The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami devastated Indian coastlines and islands , killing an estimated 18,000 and displacing around 650,000 . The tsunami was caused by a powerful undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast . Natural disasters such as the Mumbai floods ( killing more than 1,000 ) and Kashmir earthquake ( killing 79,000 ) hit the subcontinent in the next year . In February 2006 , the United Progressive Alliance government launched India 's largest-ever rural jobs scheme , aimed at lifting around 60 million families out of poverty
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
History of the Republic of India