Events in the year 1916 in India.

• Emperor of India – George V
• Viceroy of India – Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst
• Viceroy of India – Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford (from 4 April)

• National income - ₹17,087 million
• Indian National Congress Party hammer out an alliance – the Lucknow Pact – with All-India Muslim League

• Indian Medical Degrees Act
• Hindu Disposition of Property Act^[1]

• 13 February – Jagjit Singh Aurora, military commander (died 2005).
• 21 March – Bismillah Khan, shehnai musician and Bharat Ratna winner (died 2006).
• 23 March – Harkishan Singh Surjeet, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (died 2008).
• 8 May – Chinmayananda, spiritual leader (died 1993).
• 16 September – M. S. Subbulakshmi, Carnatic singer (died 2004).
• 25 September – Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, RSS (died 1968)
• 12 December - Maharaj Charan Singh, Fourth Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (died 1 June 1990).

• Kanan Devi, actress and singer (died 1992).