Important Dates in Indian History

The Subsidiary Alliance system is linked with Lord Wellesley's policy from 1798. For exams remember policies with Governor Generals.

The First Anglo Maratha War began in 1775. For exams remember the beginning and end of Maratha wars separately.

Tipu Sultan died in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo Mysore War. For exams remember Mysore wars and years.

The Third Anglo Maratha War ended in 1818. For exams remember this date linked with the decline of Maratha power.

Sati was abolished in 1829 during Lord Bentinck's time. For exams remember dates of social reforms.

The direct answer is B: the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was passed in 1856. The law legally permitted Hindu widows to remarry, challenging a harmful social restriction. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar strongly supported this reform through scholarship and public advocacy, and the colonial government enacted the law in 1856. Step by step: widow remarriage was socially opposed in many communities; reformers argued for change; legislation was introduced; the 1856 Act recognised remarriage as legally permitted. Option B is correct. Option A, 1829, refers to the Bengal Sati Regulation associated with the abolition of sati, not widow remarriage. Option C, 1857, is the year commonly associated with the Revolt of 1857, not this Act. Option D, 1885, is associated with the founding of the Indian National Congress, not widow-remarriage legislation. The memory chain is: sati abolition 1829, widow remarriage 1856, Congress 1885.

The Revolt of 1857 is also called India's First War of Independence. For exams treat 1857 as a major date in modern Indian history.

The Act of 1858 ended Company rule and began Crown rule. For exams remember administrative changes after 1857.

The transfer of capital to Delhi was announced at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. For exams remember the date of capital transfer.

The Government of India Act 1935 was an important constitutional law of British India. For exams remember years of constitutional acts.

India gained independence from British rule on 15 August 1947, so 1947 is correct. The year 1950 marks India becoming a republic, not its independence. Exam tip: Remember 15 August 1947 for Independence Day and 26 January 1950 for Republic Day.

The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949. For exams remember adoption and enforcement dates separately.

The Purna Swaraj resolution was passed in 1929 at the Lahore session. For exams also connect it with Independence Day of 26 January 1930.

26 January 1930 was observed as Purna Swaraj Day. For exams remember the difference between 26 January 1930 and 1950.

The Mountbatten Plan was announced on 3 June 1947. For exams remember dates connected with partition and independence together.

The Azad Hind Fauj is associated with 1942. For exams connect it with Subhas Chandra Bose and the freedom struggle.

The direct answer is B: 1930 CE. A Round Table Conference was a meeting held in London to discuss constitutional reforms for British India. The First Conference began in November 1930; the Second was held in 1931 and the Third in 1932. Therefore the chronological fact chain is First = 1930, Second = 1931, Third = 1932. Option A, 1928, is wrong because it was before the First Conference. Option B, 1930, is correct because it gives the beginning year of the First Conference. Option C, 1931, belongs to the Second Conference, so it is not correct here. Option D, 1932, belongs to the Third Conference. Memory cue: remember the simple order 1-2-3 as 1930-1931-1932.

The Poona Pact took place in 1932 between Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar. For exams remember dates linked with social representation.

The Swadeshi Movement is linked with the protest against the Partition of Bengal in 1905. For exams remember movements with their causes.

The direct answer is B: 1916 CE. The Home Rule Movement in India began in 1916, when Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak led campaigns demanding self-government within the British Empire. Option B is correct because it gives the historically accepted starting year. Option A, 1905, is associated especially with the Swadeshi and anti-partition movement after the partition of Bengal, not the beginning of the Home Rule Movement. Option C, 1920, marks the period when the Non-Cooperation Movement began, so it is later. Option D, 1930, is associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Salt March. Memory cue: Home Rule—Tilak and Besant—1916.

Alexander's Indian campaign is linked with 326 BCE. In exams connect it with Porus and the Jhelum region.

The Mauryan Empire is generally dated from 322 BCE. In exams remember Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya together.

The direct answer is option A: 320 CE. The Gupta Era is conventionally counted from 320 CE, traditionally associated with the rise of the Gupta power and the beginning of the Gupta calendar. To solve this, first identify the period asked about, then recall its standard starting date: Gupta Era → 320 CE. Option A is correct because 320 CE is the accepted examination date. Option B, 606 CE, is associated with the beginning of Harsha's reign, not the Gupta Era. Option C, 712 CE, is linked with the Arab conquest of Sind, not the Gupta beginning. Option D, 1192 CE, is connected with a major turning point in the early medieval period, especially the Second Battle of Tarain, not the Gupta period. Remember: Gupta means 320 CE in such date questions; do not confuse it with Harsha's 606 CE.

Harshavardhana's rule is considered to begin in 606 CE. In exams link Kannauj and Xuanzang with him.

Muhammad bin Qasim's Sindh campaign took place in 712 CE. In exams connect it with Arab contact with India.