31 March - India on this day34 events

Prarthana Samaj was established by Ranade, Bhandarkar and others at Mumbai in 1864.

Foundation stone of 'Gateway of India' was laid by Sir George Sydneham Clerk.

T. N. Mishra became the director of Central Bureau of Investigation (till 04/01/99).

Major changes in exim policy announced.

Balwant Pandurang Kirloskar (Annasaheb), first musical playwright of Marathi, was born.

Gangadhar Balkrishna Deshpande, freedom fighter and loyal Congress leader 'Lion of Karnataka', was born.

Argentina President Carlos Menem visits India.

British slaughter hundreds of Tibetans.

374 infants wed at a mass ceremony.

Dalai Lama fled China & was granted political asylum in India.

Tram-way service ended in Mumbai (Bombay). This last electric tram left Bori Bunder (CST) for Dadar at 10 p.m., crowds lined the route all the way at that late hour to bid farewell to the common man's transport medium.

Nirmal Mukherjee, the last Indian Civil Service Officer, retired from service as Cabinet Secretary.

Bombay Telephone Nigam renamed as Mahanagar Telephone Nigam.

The new five-year Export-Import policy relaxes restrictions.

J.N. Dixit, Foreign Secretary, visits Myanmar and signs agreements on trade, control of drug trafficking and separatist movements along the borders.

U.R. Rao, retiring ISRO Chairman, announces agreement with Russia for supplying 7 cryogenic engines.

The Supreme Court orders closure of 11 industrial units around Taj Mahal.

The PIO card, conferring privileges on persons of Indian origin settled abroad, is formally launched.

Forex reserves touch a record $ 22.36 billions.

The Bombay Stock Exchange crashes by 300 points.

Bharat Ratna, India's highest award, was given to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1841-1956) (Posthumous).

Delhi beat Tamil Nadu in 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy.

Bombay beat Punjab in 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy.

Karnataka defeat Tamil Nadu in first innings to win Ranji Trophy.

Meena Kumari, famous film actress, passed away.

During the 2nd World War, Japan was heavily successful in Burma and Andaman which posted a danger to the Indian Security.

Mir Jumla, Mughal Commander, passed away in Bihar.

Dattatray Balwant Parasnis, who made research in History, passed away.

Shyamji Krishna Varma, freedom fighter, nationalist and patriot, passed away in Geneva.

Kidnapped cardiac surgeon Dr. Abdul Ahad Guroo killed in Srinagar.

N. K. Mukarji was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India. He held this office till 31-03-1980.

Madhav Sinh Solanki, External Affairs minister, resigns on Bofors letter issue.

The PM to look after foreign affairs.

Lakhubhai Pathak, prominent NRI businessman who had accused Narasimha Rao of cheating $ 100,000, died in London.