INDIA 2011 IN A NUT SHELL

1. Corruption emerged the biggest issue to catch the imagination of the common man. Anna Hazare-led crusade mounted public pressure on the government to introduce the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. The draft legislation got mired in contradictions. Lok Sabha passed the Bill but it failed to get through in Rajya Sabha.
   
2. The alleged 1.76 lakh crore 2G spectrum scam probe saw bigwigs including former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, former bureaucrats and top corporate honchos landing behind bars. While Kanimozhi and others got bail, Raja and former Telecom Secretary S. Behura remained in jail.
   
3. SC strikes down the appointment of PJ Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner for his alleged involvement in an early 1990s corruption case, March 3.
   
4. Landmark SC judgment allows passive euthanasia 'under exceptional conditions' but dismisses mercy killing plea for Aruna Shanbaugh , a former nurse living in vegetative state for 37 years, March 7.
   
5. Census 2011 report shows a jump of more than 181 million people during the last decade, March 31.
   
6. Commonwealth Games 2010 Organising Committee Chief Suresh Kalmadi and top aides arrested on corruption charges.
   
7. Former Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2008 'cash-for-vote' scam September 6; gets bail on health grounds, October 24.
   
8. Former Telecom Minister Sukhram, 86, awarded five-year jail term in a 1996 scam, November 19.
   
9. Cyrus P Mistry chosen successor to Ratan Tata as Chairman of the Tata Group, November 23.
   
10. Rupee fell to a record low against the US $.
    
11. Food inflation soared before coming down towards the year end.

Andhra Pradesh - Separate Telangana State agitation continued to be on the boil. MPs and MLAs quit cutting across party lines but the resignations were not accepted.

Arunachal Pradesh - CM Dorjee Khandu and four others killed in helicopter crash near Sela Pass , April 30 .

Assam - Congress retains power, Tarun Gogoi sworn in CM for the third successive term, May 18.

Delhi - Blast outside High Court rattles the capital, 18 killed and over 75 injured, September 7.

Gujarat

• A local court awards death sentence to 11 and life term to 20 others in the 2002 train burning case at Godhra in which 59 'kar sevaks' were killed, March 1 .
• Breather for Narendra Modi as SC refuses to pass any order on his alleged inaction to contain the 2002 Gujarat riots, September 12.

Jammu & Kashmir - CM Omar Abdullah demands removal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act from parts of the State; Army and the Centre, however, differ.

Karnataka - BS Yeddyurappa quits as CM following indictment in illegal mining scam, July 31; spends 25 days in jail in connection with land denotification cases before getting bail, November 8.

Kerala - Congress-led UDF manages to wrest power from LDF; Oommen Chandy takes over as CM, May 18.

Manipur - People heaved a sigh of relief after a four month long crippling economic blockade of national highways was lifted, November 29.

Mumbai - Terror strikes again. Blasts at three places leave 26 dead and over 130 injured, July 13.

Puducherry - Congress rebel and All India NR Congress founder NR Rangaswamy sworn in CM for the third time, May 16.

Rajasthan - Bhanwari Devi's disappearance and suspected murder unravels sex scandal; Former State Minister Mahipal Maderna among other suspects arrested.

Sikkim - Devastating earthquake kills over 110, September 18.

Tamil Nadu - AIADMK sweeps Assembly elections defeating the ruling DMK; Jayalalitha becomes CM for the third time, May 16.

Uttar Pradesh -

• SC stays Allahabad HC verdict on three-way division of disputed land in Ayodhya, May 9 .
• Assembly passes resolution to divide the State into 4 parts, November 21.

West Bengal -

• Mamta Banerjee finally ends 34- year long Left rule; becomes the first Woman CM of the State, May 2 0.
• Top Maoist leader Kishanji killed in an encounter in West Midnapore district, November 24 .
• Fire in a private hospital in Kolkata kills over 90 , December 9 .
• Hooch tragedy claims over 170 lives in South 24 Parganas district, December 15.

Sports

• Saina Nehwal wins the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title, March 20.
• India wins the ICC Cricket World Cup after 28 years defeating Sri Lanka in a thrilling final in Mumbai, April 2.
• Ace double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi successfully defended his World Cup title in UAE, October 4.
• Formula 1 makes debut in India . The first Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit is a grand success, October 30.
• India defeats Pakistan to lift the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy Hockey tournament in China , September 11.
• Virender Sehwag becomes the highest scorer ever in ODIs by posting 219 runs against the West Indies , December 8.
• India retains South Asian Football Federation Cup beating Afghanistan in New Delhi , December 11.

Passed Away

• Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, January 24.
• Congress stalwart Arjun Singh, March 4 .
• Spritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba, April 24 .
• Farmers' leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, May 15.
• Former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal, June 3.
• Celebrated artist MF Husain, June 9.
• Noted filmmaker Mani Kaul, July 6.
• Former bureaucrat and governor PC Alexander, August 10.
• Bollywood icon Shammi Kapoor, August 14.
• Legendary cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, September 22.
• Veteran Congress leader Vasant Sathe, September 23.
• Renowned ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, October 10.
• Acclaimed singer and music director, Bhupen Hazarika, November. 5.
• Actor and filmmaker, Dev Anand, December 3.
• Noted cartoonist Mario Miranda, December 11.