History

Clashes with Pakistan follow an attack by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammad jihadist group on security forces' convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Leaked government reports says unemployment rate rises to 6.1% - the highest since 1972-73, the earliest year for which comparable data is available.

Supreme Court strikes down a colonial-era law to decriminalise gay sex.

In a surprise announcement, the government withdraws high denomination notes from circulation causing chaotic scenes at banks across the country as customers try to exchange old notes.

India launches its first space laboratory Astrosat in its biggest project since its Mars orbiter mission in 2014.

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi unveil landmark economic deals. China says it plans to build two industrial parks in India, as part of overall investment of twenty billion dollars in the next five years.

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its candidate for prime minister, Narendra Modi, win parliamentary elections by a landslide.

A court sentences four men to death for the gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi the previous December - a case that led to violent protests across India and new laws against rape.

Allahabad High Court rules that the disputed holy site of Ayodhya should be divided between Hindus and Muslims; the destruction of a mosque on the site by Hindu extremists in 1992 led to rioting in which about 2,000 people died.

Pakistan and India pledge to work together to fight terror, irrespective of progress on improving broader ties.

Nearly 200 people are killed in a series of co-ordinated attacks by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e Taiba jihadist group on the main tourist and business area of India's financial capital Mumbai

India successfully launches its first mission to the moon, the unmanned lunar probe Chandrayaan-1.

Congress-led coalition survives vote of confidence brought after left-wing parties withdraw their support over controversial nuclear cooperation deal with US.

Pratibha Patil becomes first woman to be elected president of India.

India's first commercial space rocket is launched, carrying an Italian satellite.

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.

India's largest-ever rural jobs scheme is launched, aimed at lifting around 60 million families out of poverty.

Bus services, the first in 60 years, operate between Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

Surprise victory for Congress Party in general elections. Manmohan Singh is sworn in as prime minister.

Inter-religious bloodshed breaks out after 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya are killed in a train fire in Godhra, Gujarat. More than 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, die in subsequent violence.

India successfully test-fires a nuclear-capable ballistic missile - the Agni - off its eastern coast.

A high-powered rocket is launched, propelling India into the club of countries able to fire big satellites deep into space.

India marks the birth of its billionth citizen.

Tension in Kashmir leads to brief war with Pakistan-backed forces in the icy heights around Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir.

Mr Vajpayee makes historic bus trip to Pakistan to meet Premier Nawaz Sharif and signs bilateral Lahore peace declaration.

India carries out nuclear tests, leading to widespread international condemnation.

BJP forms coalition government under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Congress suffers worst ever electoral defeat as Hindu nationalist BJP emerges as largest single party.

Hindu extremists demolish mosque in Ayodhya, triggering widespread Hindu-Muslim violence.

Economic reform programme begun by Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.

Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by suicide bomber sympathetic to Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.

Muslim separatist groups begin campaign of violence in Kashmir.

India deploys troops for three years peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict.

Gas leak at Union Carbide pesticides plant in Bhopal. Thousands are killed immediately, many more subsequently die or are left disabled.

Indira Gandhi assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Her son Rajiv takes over as prime minister.

Troops storm Golden Temple - Sikhs' most holy shrine - to flush out militants pressing for self-rule.

Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party splinter group, Congress (Indira).

Indira Gandhi's Congress Party loses general elections.

Nearly 1,000 political opponents imprisoned and programme of compulsory birth control introduced.

Indira Gandhi declares state of emergency after being found guilty of electoral malpractice.

India explodes first nuclear device in underground test.

Third war with Pakistan over creation of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan.

Mr Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister.

Second war with Pakistan over Kashmir.

India loses brief border war with China.

Congress wins first general elections under leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.

War with Pakistan over disputed territory of Kashmir.

End of British rule and partition of sub-continent into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands die in communal bloodshed.

Nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi launches anti-British civil disobedience campaign.

Indian National Congress founded as forum for emerging nationalist feeling.

India comes under direct rule of the British crown after failed Indian uprising.