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Indian Modern History Highlights

Jul 28, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers key events in Indian modern history (1901–1950), recent current affairs, important awards, international relations, sports achievements, and general knowledge suitable for competitive exams.

Modern Indian History (1901–1950)

  • 1905: Partition of Bengal announced by Curzon; boycott of foreign goods began on 7 August.
  • 16 October 1905: Bengal partition implemented; observed as Raksha Bandhan.
  • 1907: Surat Split—Congress divided into extremists and moderates; Rash Behari Ghosh presided.
  • 1909: Morley-Minto Act introduced communal electoral system.
  • 1915: Gandhi returned to India on 9 January; celebrated as NRI Day.
  • 1916: Lucknow Congress; Ambika Charan Majumdar presided; Congress-Muslim League pact.
  • 1917: BHU established; Home Rule League Movement started by Annie Besant and Tilak.
  • 1917: Annie Besant became first woman Congress president.
  • 1917: Champaran Satyagraha led by Gandhi in Bihar.
  • 1919: Rowlatt Act (no appeal, lawyer, or argument); Montague-Chelmsford Act; Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April.
  • 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement started; Gandhi renounced "Kesar-e-Hind" title.
  • 1922: Chauri Chaura incident led to end of Non-Cooperation Movement.
  • 1923: Swaraj Party formed by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru.
  • 1924: Gandhi presided over Belgaum Congress.
  • 1925: Sarojini Naidu first Indian woman Congress president (Kanpur session); Kakori train action on 9 August.
  • 1927: Simon Commission formed; all British members.
  • 1928: Simon Commission arrived in India; Nehru Report presented.
  • 1929: Lahore Congress (Jawaharlal Nehru president); demand for complete independence; 26 January 1930 as Purna Swaraj Day.
  • 1930: Civil Disobedience Movement; Dandi March (12 March–6 April); Congress boycotted first Round Table Conference.
  • 1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact on 5 March; Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev hanged on 23 March; second Round Table Conference held.
  • 1932: Communal Award by Ramsay MacDonald; Poona Pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
  • 1940: August Proposal; Individual (Personal) Satyagraha started (first—Vinoba Bhave).
  • 1942: Quit India Movement began on 9 August, slogan "Do or Die."
  • 1946: Cabinet Mission arrived in March.
  • 1946: Constituent Assembly's first meeting on 9 December, Sachchidananda Sinha as temporary president.
  • 1947: Mountbatten Plan announced on 3 June; Indian Independence Act on 18 July.
  • 1949: Constitution completed on 26 November.
  • 1950: Constitution implemented on 26 January; Supreme Court formed on 28 January; Indian national flag adopted on 22 July 1947.

Current Affairs & General Knowledge

International Relations and Awards

  • Bold Kurukshetra 2025 (India–Singapore military exercise, 14th edition, held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan).
  • Symbex (India–Singapore naval exercise); SLINEX (India–Sri Lanka); Sinbex (India–Cambodia, first time in Pune).
  • Geetanjali Shree won British PEN Translate Award for "Once an Elephant Lived Here," translated by Daisy Rockwell.
  • Ghanshyam Das Birla Award 2024: V. Narayanan (ISRO Chairman).
  • Bhanu Mustaq won International Booker Prize for "The Heart Lamp" (English translation—Deepa Bisht).
  • Maldives celebrated 60th Independence Day on 26 July 2025; PM Modi was chief guest.

National Events & Achievements

  • India’s first AI operated forest warning system started in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sai TB Test (third-generation TB diagnosis) launched in Kerala for ages 18+.
  • India's 52nd Chief Justice: Justice B. R. Gavai.
  • IGNOU appointed first woman Vice Chancellor—Uma Kanjilal (appointed by President of India for max 5 years or till age 70).
  • Blue Economy Maritime Financing Summit 2025 held in New Delhi to boost marine economic growth.

Sports

  • Anah Singh won bronze at World Junior Squash Championships 2025 (Cairo, Egypt), first Indian medal in 15 years.
  • Tanvi Sharma and Venala both won bronze at Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Surakarta, Indonesia.

Miscellaneous

  • Maharashtra leads GST collection in FY24.
  • Paithani Saree and Warli painting are from Maharashtra.
  • India's largest conservation reserve in Himachal Pradesh (10,585 sq km).
  • UNDP Human Development Index 2023: India ranked 130th.
  • Narendra Modi ranked world’s most popular leader by Morning Consult (75% approval).

Important Dates & Events

  • Kargil Vijay Diwas: 26 July (commemorates 1999 victory).
  • CRPF Foundation Day: 27 July (established 1939, renamed in 1949).
  • World Mangrove Day: 26 July.
  • World Hob Day: 12 July.
  • Constitution implemented: 26 January 1950.
  • Supreme Court founded: 28 January 1950.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Morley-Minto Act — 1909 law introducing communal electoral representation.
  • Rowlatt Act — 1919 act allowing detention without trial.
  • Swaraj Party — Political party (1923) advocating for self-rule.
  • Communal Award — 1932 British policy on separate electorates.
  • Do or Die — Quit India Movement slogan.
  • Constituent Assembly — Body to draft India's Constitution.
  • LOC (Line of Credit) — Soft loan at low interest between nations.
  • Mangrove — Wetland forest type (e.g., Sundarban).
  • Blue Economy — Economic activity using ocean resources sustainably.
  • Sai TB Test — Third-generation skin test for tuberculosis.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review the chronology of modern Indian history (1901–1950).
  • Memorize key award winners, recent sports achievements, and important days.
  • Study international and bilateral military exercises and partners.
  • Read about the Indian Constitution's formation and key dates.
  • Prepare for upcoming commissions and polity-related classes.

Full transcript