List of Prime Minister of India

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list of Prime Ministers of India from the country’s independence in 1947 up to now, with details about their tenure and contributions:

1. Jawaharlal Nehru (15 August 1947 – 27 May 1964)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • First Prime Minister of independent India.
    • Played a key role in shaping the modern Indian state.
    • Oversaw the creation of the Indian Constitution.
    • Advocated for social reforms, including land reforms, and played a pivotal role in the founding of institutions like IITs.
    • Championed non-alignment in foreign policy and promoted industrialization.

2. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) (27 May 1964 – 9 June 1964)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Served as the acting Prime Minister after Nehru’s death.
    • Focused on maintaining stability during the transition period.

3. Lal Bahadur Shastri (9 June 1964 – 11 January 1966)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Famous for his leadership during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.
    • Introduced the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” (“Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer”).
    • Worked to promote agricultural reforms and strengthen India’s defense.

4. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting) (11 January 1966 – 24 January 1966)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Again served as the acting Prime Minister after Shastri’s sudden death.

5. Indira Gandhi (24 January 1966 – 24 March 1977)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • First female Prime Minister of India.
    • Led India during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
    • Implemented the Emergency (1975-77), a controversial period of authoritarian rule.
    • Focused on self-reliance, poverty eradication, and nationalization of banks.

6. Morarji Desai (24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979)

  • Party: Janata Party
  • Key Achievements:
    • First Prime Minister who was not from the Congress Party.
    • Known for his strong stance on anti-corruption and promoting rural development.

7. Charan Singh (28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980)

  • Party: Janata Party (Secular)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Led a minority government that collapsed within months.

8. Indira Gandhi (14 January 1980 – 31 October 1984)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Returned to power after Charan Singh’s resignation.
    • Led India through a period of economic growth and the Green Revolution.
    • Assassinated in 1984, leading to widespread unrest.

9. Rajiv Gandhi (31 October 1984 – 2 December 1989)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Youngest Prime Minister of India (at age 40).
    • Focused on technological advancement, education, and telecommunications.
    • Oversaw the signing of the Assam Accord and sought to improve relations with the neighboring countries.
    • Resigned after Congress lost in the 1989 general elections.

10. Vishwanath Pratap Singh (2 December 1989 – 10 November 1990)

  • Party: Janata Dal
  • Key Achievements:
    • Introduced the Mandal Commission report, which recommended reservations for backward classes, leading to major political changes.

11. Chandra Shekhar (10 November 1990 – 21 June 1991)

  • Party: Janata Dal (Secular)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Led a minority government and faced economic crises during his tenure.

12. P. V. Narasimha Rao (21 June 1991 – 16 May 1996)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Known as the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms.”
    • Liberalized India’s economy, introducing reforms that made India a major player in the global market.
    • Overcame political challenges and strengthened India’s international ties.

13. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (16 May 1996 – 1 June 1996)

  • Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Served as the Prime Minister for a brief period before the government collapsed.
    • Known for his contributions to strengthening India’s nuclear capabilities.

14. H. D. Deve Gowda (1 June 1996 – 21 April 1997)

  • Party: Janata Dal
  • Key Achievements:
    • Focused on agriculture and rural development.
    • Had a brief tenure marked by political instability.

15. Inder Kumar Gujral (21 April 1997 – 19 March 1998)

  • Party: Janata Dal (Secular)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Known for the “Gujral Doctrine” in foreign policy, emphasizing peaceful relations with India’s neighbors.

16. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004)

  • Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Known for nuclear tests in 1998 that established India as a nuclear power.
    • Oversaw major infrastructure projects like the Golden Quadrilateral.
    • Strengthened India’s global standing and had a key role in Indo-Pakistani relations.

17. Manmohan Singh (22 May 2004 – 26 May 2014)

  • Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Economist by training, credited with India’s economic growth during his tenure.
    • Implemented key reforms and policies, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
    • Oversaw the 2008 global financial crisis, which affected India.

18. Narendra Modi (26 May 2014 – Present)

  • Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
  • Key Achievements:
    • Focused on economic reforms, digital India, and Make in India initiatives.
    • Oversaw the demonetization of ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes in 2016.
    • Played a key role in improving India’s relations with the world, particularly the United States.
    • Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017.
    • Led India through the COVID-19 pandemic response and initiated vaccination drives.

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