Parliament as well as the legislative assemblies of the States (not of Union Territories). The amendment provide for inclusion of members of legislature of Pondicherry and Delhi. The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992: The act amends the 8th Schedule to the Constitution to include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali Languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. The Constitution (72nd Amendment) Act, 1992: Article 332 amended to determine the number of reserved seats for STs in the State Assembly of Tripura, until readjustment of seats made on the basis of census 2000. The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1993: Part IX relating to Panchayats inserted in the constitution to provide Gram Sabha, constitution of panchayats at village and other levels, direct elections to all seats, fixing the tenures, reservation for SC, ST and 33% seats for women etc. The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1993: A new Part IX- A relating to Municipalities, i.e., Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations. The Constitution (75th Amendment) Act, 1994: Article 332 (Part XIV-A) amended to give timely relief to the rent litigants by setting-up Statelevel Rent Tribunals to reduce the tiers of appeals, and to exclude jurisdiction of all courts except Supreme Court under Act 136.

The Constitution (76th Amendment) Act, 1994: This Act aims at the reservation of seats in educational institutions and reservation of appointments or posts in public services for Backward Classes, SCs and STs. The Supreme Court, on 16th Nov., 1992 ruled that the total reservation under Article 16(4) should not exceed 50%. The Constitution (77th Amendment) Act, 1995: Article 16(4A) provides reservation in promotion for the SC and the ST. The Constitution (78th Amendment) Act, 1995: The amendments to Acts placed in the 9th Schedule are immunised from legal challenge, through a number of amending Acts along with a few principal Acts so that its implementation becomes smooth. The Constitution (79th Amendment) Act, 1999: Extended the reservations for SC/ST in services as also nomination of 2 Anglo-Indians to Lok Sabha up to 2010. The Constitution (80th Amendment) Act, 2000: Related to the revenue sharing between the Centre and the States whereby States overall share was increased to 26% as per the Tenth Finance Commission's recommendations. The Constitution (81st Amendment) Act, 2000: Related to carrying forward backlog vacancies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Constitution (82nd Amendment) Act, 2000: Related to relaxation in qualifying marks and reservation of posts in super speciality courses in Medical and Engineering disciplines, etc. for Scheduled Castes/ Tribes etc. (Both 81st & 82nd amendments were made in supersession of Supreme Court's judgements). The Constitution (83rd Amendment) Act, 2000: Related to the reservation of seats under Panchayati Raj in Arunachal Pradesh. The Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2000: Related to creating of new States of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Uttaranchal. The Constitution (85th Amendment) Act, 2001: Amended Article 16(4A) to provide for consequential seniority in promotion by virtue of rule of reservation for the. Government servants belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002: Provides for (i) insertion of a new article 21A that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the state may, by law, determine. The Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003: This Article provides that in Article 81 of the Constitution, in clause (3), in the proviso, in clause (ii), for the figures "1991", the figures "2001" shall be substituted. The Constitution (88th Amendment) Act, 2003: This Article provides for the insertion of a new article 268A which states that taxes on services shall be levied by the Government of India and such tax shall be collected and appropriated by the government of India and the States in the manner provided in clause (2). The Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003: This Article provides for the amendment of Article 338 and insertion of a new article 338A which provides that there shall be a National Commission for ST. The Constitution (90 Amendments) Act, 2003: This Amendment provided that for elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam, the representation of the Scheduled Tribes and non-Scheduled Tribes in the constituencies included in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, so notified, and existing prior to the constitution of the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, shall be maintained. The Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003: This Article provides that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number members of the House of the people. The Constitution (92nd Amendment) Act, 2003: This Article provides for the inclusion of four new language, viz. Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005: In this Amendment, a provision has been inserted that the State (i.e. Parliament or other legislatures) can make laws for the advancement of the SC, ST or the OBCs of citizens in matters of admission to educational institutions, including private unaided institutions. The Constitution (94th Amendment) Act, 2006: This article provides that in article 164 of the Constitution, in clause (1), in the proviso, for the word "Bihar", the words "Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand" shall be substituted.

Constituent Assembly
Facts to remember - Constituent Assembly

Facts to remember The constituent assembly was formed on the recommendation of the Cabinet Missionwhich visited India in 1946. The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on 9 December, 1946 in the Constitution Hall which is now known as the Central Hall of Parliament House. Mr. Sachchidanand Sinha was elected provisional chairman of the assembly. Dr Rajendra Prasad later became the permanent chairman of the constituent assembly. On 13 December, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution which resolved to proclaim India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and to draw up for her future governance a Constitution. The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. India is governed in terms of the Constitution, which was adopted on 26 November, 1949, which was the last day of the Eleventh session of the Constituent Assembly. This date finds mention in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution thus IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO

Facts to remember OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. The honourable members appended their signatures to the constitution on 24 January, 1950. The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January, 1950. On that day, the Constituent Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in 1952

Important Dates - Constituent Assembly to Constitution Constituent Assembly met for the first time Constitution came into force Signed by and Constituent members Assembly ceased to exist 24 Jan 1950 26 Jan 1950

Objectives Resolution moved

Constitution adopted

09 Dec 1946 13 Dec 1946 26 Nov 1949

Chairmen of various committees in the Constituent Assembly

Committee Committee on the Rules of Procedure Steering Committee Finance and Staff Committee Credential Committee House Committee

Chairman Rajendra Prasad Rajendra Prasad Rajendra Prasad Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar B. Pattabhi

Committee

Chairman Sitaramayya

Order of Business Committee Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly States Committee Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas Minorities Sub-Committee Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Exluded & Partially Excluded Areas SubCommittee Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than those in Assam) Sub-Committee Union Powers Committee Union Constitution Committee Drafting Committee

K.M. Munsi Rajendra Prasad G.V. Mavalankar Jawaharlal Nehru Vallabhbhai Patel H.C. Mookherjee J.B. Kripalani Gopinath Bardoloi

A.V. Thakkar Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru B.R. Ambedkar

Indian constitution contains 395 articles in Parts I to XXII and 12 schedules.

Parts of Indian Constitution

Part Part I Part II Part III

Subject The Union and its territory Citizenship Fundamental Rights

Articles Art. 1 to 4 Art. 5 to 11 Art. 12 to 35 Art. 36 to 51 Art. 51A Art. 52 to 151 Art. 152 to 237

Part IV Directive Principles Part IVA Part V Fundamental Duties The Union

Part VI The States

Part VII Repealed by Const. (7th Amendment) Act, 1956 Part VIII The Union Territories Art. 239 to 242 Art. 243 to 243O Art. 243P to 243ZG Art. 244 to 244A

Part IX The Panchayats Part IXA Part X The Muncipalities The Scheduled and Tribal Areas

Part XI Relations between the Union and the States Art. 245 to 263 Part XII Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits Part XIII Part XIV Art. 264 to 300A

Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Art. 301 to 307 Territory of India Services under the Union and the States Art. 308 to 323

Part Part XIVA Tribunals

Subject

Articles Art. 323A to 323B Art. 324 to 329A

Part XV Elections Part XVI Part XVII Part XVIII Part XIX

Special provisions relation to certain classes Art. 330 to 342 Official Language Emergency Provisions Miscellaneous Art. 343 to 351 Art. 352 to 360 Art. 361 to 367 Art. 368 Art. 369 to 392

Part XX Amendment of the Constitution Part XXI Part XXII Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Short title, commencement, authoritative text Art. 393 to 395 in Hindi and repeals

Important Articles of Indian Constitution

Article

Importance

Article 12 Specify the Fundamental Rights available 35 Article 3650 Article 51A Specify the Directive Principles of state policy Specifies the Fundamental Duties of every citizen

Article

Importance

Article 80 Article 81 Article 343 Article 356 Article 370 Article 395

Specifies the number of seats for the Rajya Sabha Specifies the number of seats for the Lok Sabha Hindi as official language Imposition of Presidents Rule in states Special status to Kashmir Repeals India Independence Act and Government of India Act, 1935

Schedules to Indian Constitution

Schedules 1 to 12 First schedule contains the list of states and union territories and their territories Second schedule contains provisions as to the President, Governors of States, Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State, the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Indiathe list of states and union territories and their territories Third Schedule contains the Forms of Oaths or Affirmations. Fourth Schedule contains provisions as to the allocation of seats in the Council of States. Fifth Schedule contains provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.

Schedules 1 to 12 Sixth Schedule contains provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Seventh Schedule contains the Union list, State list and the concurrent list. Eighth Schedule contains the list of recognised languages. Ninth Schedule contains provisions as to validation of certain Acts and Regulations. Tenth Schedule contains provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection. Eleventh Schedule contains the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats. Twelfth Schedule contains the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities.

Important Time Limits in Indian Constitution

Condition Maximum interval between two sessions of Parliament/State Assembly Maximum life of Presidential Ordinance Maximum period within which an election is to be held to fill a vacancy created by the death, resignation or removal, or otherwise of a President

Duration Six months Six months Six months

Maximum duration for which Presidents rule can be Six months imposed in a state extendable upto a maximum of three

Condition

Duration years

Time after which money bill passed by Lok Sabha is deemed to have been passed by Rajya Sabha when 14 days no action is taken by it Maximum duration for which a President/VicePresident/Governor may hold his office from the date on which he enters his office 5 years

Maximum duration for which a Lok Sabha/State Legislature may function from the date appointed for 5 years its first meeting Maximum period for which the term of a Lok Sabha/State Legislature may be extended while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation 1 year at a time

Where the term of a Lok Sabha/State Legislature has been extended while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the maximum period for Six months which he Lok Sabha/State Legislature may continue to function after theProclamation of Emergency has ceased to operate Maximum duration for which a Union Minister/State Minister may hold his office without being a member Six months of either of the houses of the Parliament/State Legislature Maximum duration for which a member of either House of Parliament may be absent without permission, before his seat is declared is vacant Maximum period within which a person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate 60 days

24 hours

Condition Maximum duration for which a Panchayat/Municipality shall function from the date appointed for its first meeting Maximum duration for which a member of a Public Service Commission may hold his office subject to his not attaining the age of sixty-five years Maximum duration for which a member of a State Commission may hold his office subject to his not attaining the age of sixty-two years

Duration

5 years

6 years

6 years