India By The Decades: 1970 – 1979

Chronicling the significant political, cultural and social events of the past that have shaped India’s present

A decade of many firsts, political unstability, nuclear strength, and a strong world presence. The India in the 70s saw an emergence of raw young power

Let’s look at the major events that impacted India from 1970 to 1979:


1.  In 1970 Operation Flood is launched by the National Dairy Development Board with an aim to make India the world's top producer of milk.

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2.  16 March 1971

Indira Gandhi achieves a landslide victory in the 5th General Elections on the strength of her Garibi Hatao campaign.

3.  In 1971, Sanjay Gandhi, MD of Maruti Udyog Limited is awarded the contract to manufacture the people's car.

4.  9 August 1971

Indira Gandhi breaks the non-alignment tradition and signs the Indian-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation.

5.  3 December 1971

India declarees war against Pakistan after the latter bombs the former's air bases during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The war ends with a victory of India and the creation of a new country of Bangaldesh.

6.  1 April 1973

The Government of India launches the Project Tiger campaign to curb the extinction of the Royal Bengal Tiger population.

7.  11 May 1973

The film Zanjeer, starring Amitabh Bachchan is released and unleashes the angry young man archetype in Indian cineman.

via GIPHY

8. 18 May 1974

India becomes the first nation outside of the UN Security Council to conduct its first major nuclear weapon explosion test at Pokhran, Rajasthan.

via GIPHY

9. 12 June 1975

The Allahabad High Court finds Indira Gandhi guilty of misusing government machinery during her election campaign. Following the court's verdict Jayprakash Narayan calls for sampoorna kraanti (Total Revolution).

10. 19 April 1975

India's first satellite, Aryabhata is launched into space from Earth.

11.  25 June 1975

President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declares Emergency across the country at the urging of PM Indira Gandhi. Narayan along with his supporters, is arrested on the same day.

12.  9 July 1975

The Akali Dal launches 'The Campaign to Save Democracy' in protest of the Emergency. 

13.  September 1976

Spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi, a nationwide compulsory sterlisation programme is implemented to control population explosion.

14.  23 January 1977

Indira Gandhi announces the 6th General Election.

15. 24 March 1977

For the first time in independent India, Congress loses its first election. Moraji Desai of the Janta Party wins and becomes India's first non-Congress Prime Minister. Following this, Emergency is called off after 21 months. Indira Gandhi spilts away from Congress and forms her own party Congress (I).