Indian Presidents and Prime Ministers

Indian Presidents And Prime Ministers

President: Must be at least 35 years of age, is elected for 5 years and can be re-elected immediately for another term. Can serve any number of terms. Prime Minister: Leader of majority party in the Lok Sabha and is appointed by the President. Continues till his/her government has majority in Lok Sabha or maximum 5 years when general elections happen. For any comments, please email us at userfeedback@infolona.com

	Period Served	Days in office (w/o Sat/Sun)	Interesting Facts
1	25-Jul-2012 to Till Date	In Service	PRANAB MUKHERJEE Born in: Birbhum's Mirati village in West Bengal on 11-Dec-1935. Won Presidential election by securing 527 votes (out of 748 MPs) beating Sangma. In 2008, he was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, 2nd highest civilian award in India. He was rated world's best Finance minister by Euromoney in 1984 and named the 'Finance Minister of the Year' for Asia in 2010 by Emerging Markets. He presented 7 Union budgets between 1982 and 2012, just 1 less than Morarji Desai who presented the budget 8 times.
2	25-Jul-2007 to 25-Jul-2012	1306	PRATIBHA PATIL Born in: Nadgaon, now in Maharashtra on 19-Dec-1934. Won presidential election by beating Bhairon S. Shekhawat by 3+ lakh votes. First woman President of India & first woman governor of rajasthan from 2004-2007. She was a practicing lawyer & has a distinction of not loosing any election ever. She reduced/nullified the death sentences of 35 petitioners during her presidency.
3	25-Jul-2002 to 25-Jul-2007	1306	APJ ABDUL KALAM Born in: Rameshwaram, now in Tamil Nadu on 15-Oct-1931. Known as 'People's Person' and 'Missile Man of India' as a scientist for spearheading India's Agni missile program. Played a vital role in India's Pokhran - II nuclear test in 1998. Worked for India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) project. He was an aeronautical engineer with DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation) & ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). Awarded Padma Bhushan(1981), Padma Vibhushan(1990) and the prestigious Bharat Ratna(1997).
4	25-Jul-1997 to 25-Jul-2002	1306	K. R. NARAYANAN Born in: Perumthanam (Travancore), now in Kerala on 27-Oct-1920. In the 1998 general election, he was the first President on duty to vote by standing in a queue like an ordinary citizen. Dissolved the Lok Sabha twice on grounds that no one was efficient enough to secure confidence of the House. Was the first Dalit to serve as President. A graduate from London, he started as a lecturer in University of Travancore.
5	25-Jul-1992 to 25-Jul-1997	1306	DR. SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA Born in: Bhopal, now in Madhya Pradesh on 19-Aug-1918. Became Chief Minister of Bhopal in 1952. During this time, Bhopal & some other states were together recognized as the state of Madhya Pradesh. In 1984, while serving as governor of Andhra Pradesh, Sikh militants killed his daughter & son-in-law. Later, he became governor of militancy hit Punjab. Was a Barrister by profession and studied at Cambridge University. Was awarded 'Living Legends of Law' by The International Bar Association.
6	25-Jul-1987 to 25-Jul-1992	1306	R. VENKATARAMAN Born in: Rajamadam (Tanjore District), now in Tamil Nadu on 4-Dec-1910. Member of Constituent Assembly that drafted the first constitution of India. Was a former freedom figher, participated in Quit India Movement and was elected Vice President of India in 1984. In 1946, he was included in the panel of lawyers by Indian Government and was sent to Malaya, Singapore to defend Indians. He worked under 4 prime ministers and appointed 3. In 1989, after Bofors scam, Congress lost polls but was still the single largest party. He invited Congress to form the government but Rajiv Gandhi declined. He was honoured with title of 'Sat Seva Ratna' by His Holiness Sankaracharya of Kancheepuram.
7	25-Jul-1982 to 25-Jul-1987	1306	GIANI ZAIL SINGH Born in: Sandhwan in Punjab on 5-May-1916. Served as President of India during Operation Blue Star, assassination of Indira Gandhi and the anti Sikh riots in 1984. After the sensitive Operation 'Blue Star' & anti Sikh riots, he was pressurized to resign by the Sikh community but later apologized before Akal Takht. Conferred the title of Giani for his deep knowledge about Sikh religion. He died in a serious car accident on his way to a pilgrimage in Punjab.
8	25-Jul-1977 to 25-Jul-1982	1306	NEELAM SANJIVA REDDY Born in: Anantapur, now in Andhra Pradesh on 19-May-1913. Youngest & the only Indian President till date, who was elected unopposed. Was unanimously elected as the speaker of Lok Sabha in March 1977. First Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (after the merging with Hyderabad State, Telangana & Andhra State) in 1956 - 1959. A dynamic President who always said 'I am not a rubber stamp President'.
9	11-Feb-1977 to 25-Jul-1977	118	B. D. JATTI Born in: Savalagi, now in Karnataka on 10-Sep-1912. Was President for only 5 months after Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's death. Founder President of Basava Samithi that propagated the preachings of saint philosopher Basaveshwara. Served as Chief Minister of Mysore state between 1958 - 1962. Orissa Governor in 1973-74, took office as 5th Vice President until 1980.
10	24-Aug-1974 to 11-Feb-1977	646	FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED Born in: Delhi on 13-May-1905. Used his constitutional authority & allowed Indira Gandhi to rule when emergency rule was imposed in 1975 without seeking cabinet approval. Was awarded honorary doctorate by University of Pristina in 1975. Was imprisoned for 3 years for participating in Quit India Movement. Joined the freedom struggle after meeting Jawaharlal Nehru in England. He died in office serving as president of India.
11	24-Aug-1969 to 24-Aug-1974	1306	V. V. GIRI Born in: Berhampur, now in Odisha on 10-Aug-1894. Was a creative writer & wrote books on 'Industrial Relations Labour Problems in Indian Industry'. Served as Governor of UP (1957-1960), Kerala (1960-1965) & Mysore (1965-1967). Served twice as President of All India Trade Union Congress. Was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1975. Later died in office.
12	20-Jul-1969 to 24-Aug-1969	26	M. HIDAYATULLAH Born in: Lucknow, now in Uttar Pradesh on 17-Dec-1905. Became acting President of India when V V Giri resigned to take part in the Presidential elections. First Muslim Chief Justice of India from 1968 - 1970. Was the only person who served in all the 3 offices : Chief Justice, President and as Vice President of India. Youngest Advocate General of MP in 1943 also the Youngest Chief Justice of MP High Court in 1954.
13	3-May-1969 to 20-Jul-1969	56	V. V. GIRI Born in: Berhampur, now in Odisha on 10-Aug-1894. Was a creative writer & wrote books on 'Industrial Relations Labour Problems in Indian Industry'. Served as Governor of UP (1957-1960), Kerala (1960-1965) & Mysore (1965-1967). Served twice as President of All India Trade Union Congress. Was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1975. Later died in office.
14	13-May-1967 to 3-May-1969	516	DR. ZAKIR HUSSAIN Born in: Hyderabad, now in Andhra Pradesh on 8-Feb-1897. First Indian President who died in office during the Presidency tenure. First elected Muslim President & among the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 and Bharat Ratna in 1963. Was Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.
15	13-May-1962 to 13-May-1967	1306	DR. S. RADHAKRISHNAN Born in: Tiruttani, now in Tamil Nadu on 5-Sep-1888. Wars with China and Pakistan were fought under his Presidential tenure. Represented India at UNESCO (1946 - 1952), served as Indian Ambassador to the U.S.S.R. (1949 - 1952). His birthday (5th September) is celebrated as Teacher's Day- as he was an eminent philosopher/ teacher. Received 'British Knighthood' in 1931, 'Bharat Ratna' in 1954 and 'Order of Merit' in 1963.
16	26-Jan-1950 to 13-May-1962	3208	DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD Born in: Ziradei, now in Bihar on 3-Dec-1884. First President who visited many countries to establish new relationships. Served as the President of INC thrice in 1934, 1939, 1947. Boycotted western education by asking his son, Mrityunjaya Prasad, to drop out from a Western University and enroll himself in Bihar Vidyapeeth. Top lawyer by profession. Was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1962. He refused government accommodation after retirement.