Updated On - 04 Oct 2025
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The Prime Minister of India is the head of the government, the chair of the Union Council of Ministers responsible for making important decisions for the country. The prime minister of India is the leader of the political party that wins the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower and principal legislative house of the Indian parliament. The prime minister, along with their cabinet, is always answerable to the Lok Sabha. The prime minister can hold a seat in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha (the upper house) and holds the third-highest position in the country's order of precedence. In India, the president appoints the prime minister, who must have the support of the majority of elected members in the Lok Sabha. These members are directly elected every five years, unless the prime minister steps down. The prime minister is the head of the Council of Ministers for the Union government and has the exclusive authority to select, dismiss, and assign roles to its members. 

prime ministers of India

Since India became independent in 1947, many leaders have served as Prime Minister, each contributing to the nation's growth and progress. Here is a list of all the Prime Ministers of India and their time in office: 

Prime Minister 

Duration

Party 

Constituency Name 

Jawahar Lal Nehru 

1947-1964

Indian National Congress

Mp for Phulpur

Gulzarilal Nanda 

1964-1964

Indian National Congress

Mp for sabarkantha

Lal Bahadur shastri 

1964-1966

Indian National Congress

Mp for Allahabad

Gulzarilal Nanda 

1966-1966

Indian National congress

Mp for sabarkantha

Indira Gandhi  

1966-1977

Indian National congress

MP for RaeBareli

Moraji Desai 

1977-1979

Janata Party

Mp for surat

Charan Singh 

1979-1980

Janata Party (secular)

Mp for Baghpat

Indira Gandhi 

1980-1984

Indian National congress

Mp for Medak

Rajiv Gandhi 

1984-1989

Indian National congress

Mp for Amethi

Vishwanath Pratap Singh 

1989-1990

Janata Dal

Mp for Fatehpur

Chandra Shekhar 

1990-1991

Samajwadi Janta Party

Mp for Ballia

P.V Narasimha Rao 

1991-1996

Indian National congress

Mp for Nandyal

Atal Bihari vajpayee 

1996-1996 

Bhartiya Janata party

Mp for Lucknow

H.D Deve Gowada 

1996-1997

Janata Dal

Mp for karnataka

Inder Kumar Gujral 

1997-1998

Janata Dal

Mp for Bihar

Atal Bihari vajpayee 

1998-2004

Bhartiya Janata party

Mp for Lucknow

Manmohan singh 

2004-2014

Indian National congress

Mp for Assam

Narendra Modi 

2014- Present

Bhartiya Janata party

Mp for Varanasi 

Current Prime Minister of India:

Prime minister of India - Narendra Modi

Born - 17th September 1950 Vadnagar

Political Party - Bharatiya Janata Party

Constituency - Varanasi

Spouse - Jashodaben Modi

Children - na

Political Parties in India:

Some of the prominent political parties in the country are as follows: 

  1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Bharatiya Janata Party, one of the two major parties in the country, alongside the INC, is a right-wing political party. Its ideology is rooted in Hindu nationalism (Hindutva), and it currently leads the central government. The party's core agenda focuses on economic liberalization and national security. 
  1. Indian National Congress (INC): Indian National Congress, one of India's oldest political organizations, is a center-left party. It was a key force in the Indian independence movement and has historically dominated Indian politics. Its ideology is based on social democracy and secularism. 
  1. Communist Party of India (CPI): Communist Party of India is a far- left party with its ideology based on Marxism-Leninism, and it advocates for the rights of the working class and peasants. 
  1. Communist Party of India (Marxist): Communist Party of India (Marxist) split from the CPI in 1964 and holds a more radical communist ideology. It has historically been a significant political force, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura. 
  1. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): Nationalist Congress Party is a centrist party that split from the INC, the NCP has its primary base in Maharashtra. Its ideology is broadly secular, and it often allies with the INC in state and national politics. 
  1. Biju Janata Dal (BJD): Biju Janata Dal is named after former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. It is a regional party dominant in the state of Odisha. It focuses on the welfare of the people of Odisha and has been in power in the state for over two decades. 
  1. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from Tamil Nadu is a major political force in the state, often alternating power with the AIADMK. Its ideology is rooted in social justice, rationalism, and regional autonomy. 
  1. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a Dravidian party, a major political force in Tamil Nadu. It split from the DMK and is known for its populist policies and focus on social welfare schemes. The party's political influence is largely concentrated in the state of Tamil Nadu. 
  1. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS): Telangana Rashtra Samithi was founded with the main objective of creating a separate state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. It was the ruling party of Telangana until 2023, after which it changed its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). 
  1. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD): Shiromani Akali Dal is a Sikh-centric party from Punjab. It is a regional party with a focus on Sikh and Punjabi issues. It advocates for the rights of the Sikh community and has a strong presence in the state. 
  1. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD): Rashtriya Janata Dal has its strong base in Bihar and is known for its focus on social justice and secularism. Its primary support comes from a coalition of backward castes and minorities. 
  1. Samajwadi Party (SP): Samajwadi Party meaning "Socialist Party," is a regional party based in Uttar Pradesh. Its ideology is rooted in democratic socialism, and it largely represents the interests of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslims in the state. 
  1. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): Aam Aadmi Party meaning "Common Man's Party," is a relatively new party that emerged from an anti-corruption movement. It focuses on clean governance, social welfare, and populist policies. The party is currently in power in Delhi and Punjab. 
  1. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS): BRS is a regional party in Telangana. After achieving its goal of statehood, the party renamed itself to expand its political ambitions nationally. 

FAQs on Prime Ministers of India Since Independence

  • Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India?

    The first Prime Minister of independent India was Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, who served from 1947 to 1964. He represented the Indian National Congress and was the Member of Parliament for Phulpur. 

  • How many times did Indira Gandhi serve as Prime Minister?

    Indira Gandhi served twice as Prime Minister. Her first term was from 1966 to 1977, and her second term was from 1980 to 1984. She was the Member of Parliament for Rae Bareli and Medak during her terms.

  • Who was the Prime Minister of India before Narendra Modi?

    Dr. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of India before Narendra Modi, serving from 2004 to 2014. He represented the Indian National Congress and was the Member of Parliament for Assam.

  • Who served as Prime Minister immediately after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death?

    After Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in 1966, Gulzarilal Nanda served as the interim Prime Minister for a short period. He was the Member of Parliament for Sabarkantha.

  • Which Prime Minister served the shortest term in office?

    Gulzarilal Nanda served the shortest terms as Prime Minister twice, both in 1964 and 1966, each for a few days. He represented the Indian National Congress and was the Member of Parliament for Sabarkantha. 

  • Who was the Prime Minister of India during the emergency period (1975-1977)?

    Mrs. Indira Gandhi, also known as the 'Iron Lady of India', was the Prime Minister during the emergency period from 1975 to 1977. She was the Member of Parliament for Rae Bareli. 

  • Which Prime Minister was in office when India conducted its first nuclear test?

    Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister when India conducted its first nuclear test, which was in 1974, known as 'Smiling Buddha'. 

  • Who was the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India?

    Morarji Desai was the first non-congress Prime Minister of India, serving from 1977 to 1979. He represented the Janata Party and was the Member of Parliament for Surat.

  • Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of India from the Bharatiya Janata Party?

    Narendra Modi is the longest-serving Prime Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), having been in office since 2014. He is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi. 

  • Who became Prime Minister after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi?

    P.V. Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, serving from 1991 to 1996. He represented the Indian National Congress and was the Member of Parliament for Nandyal.

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