''''1991: Key Events'''

* Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by suspected LTTE terrorists. A rising foreign debt and other dysfunctions inaugurate a policy of economic reform encouraging foreign investment. 

* The USSR disintegrates. 

* India conducts the last census of the century, announcing a popula- tion of 844 million. 

* The Doordarshan Director General, Shiv Sharma survives an assassination attempt by suspected Punjab terrorists. 

* Punjab is declared a ‘disturbed area’, followed by Assam. 

* The 10th Lok Sabha elections take place with 200 million registered voters. The Congress emerges as the largest party and P.V. Narasimha Rao is sworn in as Prime Minister. 

* The first-ever BJP ministry takes over in U.P and acquires the disputed Ayodhya land. 

* Parliament passes the notorious Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) (TADA) Bill.

* The Parliamentary ‘Question Hour’ is telecast for the first time.