India is one of the oldest civilizations in existence, with a rich and vibrant history that has seen many battles fought over its land throughout time. Important battles in Indian History that have shaped the country’s destiny. Its culture and traditions have been passed down through generations, making it an important part of our world’s heritage. Here is a comprehensive list of the most renowned battles that have taken place in Indian history, ranging from ancient times to modern day.
These challenging battles are often asked in competitive exams such as UPSC, state-level examinations, one day exams, banking and railway recruitment processes. It is important to be well prepared for these types of questions so that you can succeed in the exam.
Battle Name
Battle Year
Between
Conclusion
Battle of Hydaspas
326 B.C
Alexander vs Porus
Alexander Won
Kalinga War
261 B.C
Ashoka vs Raja Anant Padmanabhan
Ashoka Won
First Battle of Tarrain
1191 A.D
Prithviraj Chauhan vs Ghori
Prithviraj Chauhan
Second Battle of Tarrain
1192 A.D
Prithviraj Chauhan vs Ghori
Ghori (Establishment of Islamic empire in India)
Battle of Chandwar
1194 A.D
Ghori vs Jaychand
Ghori won
Battle of Gakhar & Ghori
1206 A.D
Gakhar vs Ghori
Ghori was killed by Gakhar tribes
First Battle of Panipat
1526 A.D
Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi
Babur won
Battle of Khanwa
1527 A.D
Babur vs Rana Sanga
Babur won
Battle of Chanderi
1528 A.D
Babur vs Medini Rai
Babur won
Battle of Ghaghara
1529 A.D
Babur vs Sultan Muhammad Lodi
Babur defeated Afghans
Battle of Chausa
1539 A.D
SherShah vs Humayun
SherShah won
Battle of Kannuj (Bilgram)
1540 A.D
SherShah vs Humayun
SherShah won
Second Battle of Panipat
1556 A.D
Akbar vs Hemu
Akbar won (ended Afghan rule)
Battle of Talikota (Banihatti)
1565 A.D
Deccan vs Vijaynagar empire
Deccon won (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Bidar & Golkonda)
Battle of Haldhighati
1576 A.D
Maharana Pratap vs Mansingh (Akbar)
Mansingh won (Shortest battle 4 hours)
Battle of Samugarh
1659 A.D
Aurangzeb vs Dara Sikoh
Aurangzeb won
Battle of Karnal
1739 A.D
Nader Shah(Persia) vs Muh. Shah(Mughal)
Nader Won in 3 hrs, Kohinoor taken
First Carnatic War
1746-48 A.D
French forces vs forces of Anwar-ud-din (English appealed for help)
An extension of Austrian war succession
Battle of Adyar/San Thome (1746)
“Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle”
Second Carnatic War
1749-54 A.D
Forces of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib and French killed Anwar-ud-din at the Battle of “Battle of Ambur (1749)”
Charles Robert Godehu (French) signed “Treaty of Pondicherry” with English
Third Carnatic War
1758-63 A.D
French General, Count de Lally captured English forts which result in “Battle of Wandiwash (1760)” which was won by English under General Eyre Court.
“Treaty of Peace of Paris (1763)”
English became supreme power
Battle of Plassey
1757 A.D
Siraj-ud-daulah(with French allies) vs EIC(Robert Clive)
Robert Clive won
Third Battle of Panipat
1761 A.D
Ahmed Shah Abdali vs Marathas
Abdali won
Battle of Buxar
1764 A.D
EIC vs Bengal, Awadh, Mughals
British won
First Anglo-Mysore War
1767-69 A.D
Hyder Ali vs EIC, Marathas
Hyder Ali won
“Battle of Chengam (1767)”
“Battle of Tiruvannamali (1767)”
“Battle of Ooscota (1768)”
Second Anglo- Mysore War
1780-84 A.D
Hyder Ali aligned with French vs English
Hyder Ali dies in 1882 because of cancer
Later on, his son Tipu carried his legacy
“Treaty of Mangalore”
“Battle of Pollilur”
“Battle of Porto Novo”
“Battle of Sholinghur”
Third Anglo-Mysore War
1789-92 A.D
Tipu vs English
Tipu defeated General Meadows (1790)
Lord Cornwallis took the leadership, with the alliance of Marathas and Nizam, and won
“Treaty of Serirangampatnam”
“Battle of Nedumkotta”
“Battle of Calicut”
“Battle of Sittimungulum”
“Battle of Arakere”
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
1799 A.D
Tipu vs English(Lord Wellesley)
Tipu Sultan died
Empire given to Wodeyar dynasty under Subsidary alliance.
First Anglo-Maratha War
1775-82 A.D
Great Maratha Empire vs British(Hastings)
“Treaty of Surat (1775)”
“Treaty of Purandhar (1776)”
“Treaty of Wadagaon (1779)”
“Treaty of Salbai (1782)”
Second Anglo- Maratha War
1803-05 A.D
United Kingdom vs Maratha Empire
In support of Bajirao, English put down the Maratha insurgents
Sir Arthur Wellesley overthrew the Bhosale of Nagpur and Berar, Scindia of Gwalior
“Treaty of Bassein (1802)”
“Treaty of Deogaon (1803)”
“Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803)”
“Treaty of Rajghat (1806)”
Third Anglo- Maratha War
1817-19 A.D
Maratha Kingdom of Indore, Gwalior, Nagpur, Jhansi declined
British held control till the south of Sutlej
“Treaty of Poona (1817)”
“Treaty of Gwalior (1817)”
“Treaty of Mandsaur (1818)”
First Anglo- Afghan War
1839-42 A.D
Shah Shuja vs Lord Auckland
Tripartite treaty between Ranjit Singh, Shah Shuja, Lord Aukland
Second Anglo-Afghan War
1868-80 A.D
Sher Ali vs Lord Lytton
British won
“Treaty of Peshawar”
“Treaty of Gandamak”
Third Anglo-Afghan War
1919-21 A.D
Amanullah Khan vs British Indian forces
Afghan won
“Treaty of Rawalpindi”
First Anglo-Sikh War
1845-46 A.D
Sikh empire vs British
Sikh loses
“Treaty of Lahore”
Second Anglo-Sikh War
1848-49 A.D
Complete control of Punjab by British
Sikh kingdom under British
Battle of Kangla Tongbi(Battle of Lion Box)
1944 A.D
221 Advance Ordance Depot against Japanese forces
Japanese forces were pushed back into Burma
One of the most decisive and hardest battle of World War II
If you find our content helpful and interesting, please consider joining us on Telegram @affairsmastery to show your support. We would really appreciate it!
Skip to content 
