Prime Ministers of India:
The Prime Ministers of India is the head of India’s executive department and also serves as the President of India’s Council of Ministers. Additionally, the Prime Minister acts as the top advisor to the government. To hold the position of Prime Minister (PM), one must be a member of the political party or coalition that holds a majority in the Lok Sabha, one of India’s two houses of parliament. The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of the States, is the other house. Currently, Narendra Damodardas Modi holds the position of Prime Minister of India.
All Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024.
| So/No. | Name | Birth - Death | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jawahar Lal Nehru | 1889–1964 | 15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964, 16 years, 286 days. |
| 02 | Gulzarilal Nanda | 1898–1998 | 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964 13 days. |
| 03 | Lal Bahadur Shastri | 1904–1966 | 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966 1 year, 216 days. |
| 04 | Gulzarilal Nanda | 1898-1998 | 11 January 1966, 24 January 1966 13 days. |
| 05 | Indira Gandhi | 1917–1984 | 24 January 1966 to 24 March 1977 11 years, 59 days. |
| 06 | Morarji Desai | 1896–1995 | 24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979 2 years, 126 days. |
| 07 | Charan Singh | 1902–1987 | 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980 170 days. |
| 08 | Indira Gandhi | 1917–1984 | 14 Jan.1980 to 31 Oct. 1984 4 years, 291 days. |
| 09 | Rajiv Gandhi | 1944–1991 | 31 Oct 1984 to 2 Dec 1989 5 years, 32 days. |
| 10 | V. P. Singh | 1931–2008 | 2 Dec 1989 to 10 Nov 1990 343 days. |
| 11 | Chandra Shekhar | 1927–2007 | 10 Nov 1990 to 21 June 1991 223 days. |
| 12 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | 1921–2004 | 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996, 4 years, 330 days. |
| 13 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | 1924-2018 | 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996 16 days. |
| 14 | H. D. Deve Gowda | Born 1933 | 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997 324 days. |
| 15 | Inder Kumar Gujral | 1919–2012 | 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998 332 days. |
| 16 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | 1924-2018 | 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004 6 years, 64 days. |
| 17 | Manmohan Singh | Born 1932 | 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014 10 years, 4 days. |
| 18 | Narendra Modi | Born 1950 | 2014-Present |
Prime Ministers of India
No. 01. Jawahar Lal Nehru 1889–1964.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and served from 1947 to 1964. He played a key role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
Nehru was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, India, and was educated in India and Britain. He returned to India in 1912 and became involved in the Indian nationalist movement. Nehru was a member of the Indian National Congress and was elected as its president in 1929.
After India gained independence in 1947, Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. He led the country through the difficult early years of independence, working to establish a strong, democratic government and promote economic growth and social development.
Nehru’s government implemented a range of policies aimed at modernizing India and reducing poverty, including land reforms, industrialization, and the expansion of education and healthcare. He was also a strong advocate for non-alignment in foreign policy and played a key role in the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Nehru remained Prime Minister until his death on May 27, 1964. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders in Indian history and is affectionately known as “Panditji” (scholar) by many Indians.
No. 02. Gulzarilal Nanda 1898–1998.
Gulzarilal Nanda was the interim Prime Minister of India two times, first in 1964, and then again in 1966. He was appointed as the interim Prime Minister after the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and again after the resignation of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966.
Nanda was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress and a close associate of both Nehru and Shastri. He served as a minister in Nehru’s cabinet and was known for his administrative abilities.
During his brief stints as Prime Minister, Nanda focused on maintaining stability and continuity in government policies. He oversaw the organization of the first Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Belgrade and played a key role in strengthening India’s relationships with other developing nations.
After his brief tenure as Prime Minister, Nanda continued to serve in various capacities in the Indian government, including as a member of the Rajya Sabha and as a Union Cabinet Minister. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1997.
No. 03. Lal Bahadur Shastri 1904–1966.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India. He served as the Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. Here are some of his notable achievements and events during his tenure:
- Shastri coined the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” (Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer) during the India-Pakistan War of 1965 to boost the morale of the soldiers and farmers.
- Shastri signed the Tashkent Declaration in January 1966 with Pakistan President Ayub Khan, which brought an end to the India-Pakistan war of 1965.
- Shastri promoted the White Revolution in India, which aimed to increase milk production and make India self-sufficient in milk. This initiative led to the establishment of the National Dairy Development Board.
- Shastri launched the Green Revolution in India, which aimed to increase agricultural productivity and food security by introducing high-yielding varieties of crops and modern farming techniques.
- Shastri established the National Book Trust and the Lalit Kala Academy to promote literature and the arts in India.
- Shastri also introduced the system of annual plans in the Indian economy.
Unfortunately, Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in 1966 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under mysterious circumstances.
No. 04. Gulzarilal Nanda 1898-1998.
Gulzarilal Nanda was a prominent Indian politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of India twice, both times on an interim basis. Here are some key facts about his tenure as Prime Minister:
- Gulzarilal Nanda was appointed as the interim Prime Minister of India twice – first in 1964, after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, and again in 1966, after the sudden demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- Nanda was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress party and had served as a minister in Nehru’s cabinet.
- During his first term as interim Prime Minister, Nanda oversaw the smooth transition of power from Nehru to his successor, Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- As Prime Minister, Nanda introduced several key economic policies, including the devaluation of the Indian rupee in 1966.
- During his second term as interim Prime Minister, Nanda focused on stabilizing the political situation in the country after Shastri’s sudden death.
- Nanda was also a well-respected economist and had served as the chairman of the National Planning Commission.
- After his tenure as interim Prime Minister, Nanda continued to serve in various government positions, including as a member of the Rajya Sabha and as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Gulzarilal Nanda was a highly respected politician and economist who played a significant role in shaping India’s economic policies during the 20th century.
No. 05. Indira Gandhi 1917–1984.
Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India and served in this role for three terms. Her terms were:
January 1966 to March 1977
January 1980 to October 1984
October 1984 to her assassination on October 31, 1984
During her time in office, Indira Gandhi implemented many policies that had a significant impact on India’s political and economic landscape. She was known for her strong leadership style and her efforts to modernize India.
Some of her notable achievements include the nationalization of banks, the Green Revolution which saw India become self-sufficient in food production, the successful conduct of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, and the founding of the Emergency period in 1975, which suspended many civil liberties and led to a period of authoritarian rule.
Despite her many accomplishments, Indira Gandhi was also criticized for her authoritarian tendencies and for her role in the Emergency period, which is widely regarded as a dark period in Indian history. Nonetheless, she remains one of the most important figures in Indian politics and is remembered as a powerful and influential leader.
No. 06. Morarji Desai 1896–1995.
Morarji Desai was the fourth Prime Minister of India, serving from 1977 to 1979. He was born on February 29, 1896, in Bhadeli, Gujarat, India, and died on April 10, 1995, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, at the age of 99.
Before becoming the Prime Minister, Desai served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister under the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, he later resigned from the Congress Party and joined the Janata Party, which was formed as an opposition to the Congress Party.
In the 1977 general election, the Janata Party won a landslide victory, and Desai was appointed as the Prime Minister. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he initiated several economic and administrative reforms, including the introduction of the Sixth Five-Year Plan, which aimed to promote self-reliance and reduce poverty in India.
Desai was also known for his austere lifestyle and his advocacy of traditional Indian values. He was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1991, in recognition of his contributions to the nation.
No.07. Charan Singh 1902–1987.
Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India, serving from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980. He was also the first person to become Prime Minister of India without being a member of the Indian National Congress party. Charan Singh was the leader of the Janata Party, which came to power in 1977 as a result of the Emergency period declared by the previous Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. However, his government lasted only a few months as he was unable to secure a majority in the parliament and was forced to resign. Despite his short tenure, Charan Singh is remembered for his advocacy of farmers’ rights and his efforts to improve the agricultural sector in India.
No. 08. Indira Gandhi 1917–1984.
Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 until 1977, and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, India.
Gandhi was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and she played an important role in Indian politics from a young age. She served as her father’s personal assistant during his tenure as Prime Minister, and she also served as a member of the Indian National Congress Party’s Working Committee.
In 1966, Gandhi was elected as the leader of the Indian National Congress Party, and she became the country’s first female Prime Minister. During her time in office, she implemented a number of policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic growth, including the nationalization of several major industries.
However, her second term was marred by controversy, including allegations of election fraud and the imposition of a state of emergency in 1975, which saw the suspension of civil liberties and the imprisonment of political opponents. Gandhi’s reputation was also tarnished by the forced sterilization of millions of men and women as part of a controversial population control program.
Despite these controversies, Gandhi remains a highly respected figure in Indian politics, and her legacy continues to influence the country’s political landscape to this day.
No. 09. Rajiv Gandhi 1944 –1991.
Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989. He was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay (now Mumbai) and was the elder son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and politician Feroze Gandhi.
Rajiv Gandhi entered politics after the assassination of his mother in 1984 and was appointed as the Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. During his tenure, he launched several initiatives such as the National Rural Employment Programme and the National Technology Mission.
However, his government was marred by controversies, including the Bhopal gas tragedy and the Bofors scandal. He also faced criticism for his handling of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the subsequent assassination of former Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) while he was campaigning for the Indian National Congress party in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
No. 10. V. P. Singh 1931–2008.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the 10th Prime Minister of India, serving three non-consecutive terms in office. He was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and passed away on August 16, 2018, in New Delhi at the age of 93.
Vajpayee was a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and played a key role in the growth of the party in the 1980s and 1990s. He served as Prime Minister of India for the first time from May 1996 to June 1996, for the second time from March 1998 to April 1999, and for the third time from October 1999 to May 2004.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Vajpayee implemented several important economic and social reforms, including the National Highway Development Project, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the Golden Quadrilateral project. He also played a key role in improving India’s relations with its neighbors, particularly with Pakistan, through his initiatives like the Lahore Declaration and the Agra Summit.
Vajpayee was a skilled orator and poet, and his speeches and poems are widely admired in India. He was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2015.
No. 17. Manmohan Singh Born 1932.
Manmohan Singh is an Indian economist, academic, and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Singh completed his education at Panjab University, Cambridge University, and Oxford University. He went on to become a professor of economics at various universities, including the University of Delhi and the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Singh’s career in politics began in 1991 when he was appointed as the Finance Minister of India. He is widely credited with introducing economic reforms that helped liberalize India’s economy and paved the way for its growth in the decades that followed. He later served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
As India’s Prime Minister, Singh continued to focus on economic reforms and played a key role in shaping India’s foreign policy. He also oversaw several important initiatives, such as the Right to Information Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which aimed to provide greater transparency and economic opportunities to India’s citizens.
Singh has received numerous honors and awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. He is widely respected for his economic expertise and his contributions to India’s development.
No. 18. Narendra Modi Born 1950.
Narendra Modi is the current and 14th Prime Minister of India, having assumed office on May 26, 2014. He was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, a small town in the state of Gujarat, India. Prior to his role as Prime Minister, Modi served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, during which time he was credited with bringing about significant economic and infrastructural development in the state.
Under Modi’s leadership, India has undertaken several ambitious initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India, aimed at transforming the country into a modern, developed economy. He has also focused on improving India’s relations with other countries, particularly those in Asia and Africa, and has been a strong advocate for global cooperation on issues such as climate change and terrorism.
Despite criticism from some quarters for his handling of issues such as religious tensions and civil liberties, Modi remains a popular leader in India, with a strong base of support among the country’s youth and middle class.
List of Prime Ministers of India GK FAQs.
Q1: Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
Ans1: Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India.
Q2: How many terms did Indira Gandhi serve as the Prime Minister of India?
Ans2: Indira Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India for a total of four terms.
Q3: Who is the only woman to have held the position of Prime Minister in India?
Ans3: Indira Gandhi is the only woman to have held the position of Prime Minister in India.
Q4: Which Prime Minister is known for initiating economic reforms in India in the early 1990s?
Ans4: P. V. Narasimha Rao is known for initiating economic reforms in India in the early 1990s.
Q5: Who was the Prime Minister of India during the 1971 Indo-Pak War?
Ans5: Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Q6: Who succeeded Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister of India in 2004?
Ans6: Manmohan Singh succeeded Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister of India in 2004.
Q7: Which Prime Minister is associated with the Green Revolution in India?
Ans7: Lal Bahadur Shastri is associated with the Green Revolution in India.
Q8: Who served as the Prime Minister of India before Narendra Modi?
Ans8: Manmohan Singh served as the Prime Minister of India before Narendra Modi.
Q9: Which Prime Minister is known for leading India during the period of emergency from 1975 to 1977?
Ans9: Indira Gandhi is known for leading India during the period of emergency from 1975 to 1977.
Q10: Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of India?
Ans10: Jawaharlal Nehru is the longest-serving Prime Minister of India, having served for 17 years from 1947 to 1964.
