Modern Indian History Timeline (1750–1947): Comprehensive Coverage

Modern Indian History Timeline (1750–1947) | UPSC Mains GS1 | ACE WITH EASE IAS

UPSC Mains GS1 • Modern India

Modern Indian History Timeline (1750–1947): Comprehensive Coverage

A structured timeline-based blog covering European entry, British consolidation, constitutional developments, social reform movements, 1857 uprising, rise of nationalism, Gandhian phase, partition & independence — aligned with UPSC GS1 demand.

Coverage: 1750–1947 Style: Timeline + UPSC Analysis Best for: GS1 + Essay + Prelims Revision

PART I: FOUNDATION PERIOD (1750–1857)

1) Advent of Europeans in India

Portuguese (1498–1961): Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (1498); Goa conquest (1510); bases at Goa, Diu, Daman, Cochin; decline due to intolerance and Dutch/British competition.
Dutch (1602–1795): Dutch East India Company (1602); centers at Pulicat, Nagapattinam, Cochin, Chinsurah; spice trade focus; decline due to shift to Indonesia and British rivalry.
French (1664–1954): French East India Company (1664); settlements at Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Mahe, Karaikal; leaders Dupleix and La Bourdonnais; political decline after Carnatic Wars (1746–63).
British (1600–1947): EIC formed in 1600; Surat factory (1608); Fort St. George/Madras (1639); Bombay acquisition (1661); Calcutta (1690).

2) Key Battles and Consolidation of British Power

Year	Event	Significance
1757	Battle of Plassey	Beginning of British political influence; defeat of Siraj-ud-Daula.
1764	Battle of Buxar	British supremacy consolidated over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
1767–1799	Mysore Wars	Tipu Sultan’s resistance; final defeat in 1799 strengthened British position.
1775–1782	First Maratha War	Early British political entry into Maratha affairs.
1803–1805	Second Maratha War	British gained Delhi and Agra; symbolic control via Mughal center.
1817–1819	Third Maratha War	End of Maratha power; Peshwa exiled; decisive British expansion.

3) British Policies of Expansion

Subsidiary Alliance (1798–1805): Introduced by Lord Wellesley—loss of sovereignty, British resident + troops; rulers restricted in diplomacy and European employment.
Doctrine of Lapse (1848–1856): Introduced by Lord Dalhousie—annexation if ruler died without natural heir; adoption not recognized.

UPSC Angle: Plassey/Buxar + expansion policies (Subsidiary Alliance & Doctrine of Lapse) directly link to the political causes of 1857 and the emergence of colonial state power.

PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE & CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Important Acts and Regulations

Act/Regulation	Year	Key Provisions / Significance
Regulating Act	1773	First major control of EIC by British Parliament; created Governor-General of Bengal.
Pitt’s India Act	1784	Board of Control set up; separated commercial and political functions of the Company.
Charter Act	1813	Ended Company monopoly over trade with India (except tea and China trade); Rs. 1 lakh for education.
Charter Act	1833	Ended Company’s commercial functions; Governor-General of Bengal became Governor-General of India.
Charter Act	1853	Open competition for civil services; separated executive & legislative functions.
Government of India Act	1858	End of Company rule; power transferred to Crown; Viceroy system begins.
Indian Councils Act	1861	Representative institutions introduced; Indians associated with law-making.
Indian Councils Act	1892	Increased non-official members; indirect election principle strengthened.
Morley-Minto Reforms	1909	Separate electorates for Muslims—formal communalization of politics.
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms	1919	Diarchy introduced in provinces; limited responsible government.
Government of India Act	1935	Provincial autonomy; federation proposed; major precursor to Constitution.
Indian Independence Act	1947	Partition into India & Pakistan; end of British paramountcy.

Land Revenue Systems

Permanent Settlement (1793): Cornwallis; zamindars landowners; fixed revenue → absentee landlordism.
Ryotwari System: Munro; direct settlement with cultivators; heavy taxation but less landlord power.
Mahalwari System: village communities; revenue pressure persisted despite community structure.

PART III: SOCIAL & RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENTS

Hindu Reform Movements

Brahmo Samaj (1828): Raja Ram Mohan Roy—monotheism, anti-sati, widow remarriage, women’s education.
Arya Samaj (1875): Swami Dayananda Saraswati—Back to Vedas, anti-idolatry, Shuddhi movement; DAV schools.
Prarthana Samaj (1867): Atmaram Pandurang—social reform in Maharashtra; women’s upliftment.
Ramakrishna Mission (1897): Vivekananda—service to humanity; spiritual regeneration + national awakening.
Theosophical Society (1875): Blavatsky, Olcott; Annie Besant in India; supported Home Rule.

Muslim Reform Movements

Aligarh Movement: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan; MAO College (1875); modern education among Muslims.
Deoband Movement (1866): Qasim Nanautavi; Islamic orthodoxy; anti-British orientation.
Ahmadiyya Movement: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad; reform + social service.

PART IV: UPRISING & RESISTANCE (1857–1885)

The Great Rebellion of 1857

Major Causes: Doctrine of Lapse, annexations, revenue burden, decline of handicrafts, social interference, missionary fears, greased cartridges, military discrimination.

Key Centers & Leaders

Delhi — Bahadur Shah Zafar
Kanpur — Nana Saheb
Lucknow — Begum Hazrat Mahal
Jhansi — Rani Lakshmibai
Bihar — Kunwar Singh

Why it Failed

Regional limitation (mostly North India)
No unified command/vision
British superior organization + resources
Lack of support from educated elite & major rulers

Result: End of EIC rule (1858) → Direct Crown Rule + intensified “divide and rule” + military reorganization.

Other Uprisings (Selective)

Santhal Rebellion (1855–56) — Sidhu & Kanhu
Munda Uprising (1899–1900) — Birsa Munda
Indigo Revolt (1859–60) — against forced indigo cultivation
Deccan Riots (1875) — moneylender exploitation

PART V: RISE OF NATIONALISM (1885–1905)

Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

Founder: A.O. Hume
First President: W.C. Bonnerjee
Venue: Bombay (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College)

Moderate Phase: Methods + Achievements

Petitions, prayers, memorials
Economic critique of colonialism (Drain theory)
Built political consciousness + democratic political culture

PART VI: EXTREMIST PHASE (1905–1919)

Partition of Bengal (1905)

Announced by Lord Curzon
Annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge
Triggered Swadeshi & Boycott movement

Key Extremist Leaders

Bal Gangadhar Tilak — “Swaraj is my birthright…”
Lala Lajpat Rai — Punjab Kesari
Bipin Chandra Pal — nationalist education, boycott

Surat Split (1907)

Split between Moderates and Extremists weakened Congress temporarily but broadened mass politics.

PART VII: GANDHIAN ERA (1919–1947)

Early Satyagrahas

Champaran (1917): abolition of tinkathia system
Kheda (1918): revenue suspension after crop failure
Ahmedabad Strike (1918): 35% wage increase; hunger strike

Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh

Rowlatt Act (1919): detention without trial
Jallianwala Bagh (13 April 1919): General Dyer firing; intensified nationalism

Note: “Hunter Commission” term also refers to Indian Education Commission (1882) under Lord Ripon.

Major Movements

Non-Cooperation (1920–22): suspended after Chauri Chaura (5 Feb 1922)
Civil Disobedience (1930–34): Dandi March (12 Mar–6 Apr 1930), Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 Mar 1931)
Quit India (1942): “Do or Die”, mass upsurge and parallel governments

World War II & Nationalist Response

Congress resignation (1939)
Individual Satyagraha (1940) — Vinoba Bhave first
Cripps Mission (1942) — rejected by Congress and League
INA (1942) & INA Trials (1945–46) → public sympathy, Naval Mutiny (1946)

PART VIII: TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE (1945–1947)

Wavell Plan (1945)

Simla Conference failure exposed communal deadlock in executive representation.

Cabinet Mission (1946)

United India with weak centre
Three-tier federal structure
Interim government framework

Direct Action Day (16 August 1946)

Muslim League call; communal riots strengthened partition inevitability.

Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947) & Independence

Partition accepted by Congress and Muslim League
Independence: 15 August 1947
Indian Independence Act passed: 18 July 1947

Partition aftermath included mass migration and humanitarian crisis; estimates range widely for casualties and displacement.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR QUICK REVISION

1757 — Battle of Plassey
1857 — Revolt of 1857
1885 — Formation of INC
1905 — Partition of Bengal; Swadeshi Movement
1906 — Muslim League formed
1919 — Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
1920 — Non-Cooperation Movement
1930 — Dandi March; Civil Disobedience
1935 — Government of India Act
1942 — Quit India Movement
1947 — Independence & Partition