Timeline of Indian Freedom Struggle | UPSC Guide

Year

Indian Freedom Struggle: Important Events

1857

Mutiny against the British

1885

Indian National Congress is founded by A.O. Hume

1905

Partition of Bengal announced

1906

Muslim League was founded at Decca on 31st December.

1908

Khudiram Bose was executed on 30th April.

1908

Tilak was sentenced to six years on charges of sedition on 22nd July.

1909

Minto-Morley Reforms of Indian Councils Act – 21st May.

1911

Delhi durbar held. Partition of Bengal is cancelled.

1912

New Delhi established as the new capital of India

1912

A Bomb was thrown on Lord Hardinge on his state entry into Delhi on 23rd December.

1914

The Ghadar Party was formed at San Francisco on 1st November

1914

Tilak was released from jail on 16th June.

1914

Outbreak of the 1st World War 4th August

1914

Komagatamaru ship reaches Budge Budge (Calcutta port) on 29the September.

1915

Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India on 9th Jan

1915

Gopal Krishna Gokhale died on 19th February.

1916

Tilak founded Indian Home Rule League with its headquarters at Poona on 28th April.

1916

Annie Besant started another Home Rule League on 25th September.

1917

Mahatma Gandhi launches the Champaran campaign in Bihar to focus attention on the grievances of indigo planters in April

1917

The Secretary of State for India, Montague, declares that the goal of the British government in India is introduction of Responsible Government on 20th August.

1918

Beginning of trade union movement in India.

1919

Rowlatt Bill introduced on Feb 16, 1919.

1919

The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy took place on 13th April in Amritsar.

1919

The House of Commons passes the Montague Chelmsford Reforms or the Government of India Act, 1919 on 5th December. The new reforms under this Act came into operation in 1921.

1920

First meeting of the All India Trade Union Congress, (under Narain Malhar Joshi).

1920

The Indian National Congress (INC) adopts the Non-Co-operation Resolution in December.

1920-22

Mahatma Gandhi suspends Non-Co-operation Movement on Feb 12 after the violent incidents at Chauri Chaura.

1922

Moplah rebellion on the Malabar coast in August.

1923

Swaraj Party was formed by Motilal Nehru and others on 1st January.

1924

The Communist Party of India starts its activities at Kanpur.

1925

The Kakori Train Conspiracy case in August

1927

The British Prime Minister appoints Simon Commission to suggest future constitutional reforms in India.

1928

Simon Commission arrives in Bombay on Feb 3. An all-India hartal is called. Lala Lajpat Rai assaulted by police at Lahore.

1928

Nehru Report recommends principles for the new Constitution of India. All parties conference considers the Nehru Report, Aug 28-31, 1928.

1928

Lala Lajpat Rai died on 17th November due to injuries.

1929

Sarda Act passed: prohibs marriage of girls b
elow 14 and boys below 18 years of age.

1929

All Parties Muslim Conference formulates the ‘Fourteen Points’ under the leadership of Jinnah on 9th March.

1929

Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwari Dutt throw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assen on 8th April.

1929

Lord Irwin’s announced that the goal of British policy in India was the grant of the Dominion status on 31st October.

1929

The Lahore session of the INC adopts the goal of complete independence (poorna swarajya) for India; Jawaharlal Nehru hoists the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi at Lahore on 31st December.

1930

First Independence Day observed on 26th January.

1930

The Working Committee of the INC meets at Sabarmati and passes the Civil Disobedience resolution on 14th February.

1930

Mahatma Gandhi launches the Civil Disobedience movement with his epic Dandi Mar (Mar 12 to Apr 6). First phase of the Civil Disobedience movement: Mar 12, 1930 to Mar 5, 1931.

1930

First Round Table Conference begins in London to consider the report of the Simon Commission on 30th November.

1931

On 5th March, the Gandhi lrwin pact was signed and the Civil Disobedience movement was suspended.

1931

Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Rajguru were executed on 23rd March.

1931

Second Round Table Conference took place on 7th September.

1931

Gandhiji returns from London after the deadlock in llnd RTC on 28th December. Launches Civil Disobedience Movement. The INC declared illegal.

1932

Gandhiji was arrested and imprisoned without trial on 4th January.

1932

British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald announced the infamous "Communal Award" on 16th August.

1932

Gandhiji in jail, begins his epic "fast unto death" against the Communal Award on 20th September and ends the fast on 26th of the same month after the Poona Pact.

1932

The Third Round Table Conference begins in London (Nov 17 to Dec 24)

1933

Gandhiji released from prison as he begins fast for self-purification on 9th May. INC suspends Civil Disobedience movement but authorizes Satyagraha by individuals.

1934

Gandhiji withdraws from active politics and devotes himself to constructive programmes (1934-39).

1935

The Government of India Act 1935 was passed on 4th August

1937

Elections held in India under the Act of 1935 (Feb 1937). The INC contests election and forms ministries in several provinces (Jul 1937).

1938

Haripura session of INC was held on 19th February. Subhash Chandra Boss was elected Congress president on the 20th of February.

1939

Tripuri session of the INC was conducted from the 10th to the 12th of March.

1939

Subhash Chandra Bose resigns as the president of the INC in April.

1939

Second World War (Sep 1). Great Britain declares war on Germany on 3rd September; the Viceroy declares that India too is at war.

1939

Between 27th October to 5th November, the Congress ministries in the provinces resign in protest against the war policy of the British government.

1939

The Muslim League observes the resignation of the Congress ministries as ‘Deliverance Day’ on 22nd December.

1940

Lahore session of ihe Muslim League passes the Pakistan Resolution in March

1940

Viceroy Linlithgow announces-August Offer on 10th of August.

1940

Congress Working Committee rejects the ‘August Offer’ between 18th to the 22nd of August.

1940

Congress launches Individual Satyagraha movement on 17th October.

1941

Subhash Chandra Bose escapes from India on 17 January; arrives in Berlin (Mar 28).

1942

Churchill announces the Cripps Mission on 11th of
March

1942

The INC meets in Bombay; adopts ‘Quit India’ resolution on 7th & 8th August.

1942

Gandhiji and other Congress leaders were arrested on 9th August

1942

Quit India movement begins on 11th of August; the Great Aug Uprising.

1942

Subhash Chandra Bose established the Indian National Army ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ on 1st September.

1943

Subhash Chandra Bose proclaims the formation of the Provisonal Government of Free India on 21st October.

1943

Karachi session of the Muslim League adopts the slogan Divide arc in December.

1944

Wavell calls Simla Conference in a bid to form the Executive Council at Indian political leaders on 25th January.

1946

Mutiny of the Indian naval ratings in Bombay.

1946

Cabinet Mission arrives in New Delhi (Mar 14);British Prime Minister Attlee announces Cabinet Mission ro propose new solution to the Indian deadlock on 15th March; ; issues proposal (May 16).

1946

Jawaharlal Nehru takes over as Congress president on 6th July.

1946

Wavell invites Nehru to form an interim government on 6th August; Interim Government takes office (Sep 2).

1946

First session of the Constituent Assembly of India starts on 9th December. Muslim League boycotts it.

1947

On 20th February, British Prime Minister Attlee declares that the British government would leave India not later than Jun 1948.

1947

Lord Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy and Governor General of India, sworn in on 24th March

1947

Mountbatten Plan was made on 3rd June for the partition of India and the announcement was made on June 4th that transfer to power will take place on August 15th