See also: 1951 in India, other events of 1952, 1953 in India and the Timeline of Indian history.

Events

• 17 April- Membership of the first lok sabha starts.
• 13 May - Jawaharlal Nehru forms his first government.
• 15 May- G.V. Mavlankar handles the charge as Lok Sabha Speaker.
• 30 May- M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar handles the charge as Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker.
• December - First five-year plan is tabled in the Parliament by Jawaharlal Nehru. It emphasizes Agricultural and Community development.
• The first general election is held. The Indian National Congress headed by Jawaharlal Nehru sweeps into power.

Births

• 18 January - Veerappan, bandit (d.2004).
• 19 March - Mohan Babu, actor, producer and politician.
• 30 May - Ambareesh, actor and politician.
• 20 June - Vikram Seth, poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children's writer, biographer and memoirist.
• 23 June - Raj Babbar, actor.

Full date unknown

• Urvashi Butalia, feminist, historian and publisher.
• Daisy Irani, actress.
• Deepak Kumar, historian and philosopher of science.

Deaths

• 7 March - Paramahansa Yogananda, yogi and guru (b.1893).
• Rashid Jahan, author, short story writer and playwright (b.1905).