Here’s a detailed and factual timeline of British rule in India for competitive examinations:
Timeline of British Rule in India (1600–1947)
This timeline covers key political, economic, and social events from the arrival of the British East India Company to India’s independence.
1. Arrival of the British (1600–1757)
✔ 31 December 1600 – Queen Elizabeth I grants a charter. This charter was given to the British East India Company (EIC). It allowed them to trade with the East.
✔ 1608 – The British establish their first factory at Surat (Gujarat).
✔ 1612 – Battle of Swally – British defeat the Portuguese, securing dominance in the Indian Ocean trade.
✔ 1615 – Mughal Emperor Jahangir grants trading rights to the British.
✔ 1639 – British acquire Madras (Chennai) and build Fort St. George.
✔ 1661 – Bombay was given to the British. This transfer was part of the marriage treaty. The treaty was between Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess.
✔ 1668 – British East India Company takes control of Bombay from the British Crown.
✔ 1690 – British establish Calcutta (Kolkata) and build Fort William.
✔ 1698 – British get the Zamindari rights of three villages – Sutanuti, Kalikata, Govindpur (later forming Calcutta).
✔ 1717 – Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar grants Farman, allowing the British to trade tax-free in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
2. British Expansion through Wars (1757–1857)
2.1 British Control Over Bengal
✔ 1757 – Battle of Plassey – British defeat Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah; Robert Clive gains control of Bengal.
✔ 1764 – Battle of Buxar – British defeat Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh), and Mir Qasim (Bengal).
✔ 1765 – Treaty of Allahabad – British gain Diwani rights (tax collection) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
✔ 1772 – British shift their capital to Calcutta; Warren Hastings becomes the first Governor-General of Bengal.
2.2 Economic and Administrative Reforms
✔ 1773 – Regulating Act of 1773 – British Parliament begins controlling EIC administration.
✔ 1784 – Pitt’s India Act – Strengthens British control over the EIC.
✔ 1793 – Permanent Settlement of Bengal by Lord Cornwallis, creating the Zamindari system.
2.3 Wars with Indian Kingdoms
✔ 1799 – Fourth Anglo-Mysore War – British defeat Tipu Sultan and annex Mysore.
✔ 1818 – Third Anglo-Maratha War – British defeat Marathas, ending Peshwa rule.
✔ 1848 – Doctrine of Lapse introduced by Lord Dalhousie – Used to annex Satara, Nagpur, Jhansi, and Awadh.
✔ 1853 – First railway line in India (Mumbai to Thane) and first telegraph line established.
3. Revolt and Direct British Rule (1857–1885)
✔ 1857 – Revolt of 1857 (First War of Independence). Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Sahib, Tantia Tope, and Bahadur Shah II led the revolt.
✔ 1858 – Government of India Act 1858 – British Crown takes direct control, ending East India Company rule.
✔ 1876 – Queen Victoria declared “Empress of India”.
✔ 1881 – First Census of India conducted.
✔ 1885 – Indian National Congress (INC) founded by A.O. Hume in Bombay.
4. Rise of Nationalism (1885–1919)
✔ 1893 – Swami Vivekananda speaks at the Chicago World Parliament of Religions.
✔ 1905 – Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, leading to the Swadeshi Movement.
✔ 1906 – Muslim League formed at Dhaka under Aga Khan.
✔ 1911 – Partition of Bengal annulled; British shift capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
✔ 1914 – World War I begins – Indian soldiers fight for the British.
✔ 1919 – Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (General Dyer opens fire on unarmed civilians in Amritsar).
5. The Gandhian Era (1920–1947)
✔ 1920 – Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
✔ 1930 – Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) – Gandhi protests British salt tax.
✔ 1935 – Government of India Act 1935 passed, allowing provincial autonomy.
✔ 1940 – Lahore Resolution – Muslim League demands a separate state (Pakistan).
✔ 1942 – Quit India Movement launched by Gandhi; British suppress protests.
✔ 1946 – Cabinet Mission Plan proposed to discuss India’s independence.
✔ 15 August 1947 – India gains independence; partition creates India and Pakistan.
Summary of British Rule in India
| Period | Key Events |
|---|---|
| 1600 – 1757 | British East India Company established trade in India. |
| 1757 – 1857 | British expanded control through wars and policies. |
| 1858 – 1947 | British Crown ruled India, leading to the freedom struggle. |
Key British Acts and Policies
- Regulating Act, 1773 – First attempt to regulate EIC’s affairs.
- Pitt’s India Act, 1784 – Strengthened British control.
- Charter Act, 1833 – Ended EIC’s commercial functions.
- Doctrine of Lapse, 1848 – Annexed states without heirs.
- Government of India Act, 1858 – India under British Crown rule.
- Government of India Act, 1919 – Introduced dyarchy in provinces.
- Government of India Act, 1935 – Laid the foundation for the Indian Constitution.
Major Indian Freedom Movements
- Revolt of 1857 – First major uprising.
- Swadeshi Movement (1905) – Boycott of British goods.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) – Civil disobedience under Gandhi.
- Dandi March (1930) – Protest against the salt tax.
- Quit India Movement (1942) – Call for immediate independence.
This detailed timeline is fact-based and structured for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and State PCS. Let me know if you need a mind map or key revision points! 🚀