1838 in India

This list details events in the year 1838 in India. Major events include the Agra famine of 1837-38, and the founding of the Times of India on 3 November.

Incumbents

 * The Earl of Auckland, Governor-General, 1836–42.
 * Alexander Cunningham, aide-de-camp to Lord Auckland, 1836–1840
 * Sir John Keane, Lieutenant-General of the Bombay Army, 1834–1840
 * Zirat Prasad, regent of Bhaisunda, 1829–1840
 * Raghuji Bohonsle III, Maratha of Nagpur, 1818–1853
 * Gaya Prasad, Chaube of Taraon State, 1812–1840
 * Anand Rao Puar "Rao Sahib", Raja of Dewas State, 1817–1840
 * Dariao Singh, Rao of Paldeo, 1812–1840
 * Shiv Saran Singh, Rana of Baghal State, 1828-16 January 1840
 * Jashwant Singh, Raja of Nabha State, December 1783-21 May 1840
 * Kandhaji IV, Thakur Sahib of Palitana State, 1820–1840
 * Nonghanji IV, Thakur Sahib of Palitana State, 1824–1860
 * Henry Fane, Commander-in-Chief, India, 1835–1839
 * Chandrasinhji II Kesarisinhji, Maharana Raj Sahib of the Wankaner State, 1787–1839
 * Ranjit Singh, founder and Maharajah of the Sikh Empire, 1780–1839
 * Jashwant Singh, Rana of Alirajpur State, 1818-17 March 1862
 * Raja Zalim Sen, Raja of Mandi State, 1826–1839
 * Bhup Deo, Raja of Kanker State, 1818–1839

Events

 * First Anglo-Afghan War, 1837–1842
 * The Times of India is founded on 3 November
 * Jhalawar State is founded in the Hadoti region
 * Agra famine of 1837–38 kills 800,000 people in North-Western Provinces
 * Afghan Church founded in Mumbai
 * Basel Evangelical School is founded
 * Jessop & Company work on construction of the first iron bridge in British India, Loha-ka-Pul over River Gomti at Lucknow, 1812–1840

Law

 * Coasting Vessels Act

Births

 * Sultan Shah Jahan, Begum of Bhopal, Nawab of Bhopal, born on 29 July 1838
 * Jaswant Singh II, Maharaja of Jodhpur, born in Himatnagar
 * Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji, acharya from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism
 * Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Bengali writer, poet and journalist, born on 27 June in Naihati, Bengal
 * Hormusjee Naorojee Mody, Parsi-Hongkonger businessman, born on 12 October 1838 in Bombay
 * William Ellison Boggs, chancellor of the University of Georgia, born in Ahmedunggar on 12 May 1838
 * Valentine Cameron Prinsep, British Pre-Raphaelite painter, born on 14 February 1838 in Calcutta
 * Colonel Charles Swinhoe, English naturalist and lepidopterist who served in the British Army in India, born on 27 August 1838 in Calcutta

Deaths

 * Mubarak Ali Khan II, Nawab of Bengal, died on 3 October
 * Shahaji I, ruler of Kolhapur State, on 29 November