Uncovering The List of Prime Ministers of India From 1947 to 2022

Introduction

India has seen a number of great political leaders from the late 1940s since its independence from British colonization, and the list of Prime Ministers is an integral part of the nation’s history. From the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, to the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, each of these leaders has had a significant impact on India’s progress and development. In this article, we will seek to uncover the history of India’s Prime Ministers from 1947 to 2022 and provide a comprehensive list of facts about them.

Complete List of all Prime Ministers of India – 1947 to 2022

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Jawaharlal Nehru – First Prime minister of India

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India, serving from 1947 to 1964. He was a leader in the Indian independence movement, and a staunch advocate of socialism, socialism in practice and non-alignment. His legacy, which has come to be known as the Nehru legacy, has been influential in India for more than a century.

Born in 1889, Nehru’s father, Motilal Nehru, was a prominent lawyer and leader of the Indian National Congress, in which his son was an active participant. He studied at home in India and abroad in England, becoming a barrister in 1912. After Indian independence, Nehru held a number of positions in the government and was instrumental in the development of India’s foreign policy, economic policy and education system.

As Prime Minister, Nehru consistently emphasized the importance of democracy and adopted a largely agrarian-based economy. He also advocated for the establishment of scientific temper and the expansion of India’s educational system. During his time in office, India adopted a constitution, developed a parliamentary system, and achieved a degree of social, economic and political stability.

As a leader, Nehru was known for his sense of morality and for his commitment to India’s secular democracy. Among his most significant contributions as Prime Minister was the creation of the non-aligned movement, which strove to maintain independence from the United States and the Soviet Union and created a powerful voice for India on the world stage. His legacy also continues to be felt in India’s economic and diplomatic initiatives today.

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Lal Bahadur Shastri is India’s second Prime Minister, after Jawaharlal Nehru. Born in 1904 in Mughalsarai, Shastri had humble beginnings, as his father was a school teacher. However, his determination and ambition saw him quickly rise up the ranks to become a leader in the Independence Movement against British rule.

Shastri attended the Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi and became an active member of the Indian National Congress, which helped him gain popularity among the people of India. His tireless efforts in the freedom struggle earned him the title “Lal Bahadur”, which means “freeman of courage”.

In 1947, when India gained independence, Shastri was appointed as Minister of Railways and Transport in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet. He was appointed Home Minister in 1952 and was instrumental in the implementation of the Hindi-English bilingualism policy. In 1956, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, and in 1964 he was chosen as India’s second Prime Minister, succeeding Nehru.

As Prime Minister, Shastri enacted several notable policies and initiatives of great importance. He declared a “One-family-one-liter” policy, aiming to increase literacy in India by making education compulsory. He also established the National Academy of Administration, which aimed to ensure the efficient operation of the bureaucracy in India.

In addition, he promoted the cause of non-alignment and established a policy of peace and non-violence in India’s foreign policy, a policy which was further developed by later Prime Ministers. Shastri also declared the famous slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” in 1965, which articulated the need for a strong defence force and for the development of agriculture in the country.

Sadly, Shastri did not live to see the full effect of his policies, as he died in Tashkent, Russia, soon after the signing of the Tashkent Agreement. He will be remembered for his contributions to India’s freedom struggle and for his dedication to the development of the nation.

Indira Gandhi – First Female Prime Minister of India

Indira Gandhi was India’s first and only female Prime Minister and the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. She served as Prime Minister from 1966-1977 and then again from 1980-1984 when she was assassinated. During this period, the Indian economy was transformed, largely due to the implementation of her economic policies.

Gandhi’s economic initiatives included the nationalization of certain industries and banks, the institution of Price and Distribution Control, and the establishment of public sector enterprises. These efforts led to the establishment of several public sector undertakings and the strengthening of public sector entities. She also expanded investment in agricultural production and irrigation, introducing the Green Revolution in India. This revolution was successful in ensuring food security, in addition to increasing crop yields, particularly with regard to wheat.

Gandhi additionally implemented social reforms, such as abolishing the zamindari system of land tenure, repealing the 1965 Civil Rights Act, and introducing the 1973 Women’s Reservation Bill. She also worked to protect the rights of minorities, particularly Dalits and minorities and pushed for greater state intervention in the market.

In terms of foreign policy, Gandhi was largely focused on furthering the non-aligned movement. Under her leadership, India responded to the Bangladesh crisis of 1971 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, both of which ended with India gaining territory from Pakistan. Her tenure was also characterized by the establishment of relations with China and the Soviet Union, as well as the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

In summary, Indira Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister of India was marked by significant economic and social reforms, foreign policy successes, and the furthering of non-aligned ideals. Her tenure was cut short by her assassination in 1984, but her legacy continues to shape India’s political and economic landscape today.

Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai was India’s fourth Prime Minister and served from 1977 to 1979. Born in 1896 in Bhadeli, India, Desai was the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India, leading a coalition government of the Janata Party. Prior to his election, he was the Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Desai held a number of other prominent positions in Indian politics prior to serving as Prime Minister, such as Home Minister and Finance Minister. Desai was known for his tough stance on corruption and his commitment to Gandhi’s vision of ‘Swaraj’, or self-rule. He was also a fierce advocate of India’s nationalization policies, advocating for the nationalization of banks and other major industries.

During his tenure, Desai implemented several economic reforms, including the abolition of capital gains tax, subsidies for food and other essential items, and a reduction in the budgets of government ministries. Additionally, he was an advocate of trade liberalization and reduced the tariffs on a number of imported goods. These reforms led to increased economic growth and a reduction in poverty.

In 1978, Desai made a landmark visit to the United States, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. His visit served to strengthen relations between the two nations, particularly in the areas of economic and military aid.

Despite his successes, Desai’s tenure was ultimately cut short by internal party disputes and allegations of corruption. In 1979, he resigned from office, paving the way for Charan Singh to become the Prime Minister of India.

Morarji Desai’s legacy is seen as an important part of India’s history, particularly because he was the first non-Congress Prime Minister. He is remembered for his commitment to nationalization and economic reforms, as well as for his foreign policies and diplomatic successes. Today, his memory is honoured in India, with several monuments, statues, and public holidays dedicated to him.

Charan Singh

Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India, serving in office from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. He was the first non-Congress leader to lead the government in independent India and was known for his efforts towards India’s agricultural policies. Born on 23 December 1902 in a village near Meerut, Singh completed his medical studies in 1926 and went on to practice law in Agra in 1929.

Throughout his political career, Singh stayed focused on the needs of the rural poor. He was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1937 and was appointed as Deputy Minister of Home, Education and Health in 1952. In 1967, Singh was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home, Agriculture and Irrigation in the government headed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The period of his premiership was marked by a lot of political wrangling and he was forced to resign from office after barely surviving a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha. He is often credited with introducing the Land Ceiling Act which placed an upper limit on the amount of land a person could own. In addition, Singh focused on legislation to provide credit to farmers and restructure land revenue.

He retired from active politics in 1984 and died in 1987. His legacy is remembered for his contributions to agrarian and land reforms in India. He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi was the 6th and youngest Prime Minister of India, succeeding his mother, Indira Gandhi. He served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989. He was born in 1944 in Bombay to Indira and Feroze Gandhi and was named after his grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Rajiv Gandhi was educated in India and Cambridge, UK, where he gained a degree in mechanical engineering. He began his career as a professional pilot but returned to India, working in the Congress Party to spread the message of his mother’s policies, before being persuaded to stand as a Member of Parliament in 1981.

Following the assassination of his mother, Rajiv Gandhi was appointed Prime Minister on 31 October 1984. He was 41 years old, making him the second-youngest Prime Minister in India’s history. As Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi is best remembered for his socialistic economic reforms, which saw India become one of the emerging economies of the world. He also oversaw the peaceful resolution of the Sikh separatist movement, an important step in India’s peace process.

Rajiv Gandhi’s time as Prime Minister, unfortunately, ended in 1989, following a corruption scandal in which members of the ruling Congress Party were found to have accepted bribes. Following his resignation in 1989, he remained active in the Congress Party and was assassinated in 1991 by a Sri Lankan Tamil rebel group.

Although Rajiv Gandhi’s time as Prime Minister was short, he is still remembered for his efforts in pushing India forward and making it one of the newly emerging markets of the world. His legacy, however, has been marred by the corruption scandal. Nevertheless, Rajiv Gandhi will remain a significant figure in India’s political history for his role in making India the economic powerhouse it is today.

V.P. Singh

V.P. Singh, who served as India’s eighth Prime Minister and the first to be born in a Scheduled Caste, was born in Allahabad on June 25, 1931. He was the son of Raja Bahadur Ram Gopal Singh of Manda and his mother was a Congress leader in their village.

V.P. Singh graduated from Allahabad University and later studied law at Harvard University. After joining the Indian Administrative Services in 1951, he served in various important posts including being appointed Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh in 1980.

V.P. Singh’s rise to political prominence began in 1984 when he was appointed as the Minister of Finance in Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet. During this time, Singh was credited with starting initiatives such as television broadcasting and the computerization of postal services. In 1989, he was elected as the President of the Janata Dal party, which won a majority in the national elections that year.

As Prime Minister of India, V.P. Singh worked towards improving the country’s relationship with the United States and the Soviet Union. He also championed the Mandal Commission Report, which urged the provision of job reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in government jobs and educational institutions. His decision to implement the report caused a great amount of controversy, culminating in his resignation in November 1990.

After his resignation, Singh stayed active in politics, becoming a leader of the Janata Dal faction in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and serving as a Member of Parliament from 1991 to 1996. In 2004, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. V.P. Singh died in 2008 at the age of 77. He is remembered as a statesman who strived to bring India together and fought to improve the lives of the Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities.

Chandra Shekhar

Chandra Shekhar was the eighth Prime Minister of India, serving in office from 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991. He was born in Ibrahimpatti, a small village in the district of Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on 23 April 1927. He was a leader of the Socialist Party and an active member of the Indian National Congress (INC) since 1951.

Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar held prominent posts in the government, including Union Minister of Industry and Civil Supplies (1977-1979) in the Morarji Desai government, and Minister of Home Affairs and Labour (1979-1980) in the Charan Singh Government. He was also the President of the Samajwadi Janata Party from 1990 to 1991.

During his time as Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar successfully concluded a major economic reform program, which was mainly focused on liberalizing the trade and banking systems. He also played a part in the initiation of the 1991 Gulf War while in office.

Chandra Shekhar retired from active politics in 2002 and died of multiple organ failure on 8 July 2007 at the age of 80. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2019. He was credited with providing hope and confidence to the common people and is remembered as a leader who cared for the weak and the marginalized. His contribution to India’s politics will be remembered for years to come.

P.V. Narasimha Rao

P.V. Narasimha Rao (1921-2004) was India’s ninth Prime Minister and served in office from 1991-1996. He is considered one of the country’s most important Prime Ministers due to the sweeping economic reforms he introduced during his five-year term.

Rao was born in a small village in present-day Telangana and went on to study law and economics at Osmania University. He subsequently entered politics, becoming a member of the Indian National Congress in 1951. He served as the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1962-1968 and as the Chief Minister of that state from 1971-1973. He then rose through the ranks of the Indian National Congress, becoming the party’s General Secretary in 1987 and its President in 1990.

Rao was sworn in as India’s Prime Minister in June 1991 and he quickly went about enacting bold economic reforms. He liberalized India’s economy through the implementation of market-oriented reforms, such as reducing trade barriers, deregulating industries, and ending government monopolies. He also opened the economy to foreign investment, invited multinational companies to participate in Indian markets, and launched programs to promote education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment.

Not only did Rao’s economic policies lead to an increase in India’s growth rates, but they also caused a dramatic reduction in the country’s poverty and unemployment levels. By the end of his tenure, Rao was widely credited as the architect of India’s economic resurgence.

Despite his accomplishments, Rao had to contend with various political challenges. He faced numerous scandals, including the infamous Jharkhand movement and the Babri Masjid demolition. He also had to contend with internal divisions within his own party and the rise of regional political powers.

Rao died in December 2004, a year after the conclusion of his term as Prime Minister. He was widely celebrated for his achievements in office and is remembered as one of India’s most influential leaders.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was India’s tenth Prime Minister and one of the most respected and beloved political figures in Indian history. He served as Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004 and was the first non-Congress leader to serve a full term in office. During his tenure, Vajpayee oversaw the country’s transition from centralized to decentralized government and made significant strides in India’s economic and foreign policy.

Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924. He was a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, one of the pillars of the Janata alliance. He joined his party in 1951 and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1957. He was appointed Foreign Minister of India in 1977 and subsequently Minister of External Affairs in 1980.

Vajpayee’s most notable achievements as Prime Minister included the 1999 Kargil War, the nuclear tests of 1998 and the Lahore Accord of 1999. He is also credited for reorganizing the Indian government from a centralized to a decentralized model, creating the National Highways Authority of India and ushering in economic liberalization. He also launched major initiatives such as the National Program for Education, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Vajpayee left office in 2004, due to health reasons. He was the first recipient of the Bharat Ratna award in 2015, the country’s highest civilian honour. His legacy continues to be celebrated by the Indian public and respected by the Indian political establishment. He was considered to be a prime minister who put the interests of the nation above all else and had a special relationship with the people of India. To this day, he is remembered as a great statesman and leader of the Indian people.

H.D. Deve Gowda

H.D. Deve Gowda is an important figure in Indian politics, having served as the 11th Prime Minister of India from June 1, 1996, to April 21, 1997. Born in Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda on May 18, 1933, in Karnataka, he is the only Prime Minister from the Janata Dal political party. He was heavily involved in the farmers’ movement in Karnataka in the 1970s and rose to prominence as the Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1994.

Gowda was instrumental in helping his party win the 1996 general elections and became the Prime Minister of India. During his stint as Prime Minister, he implemented several initiatives such as the promotion of fiscal responsibility and transparency in government, aimed at improving the Indian economy. He also put forward numerous initiatives towards the promotion of largely agrarian-based rural development, such as improving irrigation projects, rural housing and providing education to rural people.

He also took steps to stabilize regional political power in the form of the United Front, a coalition of several regional parties. He was a key figure in the formation of the coalition and ensured that the coalition was cohesive and not just a loose alliance. He is also credited with introducing several social welfare schemes such as the Bus Pass Scheme for the working class and pension schemes for the elderly.

However, during his tenure as Prime Minister, India faced an economic crisis due to a lack of fiscal reforms. This led to the imposition of fiscal austerity measures and the devaluation of the Indian rupee. The coalition government led by Gowda was highly unstable and due to strains between the coalition partners, he resigned in April 1997. Despite their short tenure, his efforts and reforms set the stage for economic recovery and helped propel the Indian economy to become one of the most vibrant economies in the world.

Gowda has continued to remain politically active and is currently the National President of Janata Dal (Secular). He served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004 and returned to the Lok Sabha in 2009. He was also a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Hassan constituency from 2008 to 2013. He is a highly respected figure in Indian politics and continues to be an influential voice in rural development and economic reforms.

Inder Kumar Gujral

Inder Kumar Gujral was an Indian statesman and the 11th Prime Minister of India, serving in office from April 1997 to March 1998. He was born in Jhelum, Punjab in 1919 and studied at Delhi University, obtaining his B.A. in Economics and Political Science in 1941. Gujral also served as a diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service.

He joined the Indian National Congress in 1971 and then was later elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1976. He ascended to the ranks of the Union Cabinet, becoming the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the mid-1980s.

After the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Gujral became Minister of External Affairs and then went on to become Prime Minister in 1997. He is best known for his foreign policy doctrine, the ‘Gujral Doctrine’ which promoted good neighbourly ties between India and its neighbouring countries.

During Gujral’s term, India signed a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Gujral negotiated a number of critical political agreements, including the 1998 Kargil Accord with Pakistan. He also made some significant changes to India’s domestic policy, including the implementation of the National Food Security Act to curb poverty in the country.

Gujral was considered a gentle yet strong leader and was greatly respected in the political circles of India. He authored several books and later in life, he served again as a Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament in 2012. Gujral passed away in 2012 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of a leader who was committed to promoting a stable and secure India in the international arena.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Second Term)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee served his second term as India’s Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004. During this term, he continued to advocate for peace and stability in the region and was actively involved in improving relations with Pakistan. His implementation of a unilateral cease-fire in Kashmir was a major step forward in the peace process.

In the economic sector, he pushed for the liberalization of India’s economy, which led to the growth of the outsourcing sector in India. He also supported the privatization of government services and the establishment of public-private partnerships.

He was also a strong proponent of education reforms, which included the setting up of the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The latter allowed for increased access to higher education and better job opportunities for students.

Vajpayee’s term also saw an increase in India’s global presence. He made significant efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), which India finally did in 2001. The same year, India also joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group. During the Kargil War of 1999, Vajpayee demonstrated his diplomatic skills by successfully negotiating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Vajpayee is also known for his commitment to the science and technology sector in India. He established the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology, both of which have contributed significantly to the progress of science and technology in India.

In addition to his political and economic achievements, Vajpayee is also remembered for his social reforms. He implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, a program that guarantees employment to certain people in rural areas. He also enacted the Right to Information Act, which gave citizens the right to access information from the government. These reforms further improved India’s economic, social, and political landscape.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s second term as Prime Minister of India was a period of great progress and reform. His efforts helped India to become a respected global presence and to make significant gains in its economic, social, and political development.

Dr Manmohan Singh

As the 13th Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh held the position from 2004 to 2014. A renowned Economist, Dr Singh was the first Sikh to serve as the leader of India. He was a successor of the Indian National Congress party’s president Sonia Gandhi, who is known for her efforts to revive the economy in India. During his tenure, Dr Singh was highly successful in bringing about several reforms for the betterment of India’s economic stability.

Upon joining the office in 2004, Dr Singh started to implement several economic reforms. He initiated a major reform in India’s liberalization and privatization movement. He opened up the Indian economy to foreign investments and liberalized rules governing foreign trade and investment. Opening up of the economy and deregulating the industrial sector, allowed the country to boost its economic growth rate. He also implemented a series of reforms in the banking sector by allowing foreign banks to set up their branches in India and establishing the Reserve Bank of India as an autonomous central bank.

Dr Singh also worked towards expanding the social security net in India. He introduced Food Security Act, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act. These initiatives helped in bringing about a more transparent and inclusive society by providing assistance and opportunities for the economically deprived. He was also instrumental in introducing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for rural development.

In 2007, the country’s GDP growth rate saw a steady increase of 8.9%. In the following year, the growth rate was further increased to 9%. This was largely due to Dr Singh’s unprecedented efforts to bring about reforms that improved the economy.

Under Dr Singh, the government also worked towards improving India’s relations with other countries. He promoted free trade agreements with various countries and actively participated in various international summits. He was a key contributor to the formation of BRICS and G20.

Apart from being an economic reformer, Dr Singh was also known for his commitment to social reforms. He was instrumental in providing free health care to the poor by launching the National Rural Health Mission and providing free education to girl students through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. He was also a strong advocate of environmental protection and worked towards reducing carbon emissions and preserving natural resources.

Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi has served as the Prime Minister of India since 2014, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in the country. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and previously served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. Born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi was raised in a middle-class family and was an active member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from a young age.

Modi first became prime minister in 2014, when he was elected with a landslide victory to lead BJP and National Democratic Alliance to power. During his five-year tenure, Modi has pushed for many reforms, such as demonetization, a nationwide goods and services tax, and demonetization. Since coming to power, he has also taken steps to reduce bureaucracy, curb corruption, and improve the ease of doing business in India. He has also pushed for India’s Make in India policy and a Digital India initiative to increase the country’s digital infrastructure and spur innovation.

Modi’s government set out an ambitious agenda focusing on development, job creation, border security and economic revival. He has initiated various projects such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and worked to promote rapid industrialization and economic growth in India. He has also reached out to the international community, particularly to neighbouring countries, in an effort to improve relations and foster economic ties.

Modi has focused on using technology to improve governance and reduce corruption. His government has pushed for the digitization of payments and various other government services and has made great strides in the field of social media. Modi was also instrumental in the passage of the Aadhaar Act in 2019, which allows Indian citizens to get a digital identity linked to a database of biometric and demographic information.

Modi’s government is also focusing on developing infrastructure in the country. Projects such as the Bharatmala project, Smart Cities project, Make in India initiative, and the Sagarmala project is all aimed at building India’s infrastructure and creating jobs. In addition, Modi has also been pushing for renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce India’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Conclusion

At the end of this exploration of India’s Prime Ministers from 1947 to 2022, it is evident that the country has seen a diverse range of leaders with remarkably different styles and ideologies. From the economic policies of Indira Gandhi and the economic reforms of Chandrashekhar and Narasimha Rao to the welfare state policies of Desai and the technology-savvy and reform-based policies of Vajpayee, Manmohan and Modi, there has always been something new and exciting in the leadership of India. The Prime Ministers of India have shaped the country and influenced the future of the nation in the most remarkable manner, and they continue to do so today. It is hoped that India’s future will be strengthened and enriched by the coming generations of Prime Ministers. India’s democracy is blossoming and its people are vibrant and energetic, and their determination to usher in a progressive era for the nation is the greatest testament to their belief in the power of leadership.