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Prime Ministers of India From 1947 to 2024, Check Complete List

Madhavi Gaur June 10, 2024 03:55 55456 0

Prime Ministers of India from 1947 to 2024 are very important for the UPSC candidates. Check the complete Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024.

Prime Ministers of India From 1947 to 2024, Check Complete List

Prime Ministers of India: The number of Prime Ministers of India from 1947 to 2024 have been 14. The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, assumed office in 1947. The current Prime Minister of India is Shri Narendra Modi. 

In the general elections of 2024, Shri Narendra Modi has won, making him one of the two prime ministers of India who has been elected for the third consecutive term. 

Let us have a look at the complete Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024. The comprehensive Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024, with their tenures in the office is also given here.

Prime Ministers of India List

Prime Ministers of India holds the position of the head of government and is appointed by the President of India after the general elections. When the nominated candidate of a political party emerges as the winner in the general elections, the candidate who secures the majority of votes is designated as the Prime Minister of India.

Prime Ministers of India List

Prime Ministers of India List

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A comprehensive summary of India’s Prime Ministers, detailing their terms, durations, and notable achievements or distinctions is given in below table:

N. PM Name Born-Dead Term of Office Term of Office in Years and Days Remark
1. Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) 15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964 16 years, 286 days First Prime Minister of India and the longest-serving PM.
2. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) (1898-1998) 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964 13 days First acting Prime Minister of India.
3. Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904–1966) 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966 1 year, 216 days Third Prime Minister, known for the Green and White Revolutions and the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’.
4. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) (1898-1998) 11 January 1966 to 24 January 1966 13 days Served two brief terms as acting Prime Minister; awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997.
5. Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) 24 January 1966 to 24 March 1977 11 years, 59 days First female Prime Minister of India.
6. Morarji Desai (1896–1995) 24 March 1977 to 28 July 1979 2 years, 126 days Passed away at age 99, becoming the world’s oldest former head of government.
7. Charan Singh (1902–1987) 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980 170 days Only Prime Minister who did not face Parliament.
8. Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) 14 January 1980 to 31 October 1984 4 years, 291 days First lady to serve two terms as Prime Minister.
9. Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991) 31 October 1984 to 2 December 1989 5 years, 32 days Youngest Prime Minister at 40 years old.
10. V. P. Singh (1931–2008) 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990 343 days First Prime Minister to resign after a vote of no confidence.
11. Chandra Shekhar (1927–2007) 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991 223 days Member of the Samajwadi Janata Party.
12. P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996 4 years, 330 days First Prime Minister from South India.
13. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924-2018) 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996 16 days Served the shortest tenure as Prime Minister.
14. H. D. Deve Gowda (born 1933) 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997 324 days Focused on farmers and initiated the Delhi Metro project; known as the ‘son of the soil’.
15. Inder Kumar Gujral (1919–2012) 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998 332 days Served less than a year as Prime Minister after various ministerial roles.
16. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924-2018) 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004 6 years, 64 days First non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term.
17. Manmohan Singh (born 1932) 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014 10 years, 4 days First Sikh Prime Minister; passed the Right to Information Act and NREGA.
18. Narendra Modi (born 1950) 26 May 2014 to 30 May 2019 5 years, 4 days Fourth Prime Minister to serve three consecutive terms.
19. Narendra Modi (born 1950) 30 May 2019 to 7 June 2024 5 years, 9 days First non-Congress Prime Minister with three consecutive terms.
20. Narendra Modi (born 1950) 9 June 2024 – Incumbent Incumbent Served as Chief Minister of Gujarat for 14 years, praised for economic growth and infrastructure.

Appointment of Prime Ministers of India

The appointment is made by the President of India and is granted to the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. As per Article 75 of the Constitution of India, the President appoints the Prime Minister, who is expected to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.

Narendra Modi currently serves as the 14th Prime Minister of India. He has now become the second Prime Minister in Indian history to be elected in three consecutive terms, marking a historic achievement as the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete two consecutive terms.

Current PM Narendra Modi – Third Consecutive Term

The Current Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has been elected for this third consecutive term in the General Elections 2024. He has now become only the second Prime Minister after Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, to be elected for a third consecutive term.

Prime Ministers in India serve for a maximum of 5 years. Shri Narendra Modi was first elected as the Prime Minister of India in 2014. He has since won the 2019 elections as well as the most recent 2024 General Elections.

Prime Minister during Oath Ceremony

First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, representing the Indian National Congress, became the first Prime Minister of India on 15th August 1947, following India’s independence. He assumed office on the same day India gained freedom and served as Prime Minister until 15th April 1952.

His appointment was made by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, marking the beginning of India’s democratic journey under its first Prime Minister.

First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru

First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru

Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024

In India, the political system operates under a parliamentary model, where the Prime Minister assumes the dual responsibilities of being the head of the executive branch and the presiding authority. The Lok Sabha, as the primary legislative body of the Republic of India, functions as the lower house of the Indian Parliament. 

Typically, the Prime Minister is the leader of the political party or coalition that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha. As a result, the Lok Sabha serves as a constant mechanism for holding the Prime Minister accountable for their actions and decisions.

The President of India appoints the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister must maintain the support of the majority of Lok Sabha members to continue in office. Lok Sabha members are directly elected every five years.

The Prime Minister can be a member of either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha, which are the two houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister wields complete authority over the appointment, removal, and allocation of positions within the Union Council of Ministers and the government.

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A Comprehensive Overview of India’s Prime Ministers (1947-2024)

Let us have a look at a brief introduction of all the Prime Ministers of India from 1947 to 2024:

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru: Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and the longest-serving one. He held the position for 18 years, starting as the interim Prime Minister and later becoming the Prime Minister of the Republic of India in 1950.
  2. Gulzarilal Nanda: Gulzarilal Nanda was the first acting Prime Minister of India. He served for only 13 days on two occasions, following the deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966.
  3. Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India. He is remembered for giving the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” during the Indo-Pak war of 1965.
  4. Indira Gandhi: Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India and the first female Prime Minister of the country. She served from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
  5. Morarji Desai: Morarji Desai was the fourth Prime Minister of India, leading the government formed by the Janata Party from 1977 to 1979.
  6. Charan Singh: Charan Singh served as the Prime Minister for just 23 days in 1979 with outside support from the Congress party. He resigned after losing support.
  7. Rajiv Gandhi: Rajiv Gandhi became the sixth Prime Minister of India in 1984 after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi. He was the youngest Indian Prime Minister at the age of 40.
  8. V.P. Singh: Vishwanath Pratap Singh, also known as V.P. Singh, served as the seventh Prime Minister of India from 1989 to 1990.
  9. Chandra Shekhar: Chandra Shekhar was the eighth Prime Minister of India, heading a minority government with outside support from the Indian National Congress from 1990 to 1991.
  10. P.V. Narasimha Rao: P.V. Narasimha Rao was the ninth Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. He is known for initiating economic reforms in the country.
  11. Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as the tenth Prime Minister of India in three non-consecutive terms, first for 13 days in 1996, then from 1998 to 1999, and finally from 1999 to 2004.
  12. I.K. Gujral: I.K. Gujral was the twelfth Prime Minister of India, serving from April 1997 to March 1998.
  13. Manmohan Singh: Manmohan Singh served as the thirteenth Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was the first Sikh Prime Minister of India.
  14. Narendra Modi: Narendra Modi is the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since May 2014. He is the only Prime Minister born after India’s independence. He has been elected to serve his consecutive third term, only the one the two Prime Ministers of India to achieve that feat.

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Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024 with Their Tenure

Below is a table listing all the Prime Ministers of India from 1947 to 2024, along with a brief explanation of each Prime Minister’s tenure and notable contributions:

Prime Ministers of India List from 1947 to 2024

Prime Ministers of India Tenure Notable Contributions
Jawaharlal Nehru 1947-1964 India’s first Prime Minister, he played a key role in India’s independence movement and implemented socialist policies to promote economic development.
Gulzarilal Nanda 1964, 1966 Served as interim Prime Minister after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Lal Bahadur Shastri 1964-1966 Promoted the Green Revolution in agriculture and successfully led India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
Indira Gandhi 1966-1977, 1980-1984 The first female Prime Minister of India; implemented various policies including nationalisation of banks and the Green Revolution, but also faced controversies and declared Emergency in 1975.
Morarji Desai 1977-1979 Led the Janata Party government after the end of the Emergency; known for his efforts in economic reforms and improving relations with neighbouring countries.
Charan Singh 1979-1980 Served as interim Prime Minister for a short period.
Rajiv Gandhi 1984-1989 Implemented economic and technological reforms and played a crucial role in modernising India’s industries and telecommunications.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh 1989-1990 Implemented affirmative action policies for marginalised communities and introduced the Mandal Commission recommendations.
Chandra Shekhar 1990-1991 Served as Prime Minister of an interim government for a brief period.
P.V. Narasimha Rao 1991-1996 Initiated economic reforms and liberalisation policies, which transformed India’s economy and integrated it into the global market.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee 1996, 1998-2004 Led the first non-Congress government to complete a full term; known for his contributions to infrastructure development and foreign policy, including the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
H.D. Deve Gowda 1996-1997 Served as Prime Minister for a short period.
Inder Kumar Gujral 1997-1998 Focused on improving India’s relations with neighbouring countries and implemented foreign policy initiatives like the Gujral Doctrine.
Manmohan Singh 2004-2014 Known for his role in implementing economic reforms and leading India through a period of high economic growth.
Narendra Modi 2014-present Current Prime Minister; known for his ambitious initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, as well as foreign policy initiatives and economic reforms.

Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister of India

The Prime Minister of India holds the position as the head of the Indian government and plays a crucial role in serving the country. Some of the key powers and functions of the Prime Minister are as follows:

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  1. Chairman of the Cabinet: The Prime Minister serves as the Chairman of the Cabinet and presides over the meetings of the cabinet, where important decisions and policies are discussed and formulated.
  2. Representation at International Conferences: The Prime Minister represents the nation while attending high-level international conferences, fostering diplomatic relations, and promoting India’s interests on the global stage.
  3. Ministerial Appointments: The Prime Minister proposes the names of members from their political party to the President for appointment as ministers in the government.
  4. Control over Cabinet Ministers: The Prime Minister holds direct control and authority over the functioning of the cabinet ministers, ensuring effective governance and coordination among various government departments.

Jawaharlal Nehru Biography, Education, Wife, Books, Death, History

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Prime Ministers of India FAQs

Since gaining independence in 1947, India has had a total of 19 Prime Ministers as of 2022.

Shri Narendra Modi held the position of Prime Minister of India in 2021.

The first Prime Minister of India was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He held the position from 1947 to 1964.

India has had 15 Prime Ministers from 1947 to 2023.

The first female Prime Minister of India was Indira Gandhi. She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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