Great Bengal Famine 1769–70
Affected Bihar, Northern and Central Bengal and killed 10 million. A partial shortfall in crops in 1768 was followed in late 1769 by more severe conditions. By September 1769 there was a severe drought. By 1770, there was starvation, and by mid-1770 deaths from starvation were occurring. By the end of 1770, good rainfall resulted in a good harvest and the famine abated.
Doji Bara famine or Skull famine 1791–92
Affected Hyderabad, Southern Maratha country, Deccan, Gujarat, and Marwar. The famine was brought on by a major El Niño event lasting from 1789 to 1795, which caused prolonged droughts. It is believed that 11 million people perished during 1788–94.
Orissa famine of 1866
Affected Orissa and Bihar; Bellary and Ganjam districts of Madras from 1865–67. Killed 1 million people.
Rajputana famine of 1869
Affected Ajmer, Western Agra, Eastern Punjab and Rajputana. Lasted from 1868–70 and killed around 1.5 million.
Southern India famine of 1876–78
Affected the British domains of Madras and Bombay and the princely states of Mysore and Hyderabad. 5.5 million perished in British territory. Total famine mortality estimates vary from 6.1 to 10.3 million.
Indian famine of 1896–97
Affected Madras, Bombay Deccan, Bengal, United Provinces, Central Provinces and princely states of northern and eastern Rajputana, parts of Central India and Hyderabad. Killed 5 million in British territory.
Bengal famine of 1943-44
Estimates are that between 1.5 and 4 million people died of starvation, malnutrition and disease. The food situation in India was tight from the beginning of the Second World War with a series of crop failures and localised famines which were dealt with successfully under the Indian Famine Codes. The proximate cause of the famine was a reduction in supply with some increase in demand.
Later famine threats of 1984, 1988 and 1998 were successfully contained by the Indian government.