General Awareness

Topic Indian Freedom Struggle

Year Important Events/Information
1757 Plassy war | British vs Sirazudaula | British won
1764 Buxar War | British vs Meer Khasim | British won
1857 First War of Independence:
It began in Meerut and later spread to Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the Emperor of Hindustan. After the war of
independence of 1857, he was exiled to Rangoon.

1885 The first session of the Indian National Congress at Bombay on 28th December
attended by 72 delegates.
These founders included A O Hume. Badruddin Tyabji, W. C. Banerjee,
Surendranath Banerjee
1905 Partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon which led to a massive upsurge
among the people, and a call for swadeshi goods, leading to a boycott of British
manufactured goods
1907 1907 Congress split at Surat session into two part | Moderates and Extremists
1909 Minto-Morley constitutional reforms
1916 Home Rule Movement launched by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
1914 Gadar Movement: Komagata Maru incident
1917 Champaran Satyagraha First Non-Violent Protest/Sathyagraha in India by
Mahatama Gandhi

1918 Ahmedabad Satyagraha in Gujarat - Gandhi's first hunger strike in India

1918 Kheda Satyagraha in Gujarat
1919 1919 Rowlett Bill introduced on February 16, imposing severe curbs on civil rights.
Indians protest
 M. K Gandhi started campaign against Rowlett bill and set up Satyagraha Sabha
On April 13, On General Reginald Dyer order, a police force fired into a peaceful
protest and killed 400 hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children. This
would be known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
1920 The Indian Muslims were not happy with the way the British dethroned the Caliph
in Turkey. So, in 1919, The Muslim League and Congress came together during this
time, to organise numerous political protests. The movement was initially
introduced on August 31, 1920, when the Khilafat Committee began a campaign
of non-cooperation | Khilafat Movement

1920 The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in response to the Jallianwala

Bagh Massacre
The Indian National Congress (INC), led by Gandhi, began the Non-Cooperation
Movement on September 5, 1920.
In his declaration Gandhi, wanted people to adopt Swadeshi principles and work
for the eradication of untouchability from society.
The open, non-violent protest against the government by thousands of Indians
was a true mass movement.

1922 On Feb 5 Chauri Chauri incident took place in Gorakhpur when a large group of
protesters, participating in the Non-cooperation movement, clashed with police,
who opened fire and killed several demonstrators and a police station was set on
fire by the protesters, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 policemen.
Chauri Chauri incident led to the suspension of the Non-cooperation movement.
1923 Swarajist party founded by Motilal Nehru and others.
1927 The Simon Commission came to India, Indian boycotted All White Commission
1928 Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat lead by Sardar Vallabha Bhai Patel
1928 Nehru Report, first the attempt to draft the Indian Constitution
1929 In Lahore Session under Jawaharlal Nehru Presidentship, The flag of India was
hoisted on 31 December 1929 on the banks of Ravi River, The Congress asked the
people of India to observe 26th of January as Independence Day
1930 Dandi March: Gandhiji, along with a huge crowd walked from Sabarmati Ashram
to Dandi beach as a means of non-violent protest against the repressive salt tax
imposed by the British government.
The Congress boycotted the First Round Table Conference in London to consider
the report of Simon Commission for the future constitutional set-up in India.
1931 Second Round Table conference | Gandhiji arrived London to attend it. Led to the
Gandhi-Irwin pact that ends the civil disobedience movement and grants some
political rights to Indians.
1930-32 3 Round Table Conference held at London
All the three Conferences attended by Ambedkar
1932 British Prime Minister Ramsay Mac Donald announced the Communal Award
giving separate electorate to Harijans
1932 Gandhi and Ambedkar signed Poona Fact
1935 1935 Government of India Act, passed by the British, gave Indian political rights at
the provincial level.
1937 Provincial Elections held in India under the Act of 1935. Most provinces elect
Congress, some elect Muslim League. The Indian National Congress forms
government at seven provinces.
1938 Tripuri session of Indian National Congress. Subhas Chandra Bose resigns the
presidentship of the Indian National Congress.
1940 Individual Satyagraha Launched against the August Offer, 1940.
1941 Subhas Chandra Bose escapes from India to Germany.
Indian National Army (INA) an armed force established by Netaji and other
Indian nationalists (Mohan Singh) in Southeast Asia during World War II. The
Indian National Army worked with the Japanese to fight against colonialism.
1942 1942: In March, British War Cabinet announces the Sir Stafford Cripps Mission to
negotiate India's political status after the war. Gandhi was arrested in Bombay by
British forces. Gandhiji meets Cripps, but call his proposals a 'post-dated cheque.'
Congress rejects the proposals.
1942 Quit India Movement : Gandhiji made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech
delivered at Bombay.
Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee got resolution calling for
complete independence from the British on 8th August 1942, during World War II.
Which led to the start of a historical civil disobedience movement across India.
Congress leadership arrested Gandhi jailed at the Aga Khan Palace in Poona.
1946 RIN Royal Indian Navy Mutiny at Mumbai and Karachi
1947 Mountbatten Plan : Divided India and Pakisthan
1947 British Prime Minister Attlee announces independence
Wavell invites Nehru to form an interim government.
Cabinet Mission elected Nehru as leader of the Congress Party.
Lord Mountbatten, last British viceroy and governor general of India is sworn in.
Indian Independence Bill passed by the British parliament on July 18, India came
into existence on August 15th
Jawaharlal Nehru becomes the first Prime Minister of India and unfurls the Indian
tricolour on the ramparts of the Red Fort, symbolically marking the end of British
colonial rule.
1946 Framing of Indian Constitution:
to The constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by
elected members of the provincial assemblies.
1950
9 December 1946: Formation of the Constituent Assembly
11 December 1946:
President Appointed | Rajendra Prasad
Constitutional legal adviser B. N. Rau
Initially 389 members in total, which declined to 299 after partition. 292 were
from government provinces, 4 from chief commissioner provinces and 93 from
princely states
13 December 1946: An 'Objective Resolution' was presented by Nehru,
22 January 1947: Objective resolution unanimously adopted.
22 July 1947: National flag adopted.
29 August 1947: Drafting Committee appointed, with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as the
chairman. Other 6 members of the committee
26 November 1949: 'Constitution of India' passed and adopted by the assembly.
The National Song of India is Vande Mataram which was written by
Bankimchandra Chatterji.
The National Anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath
Tagore. It was adopted on January 24, 1950
24 January 1950: Last meeting of the Constituent Assembly. 'Constitution of India'
(with 395 articles, 8 schedules, 22 parts) was signed and accepted.
26 January 1950: The 'Constitution of India' came in to force after 2 years, 11
months and 18 Days, at a total expenditure of ₹6.4 million to finish it.