Practice Questions with Answers - Multiple Choice Questions

List of All Prime Ministers of India for Competitive Exams

In almost all competitive exams like UPSC, Railway Recruitment Board, Banks etc, I have seen a very common question like – Who was the first and only woman Prime Minister of India? India is the largest democracy in the world and the most powerful person is the Prime Minister of India, it is obvious, that a question features in most of the competitive exams. We have compiled a List of All Prime Ministers of India for Competitive Exams. It will help you in your preparations.

S.No. Name Born-Dead Term of office Remark
1. Jawahar Lal Nehru (1889–1964) 15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964

16 years, 286 days

The first prime minister of India and the longest-serving PM of India, the first to die in office.
2. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) (1898-1998) 27 May 1964 to 9 June 1964,

13 days

First acting PM of India
3. Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904–1966) 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966

1 year, 216 days

He has given the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ during the Indo-Pak war of 1965
4.  Gulzari Lal Nanda  (Acting) (1898-1998) 11 January 1966 to 24 January 1966

13 days

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 year, 126 days

Oldest to become PM (81 years old) and first to resign from office
7. Charan Singh (1902–1987) 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980

170 days

Only PM who did not face the Parliament
8. Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) 14 January 1980 to 31 October 1984

4 years, 291 days

The first lady who served as PM for the second term
9. Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991) 31 October 1984 to 2 December 1989

5 years, 32 days

Youngest to become PM (40 years old)
10. V. P. Singh (1931–2008) 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990

343 days

First PM to step down after a vote of no confidence
11. Chandra Shekhar (1927–2007) 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991

223 days

He belongs to  Samajwadi Janata Party
12. P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996

4 years, 330 days

First PM from south India
13. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924- 2018) 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996

16 days

PM for shortest tenure
14. H. D. Deve Gowda (born 1933) 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997

324 days

He belongs to  Janata Dal
15. Inder Kumar Gujral (1919–2012) 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998 

332 days

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16. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924-2018) 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004 

6 years, 64 days

 The first non-congress PM who completed a full term as PM
17. Manmohan Singh (born 1932) 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014   

10 years, 4 days

 First Sikh PM
18. Narendra Modi (born 1950) 26 May 2014 – Present 4th Prime Minister of India who served two consecutive tenures

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