2005 in India

Events

January 10 - The Delhi High Court says that a "high claim ratio" cannot be grounds to turn down medical insurance contract renewal requests. The court said that medical policies were liable to be renewed on the same terms and conditions as the old ones. However, insurance companies could load the premium to a limited extent if high payments were sought by a consumer.
January 17 - Suspended central excise commissioner P K Ajwani, facing charges of possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income, is released on bail.
January 23 - In line with the suggestions of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission asks the chief electoral officers of Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana to do videography of proceedings inside polling stations without violating the secrecy of vote.
January 29 - The BJP-led government in Goa headed by Manohar Parrikar is reduced to a minority after four BJP MLAs resign from the 40-member house. While the Congress has staked its claim to form the new government, Parrikar has said he will prove his majority.
January 29 - Former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu's helicopter is set on fire by suspected Maoists during his campaign tour of Gaya, Bihar. Naidu escapes unhurt.

March 10 - TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) slashes tariffs for international bandwidth prices by up to 70% with effect from April 1.

April 25 - The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in a landmark judgement rules that hospitals are duty bound to accept accident victims, that patients in critical condition and that doctors cannot first demand fees before agreeing to treat the patient and that a relative's consent is not necessary if there is no family member present at the time.

May 21 - International (ISD) calls to countries in the Gulf, the SAARC region, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand will cost Rs. 12 a minute, down by 33%.

30th August - Removal of License Requirements for Exports of Controlled Items to India, Federal Register.

September - A high-level U.S. defence team for the first time gives a classified detailed briefing to Indian officials on the patriot PAC-III anti-missile system, its capabilities against weapons of mass destruction and on the sensitive technologies of the F-18/A hornet and F-16 fighter jets.

January 3 - J.N. Dixit, 78, diplomat, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister
January 12 - Amrish Puri, 72, actor
January 20? - Parveen Babi, 49, actress
March 22 - Gemini Ganesan, 84, actor in South Indian films, father of actress Rekha
April 25 - Swami Ranganathananda, 96, President of Ramakrishna Math
May 3 - Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, 89, commander in the 1971 Indo-Pak war
May 21 - Subodh Mukherjee, 84, filmmaker
May 25 - Ismail Merchant, 68, India-born filmmaker
May 25 - Sunil Dutt, 75, actor
July 23 - C.R. Irani, 75, Journalist and a champion in Freedom of Press fight worldwide
October 31 - Amrita Pritam, 86, poetess and writer in Punjabi and Hindi
November 9 - K. R. Narayanan, 85, ex-president of India
December 12 - Ramanand Sagar, 87, filmmaker, producer and director of television serials