Jan 10
Lionel Messi of Argentina wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or as world football player for the second successive year.
MAR
The Dalai Lama resigns as political leader
Mar 10
The Dalai Lama submits his resignation as Tibet's political leader to the Tibetan Parliament.
Mar 11
An earthquake hits Japan of 9.0 magnitude, triggering off a massive tsunami that kills over 7000 people and leaves thousands more homeless.
Mar 30
Michael Clarke is appointed the captain of the Australia national cricket team in both test cricket and ODI's replacing Ricky Ponting.
India beat Pakistan in World Cup semis
Mar 30
India book their spot in the finals of the World Cup defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in an epic encounter at the semi-finals match.
India now home to 1.2 billion people
Mar 31
Census reports that the Indian population has increased to 1.21 billion people.
MAY
Osama bin Laden finally killed
May 02
The world's most notorious terrorist, Osama Bin Laden is killed by the US Navy Seals.
Arunachal CM found dead
May 04
Arunachal Pradesh CM Dorjee Khandu is found dead in a remote village four days after his helicopter went missing.
John and Bips call it quits
May 09
Bollywood sweethearts John Abraham and Bipasha Basu shock everyone as they announce their split.
Ash, Sonam grace Cannes film fest
May 11
The 64th Cannes Film Festival starts with many Indian actors walking the red carpet like Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Minissha Lamba.
Kanimozhi arrested in 2G scam
May 20
Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, is arrested and sent to Tihar Jail in the 2G spectrum scam matter.
Mamata Didi is Bengal's new CM
May 20
Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as West Bengal's new Chief Minister.
CSK win IPL again
May 28
MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings retain the IPL title for the second consecutive year
Barcelona lifts Champions League trophy
May 28
FC Barcelona defeats Manchester United 3-1 to lift the UEFA Champions League title for the fourth time
FC Barcelona defeats Manchester United 3-1 to lift the UEFA Champions League title for the fourth time
JUN
Baba Ramdev launches protests
Jun 04
Baba Ramdev goes on a hunger strike to demand the recovery of black money stored in international accounts.
MV Wisdom is abandoned on Mumbai shores
Jun 11
MV Wisdom, a massive cargo ship, is stranded at Juhu beach in Mumbai. It was on its way to Alang shipyard in Gujarat and lost its way due to a failed engine and floated to the beach.
Crime journalist J Dey is killed
Jun 11
MiD DAY journalist J Dey is shot dead in Mumbai by masked assailants.
Bachchan bahu is finally pregnant!
Jun 21
Amitabh Bachchan breaks the news on Twitter that his daughter-in-law Aishwarya is expecting a baby.
JUL
CWG athletes fail dope tests
Jul 01
Asian Games double-gold medallists Ashwini Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, who won the 4x400 meters gold at the New Delhi CWG, flunk dope tests.
Obama 'dies' on Twitter
Jul 04
US President Barack Obama is falsely declared dead on the hacked Twitter account of the U.S. broadcaster Fox News.
MLAs and MPs demand for Telangana state
Jul 04
78 MLAs and 10 MPs from the Congress resign as they demand a separate state for Telangana in Andhra Pradesh.
Homosexuality is a 'disease': Azad
Jul 05
Indian Health Minister Ghulab Nabi Azad says homosexual sex is "unnatural" and homosexuality is a "disease" which is "spreading fast" throughout the country.
NOTW shuts down
Jul 07
English tabloid News of the World is shut down after being embroiled in a phone-tapping scandal.
Mumbai rocked by blasts again
Jul 13
Multiple blasts rock Mumbai killing 26 and injuring over 100 people. The blasts occur at Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar and Opera House.
Amy Winehouse is no more
Jul 23
Famous British singer and 'Rehab' crooner Amy Winehouse is found dead in her apartment.
Pak appoints first female foreign minister
Jul 23
Hina Rabbani Khar is appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan by PM Yousaf Raza Gillani
AUG
Riots see London burn
Aug 06
Several parts of London witness widespread rioting and looting. Many houses are burnt and England comes to a standstill, and as many as 3,100 people are arrested.
Several parts of London witness widespread rioting and looting. Many houses are burnt and England comes to a standstill, and as many as 3,100 people are arrested.
Hazare's second fast against corruption begins
Aug 16
Anna Hazare begins his second hunger strike for the Jan Lokpal bill that lasts 12 days.
Anna Hazare begins his second hunger strike for the Jan Lokpal bill that lasts 12 days.
Hurricane Irene ravages North America
Aug 21
Hurricane Irene strikes parts of the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and some parts of Canada, killing over 50 people and causing damages worth 3 billion dollars
Hurricane Irene strikes parts of the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and some parts of Canada, killing over 50 people and causing damages worth 3 billion dollars
Steve Jobs hangs up his boots
Aug 24
Steve Jobs resigns as the CEO of Apple Inc and the mantle is passed over to Tim Cook.
Steve Jobs resigns as the CEO of Apple Inc and the mantle is passed over to Tim Cook.
Bodyguard rakes in the moolah
Aug 31
Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer 'Bodyguard' hits the theatres on Eid-ul-fitr. It goes on to become the biggest Bollywood grosser of the year.
Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer 'Bodyguard' hits the theatres on Eid-ul-fitr. It goes on to become the biggest Bollywood grosser of the year.
SEP
India-Bangladesh ties strengthen
Sep 06
India and Bangladesh sign landmark treaty over border disputes between the two countries.
India and Bangladesh sign landmark treaty over border disputes between the two countries.
US marks a decade since 9/11
Sep 11
USA marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, that left 3000 people dead
USA marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, that left 3000 people dead
New York rocked by Occupy Wall street protests
Sep 17
Occupy Wall Street protests begin in New York City against social and economic inequality, high unemployment and corruption
Occupy Wall Street protests begin in New York City against social and economic inequality, high unemployment and corruption
Earthquake rocks Nepal & India
Sep 18
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hits northern India and some parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Tibet, claiming 37 lives.
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hits northern India and some parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Tibet, claiming 37 lives.
Google+ sees public launch
Sep 20
Google+, a social networking site is launched publicly, to rival Facebook and Twitter
Google+, a social networking site is launched publicly, to rival Facebook and Twitter
Tiger Pataudi passes away
Sep 22
Cricketer, former India skipper and father to actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi passes away at the age of 70.
Cricketer, former India skipper and father to actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi passes away at the age of 70.
OCT
Steve Jobs is no more
Oct 05
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies at his Palo Alto home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies at his Palo Alto home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer
Ghazal king Jagjit Singh breathes his last
Oct 10
Noted ghazal singer Jagjit Singh dies after he suffers brain hemorrhage.
Noted ghazal singer Jagjit Singh dies after he suffers brain hemorrhage.
Blackberry services hit across globe
Oct 10
Blackberry services come to a standstill across the globe, and RIM suffers a serious loss of face.
Blackberry services come to a standstill across the globe, and RIM suffers a serious loss of face.
Bhutan celebrates royal wedding
Oct 12
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck of Bhutan marries Jetsun Pema in a grand ceremony attended by the likes of Rahul Gandhi.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck of Bhutan marries Jetsun Pema in a grand ceremony attended by the likes of Rahul Gandhi.
Wheldon dies in tragic crash
Oct 16
British racer Dan Wheldon dies from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship. He was 33 years old.
British racer Dan Wheldon dies from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship. He was 33 years old.
Oct 20
Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is hunted down and killed by NTC troops in Libya.
Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is hunted down and killed by NTC troops in Libya.
Ra:One releases on Diwali
Oct 26
Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Ra:One', deemed as Bollywood's most expensive film to date, is released on Diwali.
Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Ra:One', deemed as Bollywood's most expensive film to date, is released on Diwali.
Vettel wins India's maiden GP race
Oct 30
The first India F1 Grand Prix race is held at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida. Sebastian Vettel wins the event.
The first India F1 Grand Prix race is held at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida. Sebastian Vettel wins the event.
NOV
Nov 05
Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika dies of multi-organ failure at a Mumbai hospital. His funeral was attended by lakhs of fans.
Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika dies of multi-organ failure at a Mumbai hospital. His funeral was attended by lakhs of fans.
Tendulkar makes Test cricket record
Nov 08
Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first player in history of Test cricket to score 15,000 Test runs.
Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first player in history of Test cricket to score 15,000 Test runs.
Cricket writer Roebuck commits suicide
Nov 12
Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck commits suicide in Cape Town, South Africa after being accused of sexual assault
Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck commits suicide in Cape Town, South Africa after being accused of sexual assault
Kalam frisked at NY airport
Nov 13
Former Indian President A.P.J Abdul Kalam is frisked at New York airport. US authorities later apologise for the same.
Former Indian President A.P.J Abdul Kalam is frisked at New York airport. US authorities later apologise for the same.
Beti Bachchan is born!
Nov 16
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan become the proud parents of a baby girl.
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan become the proud parents of a baby girl.
MJ doc gets 4 years in jail
Nov 29
Dr. Conrad Murray is sentenced to four years in jail in connection to the death of Michael Jackson in 2009
Dr. Conrad Murray is sentenced to four years in jail in connection to the death of Michael Jackson in 2009
DEC
Dec 01
Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao become parents to a baby boy, Azad Rao Khan, born via IVF to a surrogate mother. The baby was named after Aamir's great grand-uncle and freedom fighter Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.
Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao become parents to a baby boy, Azad Rao Khan, born via IVF to a surrogate mother. The baby was named after Aamir's great grand-uncle and freedom fighter Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.
Govt pauses FDI decision
Dec 03
The government puts their decision to increase FDI in retail on hold following violent protests from the Opposition parties.
The government puts their decision to increase FDI in retail on hold following violent protests from the Opposition parties.
Tom Cruise arrives in India
Dec 04
Tom Cruise arrives in India to promote his new movie 'Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol'. He was thrown a grand party by Anil Kapoor that saw several Bollywood stars in attendance
Tom Cruise arrives in India to promote his new movie 'Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol'. He was thrown a grand party by Anil Kapoor that saw several Bollywood stars in attendance
Dev Anand is no more
Dec 04
Bollywood's evergreen hero Dev Anand dies of cardiac arrest in London at the age of 88.The actor's last movie was 'Chargesheet', that released in 2011.
Bollywood's evergreen hero Dev Anand dies of cardiac arrest in London at the age of 88.The actor's last movie was 'Chargesheet', that released in 2011.
Fire-hit AMRI hospital in Kolkata
Dec 09
A blaze at the privately run AMRI hospital in Kolkata kills over a hundred people. The management delayed informing fire authorities until it was too late.
A blaze at the privately run AMRI hospital in Kolkata kills over a hundred people. The management delayed informing fire authorities until it was too late.
Dec 09
Virender Sehwag becomes the second player in ODI history to score a double century. He raked up a massive score of 219 against the West Indies in Indore.
Virender Sehwag becomes the second player in ODI history to score a double century. He raked up a massive score of 219 against the West Indies in Indore.
Kim Jong Il declared dead
Dec 19
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is declared dead. His passing is mourned by thousands, and his third son is named his successor
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is declared dead. His passing is mourned by thousands, and his third son is named his successor
