“First in India” refers to pioneering achievements that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s history and progress. These milestones span various fields, showcasing the resilience, innovation, and determination of the Indian people.
From political leaders to scientists, athletes to artists, India’s journey is peppered with remarkable “firsts.” Dr. Rajendra Prasad held the honor of being the first President of independent India, while Jawaharlal Nehru guided the nation as its inaugural Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi, breaking gender barriers, became the first woman Prime Minister, symbolizing a new era of empowerment.
India’s achievements extend beyond politics. Rabindranath Tagore emerged as the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, enriching the world with his poetic brilliance. In the realm of space exploration, Rakesh Sharma etched his name as the first Indian to venture beyond Earth’s boundaries.
Spectacular accomplishments span across sports too. Abhinav Bindra clinched India’s maiden individual Olympic gold, while Karnam Malleswari secured the first Olympic medal by an Indian woman. Tenzing Norgay, alongside Sir Edmund Hillary, scaled Mount Everest, elevating India’s presence on the world stage.
Art and culture flourished with India’s first Academy Award-winning film “Gandhi.” Bhanu Athaiya’s achievement celebrated Indian cinematic excellence globally. In literature, Arundhati Roy marked the nation’s entry into the prestigious Booker Prize domain.
These “firsts” are more than mere milestones; they are a testament to the nation’s ceaseless pursuit of excellence. Each achievement, born of dedication and perseverance, inspires generations to rise above challenges and reach new heights. “First in India” narratives remind us that potential knows no bounds, sparking a perpetual flame of progress across the diverse tapestry of Indian society.
Here are 50 “First in India” general knowledge questions along with their answers:
1. Who was the first President of India?
Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
2. Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Indira Gandhi.
4. Who was the first woman President of India?
Answer: Pratibha Patil.
5. Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore (for Literature, in 1913).
6. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Abhinav Bindra (shooting, 2008 Beijing Olympics).
7. Which was the first Indian movie to win an Oscar?
Answer: “Gandhi” (for Best Costume Design, Bhanu Athaiya).
8. Who was the first Indian to go into space?
Answer: Rakesh Sharma.
9. Which was the first satellite launched by India?
Answer: Aryabhata.
10. Who was the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title?
Answer: Sania Mirza (in doubles at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships).
11. Which was the first newspaper in India?
Answer: “The Bengal Gazette” or “Calcutta General Advertiser.”
12. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic silver medal?
Answer: P. V. Sindhu (badminton, 2016 Rio Olympics).
13. Who was the first Chief Justice of India?
Answer: Harilal Jekisundas Kania.
14. Who was the first Indian to win the Booker Prize?
Answer: Arundhati Roy (for “The God of Small Things” in 1997).
15. Who was the first woman Chief Minister of an Indian state?
Answer: Sucheta Kripalani (Uttar Pradesh).
16. Who was the first Indian to climb Mount Everest?
Answer: Tenzing Norgay, along with Sir Edmund Hillary.
17. Who was the first Indian to win the Bharat Ratna?
Answer: C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C.V. Raman.
18. Who was the first Indian cricketer to score a triple century in Test cricket?
Answer: Virender Sehwag.
19. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic bronze medal?
Answer: Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting, 2000 Sydney Olympics).
20. Which was the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) established in India?
Answer: IIT Kharagpur.
21. Who was the first woman astronaut from India?
Answer: Kalpana Chawla.
22. Who was the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the Asian Games?
Answer: Kamaljeet Sandhu (discus throw, 1970 Bangkok Asian Games).
23. Who was the first Indian to win the Miss World title?
Answer: Reita Faria (1966).
24. Which was the first Indian state to achieve 100% primary education?
Answer: Kerala.
25. Who was the first Indian to cross the English Channel?
Answer: Mihir Sen.
26. Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal?
Answer: Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting, 2000 Sydney Olympics).
27. Who was the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in an individual sport?
Answer: K. D. Jadhav (wrestling, 1952 Helsinki Olympics).
28. Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal?
Answer: P. V. Sindhu (badminton, 2016 Rio Olympics).
29. Who was the first Indian to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award?
Answer: Vinoba Bhave.
30. Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Answer: Mother Teresa (in 1979).
31. Who was the first Indian to win the Pulitzer Prize?
Answer: Gobind Behari Lal (for the biography “Life of Mahatma Gandhi”).
32. Which was the first war fought by independent India?
Answer: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
33. Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting, 2000 Sydney Olympics).
34. Who was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest?
Answer: Bachendri Pal.
35. Who was the first Indian woman to become a commercial pilot?
Answer: Durba Banerjee.
36. Who was the first Indian to win an individual World Chess Championship title?
Answer: Viswanathan Anand.
37. Who was the first Indian woman to win an individual World Chess Championship title?
Answer: Koneru Humpy (Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship).
38. Who was the first Indian to win a Grammy Award?
Answer: Zakir Hussain.
39. Which was the first national park established in India?
Answer: Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park.
40. Who was the first Indian to win the Asian Games gold medal in athletics?
Answer: Milkha Singh.
41. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal in athletics?
Answer: Norman Pritchard (1900 Paris Olympics).
42. Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal?
Answer: P. V. Sindhu (badminton, 2016 Rio Olympics).
43. Which was the first Indian movie to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival?
Answer: “Salaam Bombay!” (1988, directed by Mira Nair).
44. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal in boxing?
Answer: Vijender Singh (bronze, 2008 Beijing Olympics).
45. Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Physics?
Answer: C. V. Raman (for his work on the scattering of light and the discovery of the Raman Effect).
46. Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry?
Answer: Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (jointly awarded for studies on the structure and function of the ribosome).
47. Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Economics?
Answer: Abhijit Banerjee (jointly awarded for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty).
48. Who was the first Indian to reach the summit of Mount Everest twice?
Answer: Bachendri Pal.
49. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal in wrestling?
Answer: K. D. Jadhav (bronze, 1952 Helsinki Olympics).
50. Who was the first Indian to win the Man Booker International Prize?
Answer: Jhumpa Lahiri (in 2008).