Year 1739
The Battle of Karnal – Nader Shah forces defeated the army of Muhammad Shah.
FEBRUARY 24
Daily Historical Chronicle
UPSC CSE • State PSC • SSC CGL Matrix
24 February: What Happened On This Day in History
Curated historical timeline of momentous political pacts, freedom struggle uprisings, constitutional developments, scientific breakthroughs, and prominent birthdays recorded on 24 February.
Observances & Special Days
Engineer's Day of Iran.
Flag Day in Mexico.
Independence Day of Estonia.
National Artist Day of Thailand.
Year 1786
Charles Cornwallis appointed governor-general of India.
Year 1822
The world’s first Swaminarayan temple was inaugurated at Ahmedabad.
Year 1882
The infectious disease Tuberculosis (TB) was identified.
Year 1918
Estonia gained independence from Russia.
Year 1920
Establishment of the Nazi Party.
Year 1952
Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIC) was launched in India.
Year 1957
2nd General Election of India begins.
Year 1961
The government decided to rename the state of Madras as Tamil Nadu.
Year 1987
Scientist Ian Sheldon discovered the bright nebula 1987-A in the Magellanic constellation. It was then 168,000 light-years away from the earth.
Year 1988
Prithvi, India's first Indigenously designed surface-to-surface tactical missile was successfully test fired from Sriharikota.
Year 2001
Pakistan agreed to negotiate nuclear deterrence with India.
Year 2008
Fidel Castro retired as President of Cuba after 32 years.
Year 2009
The Central government of India announced a reduction in service tax and excise duty.
Year 2010
Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score the first double century in an ODI cricket match.
Born 1304
Ibn Battuta, a Muslim Berber Moroccan scholar and explorer.
Born 1670
Rajaram I, the younger son of Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj.
Born 1924
Talat Mahmood, an Indian playback singer.
Born 1938
Philip Knight, the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc.
Born 1939
Joy Mukherjee, an Indian film actor, and director.
Born 1942
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, an Indian scholar, literary theorist, and feminist critic.
Born 1948
J. Jayalalithaa, an Indian politician and film actress.
Born 1955
Steven Jobs, an American business magnate and co-founder of Apple Inc.
Born 1963
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, an Indian film director, and producer.
Died 1810
Henry Cavendish, an English natural philosopher, scientist, and an important experimental and theoretical chemist.
Died 1815
Robert Fulton, an American engineer, and inventor.
Died 1986
Rukmini Devi Arundale, an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer.
Died 1998
Lalita Pawar, a prolific Indian actress.
Died 2011
Anant Pai, an Indian educationalist and a pioneer in Indian comics.
Died 2018
Sridevi, an Indian actress, and producer.