National Events in January 2001
Jan. 1:
The West Bengal Government officially renames Calcutta as Kolkata.
Jan. 2:
A grid failure leads to a 12-hour black-out in North India.
Jan. 3:
India, Mongolia sign an extradition treaty and a defence agreement, besides pacts on investment protection and IT.
Jan. 4:
India's indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft is successfully test-flown in Bangalore.
The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar quits Cabinet following differences in the Samata Party.
Jan. 6:
The Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani presents the millennium Sikh awards to Mr. Kushwant Singh, the CEC, Dr. M.S. Gill, cricketer, B.S. Bedi, and others in connection with the Khalsa tricentenary.
The Prime Minister, rejects Mr. Nitish Kumar's resignation.
The Centre decides to amend the Hindu Succession Act to confer equal property rights on women.
Jan. 9:
A blaze reduces to ashes the historic Meghalaya Assembly building, constructed before Independence by the British.
Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant, an aide of the underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim `confesses' to having killed music mogul Gulshan Kumar, on August 12, 1997.
Jan. 10:
The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, unequivocally supports the ``sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia''. Jakarta backs India's claim for a U.N. Security Council seat.
Jan. 11:
The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid backs the PM's stand on Kashmir, five agreements, including the formation of a Joint Commission and defence cooperation are signed.
Jan. 12:
China for developing productive ties with India, says the visiting Chairman of the National People's Congress of China, Mr. Li Peng.
The Centre lifts curbs on `Ku' band television broadcast signals directly from satellites with immediate effect.
Jan. 13:
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, escapes bid on life after two rifle grenades fired by Hizb militants at a function in Srinagar, misses target.
Jan. 15:
Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, takes office as the 16th Law Commission Vice Chairman.
Jan. 16:
Regional rivalries endangering both peace and progress as ``legacies of past mistrust tend to persist'', says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee in a speech at a banquet in honour of the visiting Mauritian PM, Mr. Anerood Jugnath.
Jan. 17:
Deny ticket to people with criminal background, says the President, Mr.K.R. Narayanan at the poll panel golden jubilee fete. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, favours fixed tenure for Parliament, Assemblies.
Jan. 19:
The Supreme Court directs the CBI to probe the July 1995 death of biscuit tycoon, Rajan Pillai.
Jan. 21:
India and Pakistan agree to extend Samjhauta Express service by three years and upgrade facilities.
India, Bangladesh reestablish railway link.
Jan. 23:
The Centre extends J&K ceasefire by another month.
The HAL announces successful trial of PTAE-7, the first indigenously designed turbo jet engine.
Jan. 24:
The Union Cabinet approves delinking of GIC from subsidiaries.
Jan. 25:
The Government confers Bharat Ratna on melody queen, Lata Mangeshkar and shehnai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Gulshan Kumar case trial begins in a Mumbai sessions court, three years after the audio king's murder.
India, Algeria sign a partnership declaration'', trade accord.
Jan. 26:
Over 2,000 people die in Gujarat earthquake of 6.9 magnitude on Richter scale. Ahmedabad, Bhuj bear the brunt.
Jan. 27:
Earthquake toll crosses 10,000. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee sanctions Rs. 10 crores for immediate relief and aid pours in from nations all over the world.
Jan. 28:
A quake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolts Gujarat, even as the toll touches 20,000. The U.S. announces $ 5 million aid.
Jan. 29:
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee visits Gujarat, announces Rs. 500 crores grant from the National Calamity Relief Fund. The World Bank offers $ 300 million. Fresh tremors trigger exodus.