Presidents of India: List from 1947 to 2020

The former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away at 84 on 31 August, 2020. He was an Indian politician and government official who served as President of India from 2012-2017. He assumed office as the 13th President of India on 25 July, 2012. He was a man of unparalleled experience in governance with the rare distinction of having served at different times as Foreign, Defence, Commerce and Finance Minister.

From 1969, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha five times and twice to the Lok Sabha from 2004. He was also the member of the highest policy-making body of the Party that is the Congress Working Committee for a period of 23 years. He has authored several books on the Indian Economy and on Nation Building. Several awards and honours conferred on him including the highest civilian Award of the country, Bharat Ratna (2019), the second-highest civilian award of the country, Padma Vibhushan (2008), Best Administrator in India Award (2011), etc.

The President of India is the head of the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country. Indian Constitution Article 52 says that there should be President of India and according to Article 53, all the executive powers of the Union shall be executed by him either directly or through officers subordinates to him. Current and 14th President of India is Ram Nath Kovind. On 25 July, 2017, he assumed office after winning the 2017 presidential election. He is a second Dalit to become a President of India. Check out the list of President of India from 1947 to 2020.

Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 1 September, 2020

List of President of India from 1947 to 2020

S. No.	Name	Tenure	Profiles
1	Shri Ram Nath Kovind	25th July 2017 – Incumbent	14th President of India and ex-Governor of Bihar
2	Pranab Mukherjee	25th July 2012- 25th July 2017	13th President of India and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress.
3	Pratibha Patil	25th July 2007- 25th July 2012	12th and the first woman to become as President of India
4	Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam	25th July 2002 – 25th July 2007	11th President of India and an extremely talented scientist who has worked in organizations like DRDO and ISRO.
5	Kocheril Raman Narayanan	25th July 1997- 25th July 2002	10th President of India and one of “the best diplomat of the country”.
6	Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918-1999)	25th July 1992 – 25th July 1997	9th President of India and a member of the Indian National Congress.
7	Ramaswamy Venkataraman	25th July 1987 – 25th July 1992	8th President of India and by profession an Indian lawyer and politician.
8	Giani Zail Singh	25th July 1982 – 25th July 1987	7th President of India and a member of the Indian National Congress.
9	Neelam Sanjiva Reddy	25th July 1977 – 25th July 1982	6th President of India and the only person to be elected as the President of India unopposed.
10	Basappa Danappa Jatti	11th February 1977 – 25th July 1977	He was sworn in as Acting President of India upon Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s death. Earlier, he was the Chief Minister for the State of Mysore.
11	Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed	24th August 1974 – 11th February 1977	5th President of India and an active member of the Indian National Congress.
12	Varahagiri Venkata Giri	24th August 1969 – 24th August 1974	4rth President of India belonging to a Telugu Brahmin family residing in Andhra Pradesh.
13	Mohammad Hidayatullah	20 July,1969 – 24th August,1969	He served as Acting President of India until the election of Varahagiri Venkata Giri as the President of India.
14	Varahagiri Venkata Giri	3 May, 1969 – 20 July, 1969	He was the first Acting President of India following the death of Dr. Zakir Hussain.
15	Dr. Zakir Hussain	13 May, 1967 – 3 May, 1969	3rd President of India and the country’s first Muslim President.
16	Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	13th May 1962 – 13th May 1967	2nd President of India. On 5^th September Teachers’ Day is celebrated to commemorate his birthday.
17	Dr. Rajendra Prasad	26th January 1950 – 13th May 1962	1st President of India and a member of the Indian National Congress. And first president, longest tenure (12 years).