
The Chief Executive of the Government of India is the Prime Minister, who holds a prominent position in the Indian political system. Although the President of India is the constitutional head of state and holds a nominal and ceremonial role, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers hold the actual executive power.The Prime Minister is elected as the leader of the party that holds a majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, which is the primary legislative body in the Republic of India.
The first Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from 1947 until his death in 1964. Nehru is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Indian history, having played a key role in the struggle for Indian independence and in shaping the country’s political and economic systems in the years that followed.
Other notable Prime Ministers of India include Indira Gandhi, who was the first female Prime Minister of India and served for three non-consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She is credited with bringing about significant social and economic changes in India during her tenure.
Another significant Prime Minister of India was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who served three terms as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2004. During his tenure, he introduced several economic and political reforms that helped to modernize India and establish it as a major global player.
The current Prime Minister of India is Narendra Modi, who has been in office since 2014. Modi has been credited with several initiatives, including the “Make in India” campaign aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing, and the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” campaign aimed at promoting cleanliness and sanitation in the country.
Prime Minister of India List From 1947 to 2023
S.No. | Name | Birth-Death | Term of office | Interesting Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Jawahar Lal Nehru | (1889–1964) | 15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964 | The first prime minister of India and the longest-serving PM of India, the first to die in office. |
2. | Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) | (1898-1998) | 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964 | First acting PM of India |
3. | Lal Bahadur Shastri | (1904–1966) | 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966 | He has given the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ during the Indo-Pak war of 1965 |
4. | Gulzari Lal Nanda (Acting) | (1898-1998) | 11 January 1966 to 24 January 1966 | – |
5. | Indira Gandhi | (1917–1984) | 24 January 1966 to 24 March 1977 | First female Prime Minister of India |
6. | Morarji Desai | (1896–1995) | 24 March 1977 to 28 July 1979 | Oldest to become PM (81 years old) and first to resign from office |
7. | Charan Singh | (1902–1987) | 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980 | Only PM who did not face the Parliament |
8. | Indira Gandhi | (1917–1984) | 14 January 1980 to 31 October 1984 | The first lady who served as PM for the second term |
9. | Rajiv Gandhi | (1944–1991) | 31 October 1984 to 2 December 1989 | Youngest to become PM (40 years old) |
10. | V. P. Singh | (1931–2008) | 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990 | First PM to step down after a vote of no confidence |
11. | Chandra Shekhar | (1927–2007) | 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991 | He belongs to Samajwadi Janata Party |
12. | P. V. Narasimha Rao | (1921–2004) | 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996 | First PM from south India |
13. | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (1924- 2018) | 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996 | PM for shortest tenure |
14. | H. D. Deve Gowda | (born 1933) | 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997 | He belongs to Janata Dal |
15. | Inder Kumar Gujral | (1919–2012) | 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998 | – |
16. | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (1924-2018) | 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004 | The first non-Congress PM who completed a full term as PM |
17. | Manmohan Singh | (born 1932) | 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014 | First Sikh PM |
18. | Narendra Modi | (born 1950) | 26 May 2014 – Present | 4th Prime Minister of India who served two consecutive tenures |
Prime Minister of India List With Photo
Check out the list of Prime Ministers of India since Independence at below link.
https://archivepmo.nic.in