''''1996: Key Events'''

* The Lok Sabha election takes place, with the BJP emerging as India’s single largest party, but short of a majority. 

* A.B. Vajpayee’s government collapses after 13 days, and is replaced by a multi-party coalition under H.D. Deve Gowda. 

* The Michael Jackson show is organised in Bombay by Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray. 

* In a year dominated by political corruption, the ‘Jain Hawala’ case involves alleged kickbacks by a businessman to several Cabinet Ministers and other noted politicians, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao is indicted in the ‘St Kitts forgery’ case and former telecommuni- cations minister Sukh Ram’s house is raided by the CBI which finds Rs 3 crore in cash and jewellery. 

* The Port Blair station of Doordarshan is inaugurated.

* [[Shyam Benegal]]’s Making of the Mahatma is released in India and South Africa. 

* [[N.T. Rama Rao]] dies.