Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2023

Prime Ministers of India List

In India, the head of the state is the President, but their powers is mostly nominal and ceremonial. In India, the Prime Minister is the head of the government and is chosen by the President of India after the general elections. If the candidate nominated by a political party wins the general elections and gathers the most votes, that candidate becomes the Prime Minister of India.

All Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2023

Jawahar Lal Nehru, was the first Prime Minister of India in 1947. Presently, Narendra Damodardas Modi holds the position of Prime Minister of India. Refer to the table below for a chronological list of Prime Ministers of India from 1947 to 2023.

Prime Minister of India Eligibility

To be eligible to become the Prime Minister of India, a person needs to meet certain criteria :-

• Citizen of India.
• A member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
• If they belong to the Rajya Sabha, they should be at least 30 years old, and if they are part of the Lok Sabha, they can be 25 years of age.

Appointment of Prime Minister of India

• The Prime Minister is appointed by the President under Article 75.
• Leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha is appointed as the Prime Minister.
• When no political party holds a clear majority, then the President may exercise his personal discretion in the appointment of the Prime Minister.

Power and Functions of Prime Minister

As Head of Council of Ministers:

• Power to distribute portfolios among ministers, reshuffle portfolios.
• Coordination of Cabinet activities.
• Sets agenda of the Cabinet.
• Knows important activities of all ministries.
• He can ask a minister to resign.
• He can bring about the collapse of the CoM by resigning from the office.

In Relation to the President:

• Principal channel of communication between the President and the CoM.
• Advises the President with respect to appointment of important officials.
• Advises the President with respect to summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the Parliament.
• He can recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President at any time.

Parliamentary Role:

• He is the leader of the house.
• Plays an important role in legislative business : No government bill can be introduced without the consent of the PM.
• Plays Important role in deciding the agenda of the house.
• Plays a crucial role towards the opposition (in addressing their concerns).

Role in International affairs:

• PM represents India in important international forums and platforms.
• Meeting with counterparts from other countries. Making speeches to diaspora etc.

Other Powers and Functions of PM:

• He is the chairman of NITI Aayog, National Integration Council, Interstate Council, National Water Resources Council and some other bodies.
• Leads his political party in elections and public rallies.
• In coalition governments, this role becomes much more difficult to perform.

Relationship between the Prime Minister and the President of India

Within the Indian Constitution, there are a few articles that deal with the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President. These articles are:

• Article 74
• Article 75
• Article 78

Prime Minister of India Salary

The annual salary of the Prime Minister of India is 19,20,000 INR. So the monthly salary of Prime Minister of India will be 1,60,000 INR. The salary structure comprises a basic pay of Rs. 50,000, along with sumptuary and MP allowances of Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 3,000, respectively. Notably, there is a 30% reduction from the basic salary every month. This reduced amount is redirected to consolidated funds such as the Provident Fund (PF), pension, and insurance. This breakdown offers a comprehensive understanding of the Prime Minister’s salary in India.

Prime Ministers of India UPSC

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