24 December - India on this day20 events

Indian Airlines Kathmandu-Delhi Airbus 300 with 186 people on board hijacked shortly after take-off.

Daily newspaper "Janshakti" published it's first edition at Jalgaon.

Christopher "Kit" Carson, KY, union brig-general and Indian fighter, was born.

Pattabhi Sitaramayya, politician and president of Indian National Congress, was born in Andhra Pradesh.

Chandra Singh Garhwali, freedom fighter and revolutionary, was born in Masson, Patti Chauthan, Tehsil Thalisain, District Garhwal.

Sen Triguna, educationist and technologist, was born.

The first medical conference was held in Calcutta.

The third and last Round Table conference on India ends. It was was held in London.

Koneru Humpy won the under-12 boys' title and P. Harikrishna won the Under-14 boys' title at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Ahmedabad.

Viswanathan Anand becomes the first Asian to win a world chess title in the world chess championship in Taheran.

A.B.Vajpayee, Prime Minister, announces increased cash awards for Asian Games medallists.

Mohammed Rafi, famous playback singer, was born.

Gopalrao defeated in the battle of Jamkhindi.

Rabindranath Tagore established "Visva Bharati" at Santiniketan with Brojendra Nath Seal as the chief guest.

Vasco De Gama, Portuguese navigator who discovered India, died in Cochin.

Dr. M.G.Ramachandran, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, died. He was 70 yrs. He was posthumously awarded the 'Bharat Ratna' by the President of India. (17-1-90).

Jaynendra Kumar, famous Hindi novelist, died.

Khanprabha Bhaduri, famous Bengali poet and writer, died.

Eigth General Elections of India began .

Congress(I) splits in Bihar with Dr. Jagannath Mishra and Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav floating iits regional outfit, "Bihar Jan Congress".