List of Prime Ministers of India From 1947 to 2023: This article delivers a comprehensive overview of the List of Prime Ministers of India and their contributions throughout the country’s history. Lok Sabha elections are conducted every five years in India to elect the Prime Minister, who serves as the leader of the nation. Currently, the esteemed position is held by Narendra Modi, who is the 18th Prime Minister of India. However, the first Prime Minister of India was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964.
In 72 years of independence, India has got its 19 Prime Ministers. The list of Prime Ministers of India along with the period they served in office, is given in the table below:
List of Prime Ministers of India From 1947 to 2023 | ||||
S.No. | Names | Birth-Death | Tenure | Interesting Facts |
1 | Jawahar Lal Nehru | (1889–1964) | 15 August 1947-27 May 1964 16 years, 286 days. | Prime Minister of independent India for the first and longest period. First, the in-office death of a prime minister. |
2 | Gulzarilal Nanda | (1898–1998) | 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964 13 days. | After Nehru’s untimely death, the nation’s first acting prime minister assumed control. |
3 | Lal Bahadur Shastri | (1904–1966) | 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966 1 year, 216 days. | During the Indo-Pak war in 1965, he was the originator of the phrase “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.” |
4 | Gulzarilal Nanda | (1898-1998) | 11 January 1966, 24 January 1966 13 days. | The only man to have twice served as acting prime minister of India. |
5 | Indira Gandhi | (1917–1984) | 24 January 1966 to 24 March 1977 11 years, 59 days. | The Indian prime minister’s spouse, who took the oath of office |
6 | Morarji Desai | (1896–1995) | 24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979 2 years, 126 days. | First PM in 1977 following the emergency. At 81 years old, India’s oldest prime minister took the oath of office before resigning. His birthday was celebrated once every four years because he was born on February 29. |
7 | Charan Singh | (1902–1987) | 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980 170 days. | Only PM who has never addressed the legislature |
8 | Indira Gandhi | (1917–1984) | 14 Jan.1980 to 31 Oct. 1984 4 years, 291 days. | Following the disaster in 1977, the first PM returned to power in 1980. Like her father, she also passed away while in office. |
9 | Rajiv Gandhi | (1944–1991) | 31 Oct 1984 to 2 Dec 1989 5 years, 32 days. | At the age of 40, he became India’s youngest prime minister. |
10 | V. P. Singh | (1931–2008) | 2 Dec 1989 to 10 Nov 1990 343 days. | First prime minister to leave following a no-confidence vote |
11 | Chandra Shekhar | (1927–2007) | 10 Nov 1990 to 21 June 1991 223 days. | He has never held a position of minister in any ministry. |
12 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | (1921–2004) | 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996, 4 years, 330 days. | He was from Andhra Pradesh and served as the nation’s first South Indian prime minister. |
13 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (1924-2018) | 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996 16 days. | The shortest tenure of any Indian PM is 16 days as PM. |
14 | H. D. Deve Gowda | (born 1933) | 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997 324 days. | He succeeded as South India’s second prime minister. He is a Karnataka native. But he didn’t work there for more than a year. |
15 | Inder Kumar Gujral | (1919–2012) | 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998 332 days. | After Indra Gandhi and Deve Gowda, the third Prime Minister came from the Upper House. |
16 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (born 1924-2018) | 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004 6 years, 64 days. | First non-Congress Prime Minister of independent India to serve out his full tenure |
17 | Manmohan Singh | (born 1932) | 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014 10 years, 4 days. | First PM of India from a minority community. |
18 | Narendra Modi | (born 1950) | 2014-Present | Three PMs served two terms or more prior to Modi. In 2019, he too was added to this coveted list. |
List of Cabinate Ministers of India
India has seen a succession of remarkable leaders who have held the prestigious position of Prime Minister. These individuals have played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the nation and have been instrumental in navigating India through its political, economic, and social challenges. From Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, to the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, each leader has brought their unique vision and leadership style to the forefront.
The Prime Ministers of India have played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s destiny and have left a lasting impact on its political, economic, and social fabric. From Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, who laid the foundation of India’s democracy and initiated its economic planning, to leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, each Prime Minister has contributed to the country’s progress in their unique way. Whether
Longest-serving Prime Minister of India | Jawaharlal Nehru (1947 – 1964) |
India’s second-longest-serving Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
Two times as acting Prime Minister | Gulzari Lal Nanda |
The Bharat Ratna was awarded to the first Female Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
First Prime Minister of India who was not a member of the Congress | Morarji Desai |
The highest civilian honor in Pakistan was given to the Indian Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
India’s Youngest Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
First South Indian Prime Minister | P.V. Narasimha Rao |
The first Prime Minister of India who was a member of the Rajya Sabha | Indira Gandhi |
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The first Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru. He served as the Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964.
The longest-serving Prime Minister of India is Jawaharlal Nehru. He held the position for a total of 17 years until his death in 1964.
The Prime Minister of India is not directly elected by the public. Instead, they are elected by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling party or coalition through an internal election.
Yes, a Prime Minister can be removed from office through a vote of no-confidence in the Parliament. If the majority of MPs vote against the Prime Minister, they have to resign from their position.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is the central administrative office that supports the Prime Minister in their duties. It provides assistance in policy formulation, decision-making, and coordination between various government departments.
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