Answered on09/09/26
Delhi became the capital of India in 1911, when the British government announced the shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
The formal transfer took place in 1912.
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Rashmi Choudhary· 5 years ago
Simplifying learning through practical guides, educational resources, and easy-to-understand explanations.In which year Delhi became the capital of India?
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Updated on09/09/26
Delhi's status as India's capital actually happened in two distinct stages, and most people only remember one of them. The announcement came in 1911, but the city wasn't formally inaugurated as the capital until 1931, a full twenty years later.
The Two Key Dates
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Announcement of the shift from Calcutta to Delhi | December 12, 1911 |
New Delhi formally inaugurated as the capital | 1931 |
The 1911 Announcement
King George V announced the decision to move the capital during the Delhi Durbar, a grand ceremony held to mark his coronation as Emperor of India. At the time, Calcutta had served as the capital of British India since 1772, but the British administration decided a change made sense for several practical reasons.
Political unrest in Calcutta following the Partition of Bengal in 1905 had made the city increasingly difficult to govern from
Delhi's central location offered easier access across the subcontinent compared to Calcutta's position on the eastern coast
The city carried centuries of imperial legacy, having served as the seat of power for empires including the Mughals long before British rule
Building the New Capital
Architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker were commissioned to design the new capital, choosing open plains south of the old walled city of Shahjahanabad as the site. Construction faced real delays, particularly funding shortages and labor shortfalls during World War I, which slowed progress considerably before regaining momentum afterward.
Key structures designed during this period include what is now Rashtrapati Bhavan, originally built as the Viceroy's House
The construction contract itself was awarded to Sobha Singh
The final ceremonial unveiling included the All-India War Memorial, known today as India Gate
The 1931 Inauguration
New Delhi was formally inaugurated as the capital in 1931, by Lord Irwin, then Viceroy of India. Despite two decades of planning and an enormous construction effort, the ceremony reportedly drew limited public enthusiasm, since India's independence movement was already gaining significant momentum by that point.
What Happened After Independence
When India gained independence in 1947, Delhi continued serving as the capital of the newly sovereign nation rather than transitioning to a different city. It remains India's capital today, housing Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the President's official residence.
Sources:
Live History India, "When New Delhi Became India's Capital": https://www.livehistoryindia.com/story/eras/new-delhi
Deccan Herald, "It's 100 Years: Delhi Regained": https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india%2Fits-100-years-delhi-regained-2461090
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Updated on12/22/25
- King George V of Britain command that the capital of British India would be moved from Kolkata to Delhi in December 1911.The name 'New Delhi' was given in 1927 and the new capital was initiate on 13 February 1931.Delhi is famous for the Garden of Five senses, the Lodi Gardens, the Buddha Jayanti Park and Nehru Park.
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