Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister of India in 1966. Riots between Hindus and Moslems break out in Ahmadabad in September 1969. The ruling party, the Congress Party splits in two, but Indira Gandhi's supporters in the Congress Party score a clear victory in elections in 1971.

A growing crisis in Pakistan is seen with the election of a separatist party in the province of East Pakistan. In April 1971, the province of East Pakistan declares itself as the independent state of Bangladesh. A civil war results which leads to Indian involvement in what is called the 3rd India-Pakistan War, lasting from December 3-17, 1971. Pakistan is defeated and the independence of Bangladesh is secured.

In May 1974, India joins the "nuclear club" with a test explosion of a bomb, and becomes the sixth nation to have nuclear weapons (the other five are the USA, the Soviet Union, Britain, China and France).

In 1975, Indira Gandhi proclaims a state of emergency in India to counter growing criticisms of her presidency. she imposes press censorship and some political parties are banned.

The Soviet Union occupies Afghanistan in 1978, leading to a long guerrilla war against a number of opposition groups. The main supporters of these groups were Pakistan and the United States. Afghanistan is still wracked by civil war even though Russian troops left the country beginning in 1988.

Ravi Shankar comes to world fame through his association with the pop music group The Beatles. Shankar is among the best known players of the sitar, a member of the stringed instrument family. This marks a general growth of awareness in the West of Indian civilization. There is rise in Europe and the United States of philosophies and religions from India and south Asia.

Modern Indian painting has not been left untouched by the trends of 20th century painting, with styles ranging from realism to abstract. However, the themes or topics are still those of traditional Indian art. A modern painting by Indian artist B. Prabha, entitled Santhal Girl.