List of all Prime Ministers of India (1947-2023)

The 14th Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, took office on May 26, 2014. Indira Gandhi is India’s only female prime minister, although Jawaharlal Nehru was the country’s first and longest-serving leader. View the complete list of Indian prime ministers.

List of all Indian Prime Ministers The 14th and current Prime Minister of India is Narendra Modi. He would complete two consecutive terms as Prime Minister of India, becoming the country’s fourth prime minister to do so and the first non-Congress leader to do so. The Republic of India’s government is led by the Prime Minister of India. The President of India is the constitutionally designated, nominal, and ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister and their appointed Council of Ministers have executive responsibility.

We have included every Indian prime minister in this article, from 1947 through 2023, along with the length of their terms.

List of all Prime Ministers of India (1947-2023)

S.N. 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

According to Article 75 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India will designate the Prime Minister. The Cabinet Ministers are led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is given primary executive authority over the government, with the President serving as the official head of State. The responsibilities of the Prime Minister of India are laid out in Article 78 of the Indian Constitution. While performing his duties, he serves as a liaison between the President and the Cabinet.

The schedule of meetings and other events during the Indian Parliament’s session is set by the Prime Minister. He also makes the call on when to dissolve or prorogue the House. He announces major government programs and responds to inquiries as the chief spokesman.

The Prime Minister (PM) advises the President on the appointment of several officials, distributes and redistributes different portfolios among Ministers, preside over meetings of the Council of Ministers, and has a say in the decisions made by such meetings. Any member may be asked to resign by the Prime Minister, who may also suggest that a Minister be fired by the President.