New Delhi

Madras members join the Constituent Assembly

With a sizeable contingent from the Madras Province, the Constituent Assembly of India held its first sitting in New Delhi.

C. Rajagopalachari becomes Governor-General of India

C. Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten as Governor-General, the only Indian to hold the office.

Supreme Court strikes down the Communal G.O. in Champakam Dorairajan case

Madras State's caste-based Communal Government Order on college admissions was struck down by the Supreme Court.

First Amendment enables reservation for backward classes

Parliament passed the First Amendment, allowing special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes.

Rajaji and C. V. Raman among first Bharat Ratna recipients

C. Rajagopalachari and the physicist C. V. Raman, both from Tamil Nadu, were among the three first recipients of the Bharat Ratna.

Annadurai demands self-determination in the Rajya Sabha

In his Rajya Sabha speeches, C. N. Annadurai stated the DMK case for the right of self-determination for the Dravidian south.

Official Languages Act passed

Parliament passed the Official Languages Act to allow continued use of English alongside Hindi after 1965.

Kamaraj becomes Congress president and 'kingmaker'

As president of the Indian National Congress, K. Kamaraj guided the selection of two Prime Ministers.

C. Subramaniam becomes Union Food and Agriculture Minister

Under the leadership of C. Subramaniam of Madras, high-yielding seeds were introduced, starting the Green Revolution.

Sirima-Shastri Pact on people of Indian origin in Ceylon

India and Ceylon agreed that 525,000 stateless people of Indian origin, mostly Tamil plantation workers, would be repatriated to India.

Official Languages (Amendment) Act guarantees bilingualism

Amid fresh protests in Madras State, Parliament amended the 1963 Act to ensure English would continue in use alongside Hindi.

Sirima-Gandhi Pact on stateless persons of Indian origin

India and Sri Lanka agreed on the future of the 150,000 persons of Indian origin whose status had been left open by the 1964 Sirima-Shastri Pact.

National Emergency declared

Indira Gandhi's government declared a national Emergency; the DMK government in Tamil Nadu opposed it.

Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal constituted

On a Supreme Court direction, the Union government set up a tribunal to adjudicate the Kaveri water dispute between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Jain Commission interim report on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination

Criticism of the DMK over the LTTE in the Jain Commission's interim report prompted Congress to demand the party's exit, bringing down the Gujral government.

Cauvery River Authority set up

The Union government set up the Cauvery River Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the basin states, to implement the interim award.

AIADMK withdraws support, Vajpayee government falls

The AIADMK's withdrawal of support led to the Vajpayee government losing a confidence vote by a single vote.

Supreme Court verdict in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of seven accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and acquitted the other 19 sentenced by a TADA court.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam becomes President of India

Rameswaram-born scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, backed by both the BJP and the Congress, took office as the 11th President of India.

2G spectrum case arrests

Former Telecom Minister A. Raja and later Kanimozhi were arrested in the 2G spectrum case; a special court acquitted all accused in 2017.

Supreme Court final verdict on Cauvery waters

The Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water slightly and ordered a scheme for implementation, leading to the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Supreme Court rules against Governor's withholding of bills

The Supreme Court held that Governor R. N. Ravi acted illegally in withholding assent to ten re-passed bills and set timelines for Governors.