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India comes under the direct rule of the British crown after failed Indian mutiny.
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Nationalist figurehead Mahatma Gandhi launches anti-British civil disobedience campaign
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Congress launches "Quit India" movement
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End of British rule and partition of the subcontinent into mainly Hindu India and the Muslim-majority state of Pakistan.
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Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed after partition.
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Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist.
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War with Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
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Twenty-year treaty of friendship signed with the Soviet Union.
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India explodes a first nuclear device in an underground test.
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Nearly 1,000 political opponents imprisoned and programme of compulsory birth control introduced.
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Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party splinter group, Congress (Indira).
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India carries out nuclear tests, leading to widespread international condemnation.
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May - India marks the birth of its billionth citizen.
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December - India, Pakistan mass troops on common border amid mounting fears of a looming war.
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December - India, Pakistan agree to resume direct air links and to allow overflights
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April - Bus services, the first in 60 years, operate between Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
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February - India's largest-ever rural jobs scheme is launched, aimed at lifting around 60 million families out of poverty.
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March - US and India sign a nuclear agreement during a visit by US President George W Bush. The US gives India access to civilian nuclear technology while India agrees to greater scrutiny for its nuclear programme.
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India successfully launches its first mission to the moon, the unmanned lunar probe Chandrayaan-1.
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February - India and Russia sign deals worth $700m, according to which Moscow will supply uranium to Delhi.
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India launches its first space laboratory Astrosat in its biggest project since its Mars orbiter mission in 2014.
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September - India signs a billion-dollar defence deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets.
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