See also: 1978 in India, other events of 1979, 1980 in India and the Timeline of Indian history.

Events

• 31 January - The police under direction of Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of CPM-led government of West Bengal, surrounds and opens fire on unarmed refugee settlement of Morichjhapi island in Sunderbans, West Bengal. Hundreds killed but government officially accepts 36 deaths.
• 1 June - Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh.

Births

• 7 January - Bipasha Basu, actress and model.
• 24 March - Emraan Hashmi, actor.
• 31 March - Amey Date, singer.
• 14 September - Kamya Panjabi, actress.
• 4 November - Lazarus Barla, field hockey player.

Deaths

• 3 December - Dhyan Chand, field hockey player (b.1905).