The prime ministers of India list is one of the most consistently tested topics across all competitive exams in the country.
Since independence on August 15, 1947, India has had 14 individuals serve as Prime Minister — with Jawaharlal Nehru serving the longest and several others holding office for very brief periods. Questions on PM names, tenures, parties, firsts, and associated events appear in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams every year. This page gives you a complete year-wise list of all Prime Ministers of India with tenure, party, key events, and exam-critical facts in one place.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Jawaharlal Nehru — India’s first PM; longest-serving at 16 years 286 days; died in office (1964).
- Gulzarilal Nanda — served as Acting PM twice (1964 & 1966), 13 days each — never elected PM in his own right.
- Indira Gandhi — only woman PM; two separate stints (1966–77 and 1980–84); assassinated October 31, 1984.
- Chaudhary Charan Singh — only PM who never faced Parliament; resigned after just 23 days (active tenure); served as caretaker till Jan 1980 (~170 days total).
- Narendra Modi — first PM born after independence (1950); serving his third consecutive term as of 2024.
Students often confuse P.V. Narasimha Rao (PM) and Manmohan Singh (FM) for the 1991 reforms — Rao was the PM who launched them; Manmohan Singh implemented them as Finance Minister. Rao later became PM himself. Also: Morarji Desai was the first non-Congress PM; Vajpayee was the first BJP PM — these are two different “firsts.” Gulzarilal Nanda is not counted among India’s 14 PMs officially — he was an Acting PM only.
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🇮🇳 Prime Ministers of India — Complete List
| # ↕ | Prime Minister ↕ | Tenure | Duration ↕ | Era ↕ | Party | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Aug 1947 – May 1964 | 16 yrs 286 days | 1947–64 | INC | First PM; longest serving; died in office; Panchsheel; Non-Aligned Movement; IITs founded |
| — | Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) | May 1964 – Jun 1964 | 13 days | 1964 | INC | First Acting PM; served after Nehru’s death; served again after Shastri’s death (1966) |
| 2 | Lal Bahadur Shastri | Jun 1964 – Jan 1966 | 1 yr 216 days | 1964–66 | INC | 1965 India-Pakistan War; “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”; died in Tashkent (only PM to die outside India) |
| — | Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting, 2nd) | Jan 1966 – Jan 1966 | 13 days | 1966 | INC | Second stint as Acting PM; served after Shastri’s death in Tashkent |
| 3/6 | Indira Gandhi | Jan 1966 – Mar 1977 & Jan 1980 – Oct 1984 | ~15 yrs (2 stints) | 1966–84 | INC | Only woman PM; 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War; Emergency (1975–77); Green Revolution; assassinated Oct 31, 1984 |
| 4 | Morarji Desai | Mar 1977 – Jul 1979 | 2 yrs 126 days | 1977–79 | Janata Party | First non-Congress PM; oldest PM at oath (81 yrs); 44th Amendment; reversed Emergency |
| 5 | Charan Singh | Jul 1979 – Jan 1980 | 23 days (active); ~170 days incl. caretaker | 1979–80 | Janata (Secular) | Only PM who never faced Parliament; resigned after 23 days; caretaker till Jan 1980 |
| 7 | Rajiv Gandhi | Oct 1984 – Dec 1989 | 5 yrs 32 days | 1984–89 | INC | Youngest PM (40 yrs); computerisation of India; India-Sri Lanka Accord 1987; assassinated May 21, 1991 |
| 8 | V.P. Singh | Dec 1989 – Nov 1990 | 343 days | 1989–90 | Janata Dal | Implemented Mandal Commission (27% OBC reservation); lost confidence vote |
| 9 | Chandra Shekhar | Nov 1990 – Jun 1991 | 223 days | 1990–91 | Samajwadi Janata | Led caretaker govt; India mortgaged gold to IMF during his tenure |
| 10 | P.V. Narasimha Rao | Jun 1991 – May 1996 | 4 yrs 330 days | 1991–96 | INC | First PM from south India (AP); 1991 LPG economic reforms (FM: Manmohan Singh); first minority govt to complete full term |
| 11 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1st) | May 1996 – Jun 1996 | 16 days | 1996 | BJP | First BJP PM; shortest overall stint; resigned after losing confidence vote |
| 12 | H.D. Deve Gowda | Jun 1996 – Apr 1997 | 324 days | 1996–97 | Janata Dal (UF) | First PM from Karnataka; resigned after losing Congress support |
| 13 | I.K. Gujral | Apr 1997 – Mar 1998 | 332 days | 1997–98 | Janata Dal | “Gujral Doctrine” — good relations with neighbours without reciprocity |
| 14 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2nd) | Mar 1998 – May 2004 | 6 yrs 64 days | 1998–2004 | BJP (NDA) | Pokhran-II nuclear tests (1998); Kargil War (1999); Golden Quadrilateral; Bharat Ratna 2015 |
| 15 | Manmohan Singh | May 2004 – May 2014 | 10 yrs 4 days | 2004–14 | INC (UPA) | First Sikh PM; architect of 1991 reforms as FM; India-US Nuclear Deal (2008); MNREGA; RTI Act; two full terms |
| 16 | Narendra Modi (1st term) | May 2014 – May 2019 | 5 years | 2014–19 | BJP (NDA) | First PM born post-independence (1950); Swachh Bharat; Make in India; Jan Dhan Yojana; Demonetisation 2016; GST 2017 |
| 17 | Narendra Modi (2nd term) | May 2019 – Jun 2024 | 5 years | 2019–24 | BJP (NDA) | Art. 370 abrogation (2019); COVID-19 pandemic management; Ram Mandir consecration (Jan 2024) |
| 18 | Narendra Modi (3rd term) | Jun 2024 – Present | Ongoing | 2024– | BJP (NDA) | Third consecutive term; first PM after Nehru to win three consecutive general elections |
| Category | Prime Minister | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First PM of India | Jawaharlal Nehru | Aug 15, 1947 |
| Longest-serving PM | Jawaharlal Nehru | 16 years 286 days |
| PM who never faced Parliament | Charan Singh | Resigned after 23 days (active tenure); caretaker till Jan 1980 (~170 days total) |
| Shortest stint overall | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1st) | 16 days; May–Jun 1996 |
| Only woman PM | Indira Gandhi | Two stints: 1966–77 and 1980–84 |
| Youngest PM at oath | Rajiv Gandhi | 40 years old |
| Oldest PM at oath | Morarji Desai | 81 years old |
| First non-Congress PM | Morarji Desai | 1977; Janata Party |
| First PM from South India | P.V. Narasimha Rao | 1991; from Andhra Pradesh |
| First Sikh PM | Manmohan Singh | 2004–2014 |
| First BJP PM | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | 16 days (1996); full term 1998–2004 |
| First PM born after independence | Narendra Modi | Born September 17, 1950 |
| PM who never faced Parliament | Charan Singh | Resigned after 23 days (active); caretaker till Jan 1980 |
| PM who died in office | Jawaharlal Nehru | May 27, 1964 |
| PM who died outside India | Lal Bahadur Shastri | Died in Tashkent, USSR, Jan 11, 1966 |
| PMs who were assassinated | Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi | Indira (Oct 31, 1984); Rajiv (May 21, 1991) |
| PM who implemented Mandal Commission | V.P. Singh | 1990; 27% OBC reservation |
| PM during 1991 economic reforms | P.V. Narasimha Rao | FM was Manmohan Singh |
| PM during Pokhran-II nuclear tests | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | May 1998 |
| PM during Bangladesh Liberation War | Indira Gandhi | Pakistan surrendered Dec 16, 1971 |
| PM during Kargil War | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | July 1999; Operation Vijay |
| Acting PM (twice) | Gulzarilal Nanda | 1964 (13 days) and 1966 (13 days) |
| Three consecutive election wins | Narendra Modi | 2014, 2019, 2024 — like Nehru (1952, 57, 62) |
| Prime Minister | Landmark Event / Policy | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jawaharlal Nehru | First Five-Year Plan; Panchsheel; Non-Aligned Movement; IITs established; Constitution adopted | 1950s–60s |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | Indo-Pak War (1965); “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” slogan; White Revolution (Amul) supported; Tashkent Declaration | 1965–66 |
| Indira Gandhi | Green Revolution; Bank nationalisation (14 banks, 1969); Bangladesh Liberation War (1971); Emergency (1975–77); Pokhran-I nuclear test (1974) | 1966–84 |
| Morarji Desai | 44th Constitutional Amendment; Janata Party coalition; restoration of press freedom | 1977–79 |
| Rajiv Gandhi | Computerisation of India; Telecom revolution; India–Sri Lanka Accord (1987); Anti-defection law (52nd Amendment) | 1984–89 |
| V.P. Singh | Mandal Commission implementation (27% OBC reservation); anti-corruption stance | 1989–90 |
| P.V. Narasimha Rao | LPG Reforms (1991): Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation; Look East Policy | 1991–96 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Pokhran-II nuclear tests (1998); Kargil War / Operation Vijay (1999); Golden Quadrilateral; PM Gram Sadak Yojana | 1998–2004 |
| Manmohan Singh | India–US Nuclear Deal (2008); MNREGA; RTI Act (2005); Aadhaar initiated; UPA coalition governance | 2004–14 |
| Narendra Modi | Swachh Bharat; Make in India; Jan Dhan Yojana; Demonetisation (2016); GST (2017); Art. 370 abrogation (2019); CAA; COVID vaccination; Ram Mandir consecration (2024) | 2014–present |
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Art. 74 | Council of Ministers with PM to aid and advise the President; advice is binding on the President |
| Art. 75 | PM appointed by President; other ministers appointed on PM’s advice; CoM collectively responsible to Lok Sabha |
| Art. 78 | PM’s duty to communicate all Cabinet decisions and legislative proposals to the President |
| Art. 84 | Qualifications for Parliament membership (applies to PM — must be MP of either House) |
| Art. 88 | Rights of ministers to speak in and attend proceedings of both Houses of Parliament |
| Era | Period | Party / Coalition | Key PMs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress Dominance | 1947–1977 | INC (single-party majority) | Nehru, Shastri, Indira Gandhi |
| Janata Interlude | 1977–1979 | Janata Party | Morarji Desai |
| Return of Congress | 1980–1989 | INC | Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi |
| Coalition Era Begins | 1989–2014 | Mixed coalitions (Janata Dal, United Front, NDA, UPA) | V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh |
| BJP Majority Era | 2014–present | BJP-led NDA | Narendra Modi (3 terms) |
⚖️ Compare Two Prime Ministers
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Gulzarilal Nanda was never “officially” counted as one of India’s 14 PMs — he served as Acting PM twice, each for 13 days, filling the gap between two PMs. He is tested in the “first acting PM” category. Jawaharlal Nehru = PM #1, Narendra Modi = PM #14 (14 individuals, not counting stints).
P.V. Narasimha Rao (PM) launched the 1991 LPG Reforms — Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation. His Finance Minister was Dr. Manmohan Singh, who implemented them. Rao was also the first PM from South India (Andhra Pradesh) and the first Congress PM to lead a minority government that completed a full term. Manmohan Singh later became PM himself (2004–2014).
Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent (now Uzbekistan, then USSR) on January 11, 1966 — just one day after signing the Tashkent Declaration with Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan, ending the 1965 war. He is the only PM to die outside India. The cause of death (cardiac arrest) is confirmed officially.
Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977 — 21 months. It was the only time India’s democratic processes were suspended. She invoked Article 352 on grounds of “internal disturbance.” The 44th Amendment (1978) later changed this phrase to “armed rebellion” to prevent misuse. Emergency history is one of the most tested political topics in UPSC.
Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term from June 2024 makes him the first PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive general elections. Nehru won in 1952, 1957, 1962; Modi won in 2014, 2019, 2024. Unlike his first two terms (outright BJP majority), his third term is with a coalition (NDA) government.
“Nehru Shastri Indira Morarji Charan Indira Rajiv”
→ Nehru → Shastri → Indira (1st) → Morarji → Charan Singh → Indira (2nd) → Rajiv Gandhi
“Non-Congress = Morarji | South = Rao | Sikh = Manmohan | BJP = Vajpayee | Post-Independence born = Modi”
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Jawaharlal Nehru was India\u2019s first Prime Minister, serving from August 15, 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964 \u2014 a period of 16 years and 286 days. He remains India\u2019s longest-serving PM. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President, not PM; Sardar Patel was the first Home Minister.
Chaudhary Charan Singh (July 1979 \u2013 January 1980) is the only Prime Minister who never faced Parliament. He resigned after just 23 days in office when the Congress Party withdrew support. He then served as caretaker PM until January 1980 (around 170 days total), but never addressed the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister.
P.V. Narasimha Rao, as Prime Minister, initiated the landmark 1991 LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) reforms. Dr. Manmohan Singh implemented these reforms as Finance Minister \u2014 a common confusion in exams since Singh later became PM himself.
Morarji Desai became India\u2019s first non-Congress Prime Minister in March 1977 after the Janata Party swept the elections following the Emergency. He was also the oldest person to become PM at 81 years. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first BJP PM, but Morarji was the first non-Congress PM \u2014 two different \u201cfirsts.\u201d
Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive general elections \u2014 Nehru won in 1952, 1957, and 1962; Modi won in 2014, 2019, and 2024. Indira Gandhi served two separate stints (not consecutive in the same way); Rajiv Gandhi served only one term.
\u2705 Key Takeaways
\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions
India has had 14 individuals serve as Prime Minister since independence in 1947. However, counting separate stints, there have been 18 terms of office. Gulzarilal Nanda served as Acting Prime Minister twice (for 13 days each) but is not counted in the official list of 14. Narendra Modi, currently in his third consecutive term since June 2024, is the 14th individual to hold the office.
Jawaharlal Nehru is the longest-serving Prime Minister of India, holding office for 16 years and 286 days from August 15, 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964. He is also the only PM to have died in office. Manmohan Singh served the second longest tenure among democratically elected PMs in modern times \u2014 10 years (two full terms from 2004 to 2014).
Two Prime Ministers of India were assassinated. Indira Gandhi was shot by her own Sikh bodyguards at her residence on October 31, 1984, following Operation Blue Star (the Army\u2019s action against militants in the Golden Temple, Amritsar, in June 1984). Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb attack by an LTTE operative on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, while campaigning for elections.
Narendra Modi\u2019s election victory in June 2024 and commencement of his third consecutive term as Prime Minister is historically significant. He is the first PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive general elections \u2014 Nehru had won in 1952, 1957, and 1962; Modi won in 2014, 2019, and 2024. Unlike his first two terms where BJP won an outright majority, his third term is with a coalition government (NDA), making it also a test of coalition management. This is a high-priority current affairs question for all 2024\u201326 competitive exams.
