In India prime minister is the head of government and the elected leader of the party who won the general election with required majority seats. The tenure of Indian prime ministers is 5 year. A prime minister is also a member of Indian Parliament. After the every general election, President of India appoint the prime minister of India who is the leader of majority seat winning political party . India has seen 15 Prime Minster of India since 1947 after Indian became independent. Mostly prime minister of India were elected from National Congress Party of India. A prime minister work with other central minister also called cabinet ministers of India.
List of all the Prime Ministers of India from 1947-2021 below:
| S.N. | Name | Party Name | Born-Dead | Term of office | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jawahar Lal Nehru | Indian National Congress | (1889–1964) | 15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964
16 years, 286 days |
Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first prime minister of India. He was also one of the longest-serving PM of India. |
| 2. | Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) | Indian National Congress | (1898-1998) | 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964,
13 days
|
Gulzarilal Nanda was the first acting PM of India. He served as a Acting PM of India twice after the death of current PM, first after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and second after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| 3. | Lal Bahadur Shastri | Indian National Congress | (1904–1966) | 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966
1 year, 216 days |
He was known for the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. |
| 4. | Gulzari Lal Nanda (Acting) | Indian National Congress | (1898-1998) | 11 January 1966 to 24 January 1966
13 days |
-Second time he served as Acting PM of India after sudden death of current PM Lal Bahadur Sahstri. |
| 5. | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | (1917–1984) | 24 January 1966 to 24 March 1977
11 years, 59 days |
Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India. She was known as ‘Iron Lady of India’ |
| 6. | Morarji Desai | Janata Party | (1896–1995) | 24 March 1977 to 28 July 1979
2 year, 126 days |
Morarji Desai was the oldest appointed PM of India. He was 81 Year old when he become the Prime Minister of India. He was also the first non congress PM of India.
|
| 7. | Charan Singh | Janata Party (Secular) | (1902–1987) | 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980
170 days |
Only PM who did not face the Parliament. Charan Singh only prime Minister of India who never visited parliament during his tenure. |
| 8. | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress
(I) |
(1917–1984) | 14 January 1980 to 31 October 1984
4 years, 291 days |
She is the first lady who served as PM for the second term. After Jawahar Lal Nehru she was the only PM of India who served twice. |
| 9. | Rajiv Gandhi | Indian National Congress
(I) |
(1944–1991) | 31 October 1984 to 2 December 1989
5 years, 32 days |
Rajiv Gandhi was the Youngest PM of India. He was only 40 Years old when he become prime minister of India. |
| 10. | V. P. Singh | Indian National Congress | (1931–2008) | 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990
343 days |
First PM of India to step down after a vote of no confidence in Parliament. |
| 11. | Chandra Shekhar | Indian National Congress | (1927–2007) | 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991
223 days |
He belongs to Samajwadi Janata Party. Second non congress PM of India. |
| 12. | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress
(I) |
(1921–2004) | 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996
4 years, 330 days |
First PM from south India . The full name of P.V. Narasimha Rao was Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao. |
| 13. | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party
(NDA) |
(1924- 2018) | 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996
16 days |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is also know as shortest tenure PM of India. He served only 13 Days in his first tenure. |
| 14. | H. D. Deve Gowda | Janata Dal (United Front) | (born 1933) | 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997
324 days |
He belongs to Janata Dal. His full name is Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda. |
| 15. | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (United Front) | (1919–2012) | 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998
332 days |
—— |
| 16. | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party
(NDA) |
(1924-2018) | 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004
6 years, 64 days |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the only first non-congress PM who completed a full term as PM. |
| 17. | Manmohan Singh | Indian National Congress
(I) |
(born 1932) | 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014
10 years, 4 days |
Manmohan sing was the first Sikh PM of India. He Served twice as Prime Minister of India. He is known for the father of the India’s economic reform programme. |
| 18. | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party
(NDA) |
(born 1950) | 26 May 2014 – Present | 4th Prime Minister of India who served two consecutive tenures. Narendra Modi is the current PM of India. |
FAQs About the Prime Minister of India
Q.1 Which prime minister of India has the longest tenure?
Answer: Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had served longest tenure as Prime Minister of India. He served continuously since 1947 to 1962 (16 years, 286 days) on the post of Prime Minister of India.
Q.2 Which prime minister has the shortest tenure?
Answer: In first tenure, Late prime minister Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resigned from the post in just 13 Days due to low majority.
Q.3 Which prime minister of India died outside of India?
Answer: Indian prime minister Shree Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966 (aged 61) at Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union (present-day Uzbekistan). He went for Tashkent Pact after Indian and Pakistan War of 1965.
Q.4 Which prime minister of India was a commercial pilot?
Answer: Rajiv Gandhi was a trained commercial pilot and before serving as a Prime minister of India he used to work as a pilot in Air India.
Q.5 which Indian prime minister was assassinated?
Answer: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 at her residence by her Sikh bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh for taking revenge of Operation Blue Star.
Q.6 Which prime minister of India were born in Pakistan?
Answer: Former prime minister of India Manmohan Singh were born in Pakistan’s Punjab prant.
Q.7 Which Indian prime minister is known as man of peace?
Answer: The second prime minister of India Shree Lal Bahadur Shastri is also know as by the nick name of “Man of Peace”.
Q.8 Which Indian prime minister was also a famous painter?
Answer: Satish Gujral was the only Indian Prime Minister who was also known for his paintings. He was one of the famous Painter of India.
Q.9 Who was the first prime minister of India who had to resign from the office?
Answer: The first non congress PM of India Morarji Desai Morarji Desai (From Janta Dal Party) had to resigned from the office of Indian Prime Minister after Chowdhary Charan Singh and Raj Narain pulled out of Janta party.
Q.10 Which Indian prime minister was also a poet?
Answer: The former Prime Minister of India Late Shree Atal Bihari Vajpaye (BJP) was also a popular poet.
Q: Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
A: The first Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from 1947 to 1964.
Q: How many female Prime Ministers has India had?
A: To date, India has had one female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, who served from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984.
Q: Has India ever had a non-Hindu Prime Minister?
A: Yes, India has had non-Hindu Prime Ministers. Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, is a Sikh.
Q: Can the Prime Minister of India serve multiple terms?
A: Yes, there is no limit to the number of terms a Prime Minister can serve in India. If a political party or coalition has a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and the Prime Minister enjoys the support of the majority, they can continue to hold office for multiple terms.
Q: How is the Prime Minister of India elected?
A: The Prime Minister of India is not directly elected by the citizens. Instead, the political party or coalition that secures a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) elects its leader as the Prime Minister. The President of India then appoints the selected individual as the Prime Minister.
Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister of India?
A: The Prime Minister of India is the head of government and holds significant power and responsibilities. They lead the Council of Ministers, make policy decisions, represent India on both national and international platforms, and provide overall governance and leadership for the country. The Prime Minister is also responsible for advising the President on matters related to the administration of the country.