1971 in India
See also: 1970 in India, other events of 1971, 1972 in India and the Timeline of Indian history.
Events
- 25 January - Himachal Pradesh becomes the 18th Indian state.
- 19 April - The government of Bangladesh flees to India.
- 25 August - Bangladesh and eastern Bengal are flooded; thousands flee the area.
- 29 September - A cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, in Orissa State in India, kills 10,000.
- 3 December-17 December: India and Pakistan fight their second major war, over East Pakistan, which ends after 90,000 Pakistani troops surrender. The new nation of Bangladesh is created out of East Pakistan.
- 3 December - The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 begins as Pakistan attacks 9 Indian airbases. The next day India launches a massive invasion of East Pakistan.
- 3 December-4 December night: The Indian navy destroyer INS Rajput sinks Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi (former USS Diablo).
- 16 December - Victory Day of Bangladesh: The Pakistan Army surrenders to the Joint Force i.e. Mukti Bahini (Freedom Force) and Indian Armed Forces, ending the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Sport
- Leslie Claudius (field hockey player) is awarded the Padma Shri.
Births
- 12 January - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, politician.
- 17 July - Soundarya, actress (d.2004).
- 5 August - Jude Menezes, field hockey player.
- 8 August - Ramandeep Singh, field hockey player.
- 2 September - Pawan Kalyan, actor and film director.
Deaths
- Debaki Bose, film director, writer and actor (b.1898).
- Keshavrao Date, actor (b.1889).