1.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1947– democratic practices post- Influence: Led India’s

1964) Emergency. nuclear tests in 1998 and
Life: Born in 1889, educated 6. Charan Singh (1979–1980) improved relations with
at Harrow and Cambridge. A Life: Born in 1902; a Pakistan. Initiated major
prominent leader in the farmer’s leader. infrastructure projects like
freedom struggle. Influence: Focused on rural the Golden Quadrilateral.
Influence: Architect of development and farmers' 12. H. D. Deve Gowda
modern India; promoted welfare but failed to sustain a (1996–1997)
socialism, non-alignment, stable government. Life: Born in 1933; regional
and industrialization. Key in 7. Rajiv Gandhi (1984–1989) leader from Karnataka.
establishing institutions like Life: Son of Indira Gandhi; Influence: Focused on
IITs and AIIMS. born in 1944, former pilot. agricultural reforms and rural
2. Gulzarilal Nanda (Acting, Influence: Introduced development.
1964; 1966) technology and IT reforms, 13. I. K. Gujral (1997–1998)
Life: Born in 1898; a reduced bureaucratic red Life: Born in 1919; a
Gandhian economist and tape. His tenure faced diplomat turned politician.
politician. criticism for the Bhopal Influence: Introduced the
Influence: Interim PM twice disaster and Bofors scandal. “Gujral Doctrine” for better
after Nehru and Shastri's Assassinated by the LTTE in relations with neighboring
deaths. Played a stabilizing 1991. countries.
role during transitional 8. Vishwanath Pratap Singh 14. Manmohan Singh (2004–
phases. (1989–1990) 2014)
3. Lal Bahadur Shastri Life: Born in 1931; known Life: Born in 1932; an
(1964–1966) for his honesty. economist and technocrat.
Life: Born in 1904, known Influence: Introduced the Influence: Instrumental in
for simplicity and humility. Mandal Commission, economic reforms. Managed
Influence: Promoted the expanding reservations for India through the 2008 global
slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan." backward classes, sparking financial crisis and pushed
Led India during the 1965 widespread protests. for landmark policies like
war with Pakistan. Died 9. Chandra Shekhar (1990– MGNREGA.
mysteriously in Tashkent. 1991) 15. Narendra Modi (2014–
4. Indira Gandhi (1966–1977, Life: Born in 1927; known Present)
1980–1984) for being a socialist leader. Life: Born in 1950; former
Life: Nehru’s daughter, born Influence: His government Chief Minister of Gujarat.
in 1917. First and only was short-lived, managing Influence: Promoted
female PM. economic turbulence and nationalism and economic
Influence: Centralized power, foreign exchange crises. reforms like GST and
initiated the Green 10. P. V. Narasimha Rao demonetization. His tenure
Revolution, and declared the (1991–1996) has been marked by
Emergency (1975). Life: Born in 1921; scholar infrastructure projects and a
Assassinated in 1984 by her and polyglot. focus on digital
own guards. Influence: Liberalized the transformation.
5. Morarji Desai (1977–1979) Indian economy, initiating These leaders shaped India
Life: Born in 1896; a market reforms. Faced through their unique visions,
Gandhian with strict moral criticism for his handling of challenges, and contributions
principles. the Babri Masjid demolition. in politics, economy, and
Influence: First non-Congress 11. Atal Bihari Vajpayee society.
PM. Advocated austerity and (1996, 1998–2004)
anti-corruption measures. His Life: Born in 1924; a poet Varahagiri Venkata Giri
government restored and orator. Term: 3 May 1969 – 20
July 1969
Life: Born in 1894 in President Zail Singh, o Born: August
Odisha; a freedom fighter demonstrating his 19, 1918
and labor leader. trustworthiness and o Died:
Influence: Served as Vice impartial leadership. December 26,
President before becoming 1999
the acting President. Later, 9. K. R. Narayanan
o Born:
he became the full 1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
February 27,
President (1969–1974). o Born:
1920
Known for his role in December 3,
o Died:
promoting workers’ rights. 1884
November 9,
2. Mohammad o Died:
2005
Hidayatullah February 28,
10. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul
1963
Kalam
2. Dr. Sarvepalli
Term: 20 July 1969 – 24 o Born: October
Radhakrishnan
August 1969 o Born:
15, 1931
Life: Born in 1905 in o Died: July 27,
September 5,
Madhya Pradesh; served 2015
1888
as the Chief Justice of 11. Pratibha Patil
o Died: April
India. o Born:
17, 1975
Influence: Took over as December 19,
3. Dr. Zakir Husain
1934
acting President after Giri o Born:
o (Still living as
resigned to contest February 8,
of 2024)
presidential elections. 1897
12. Pranab Mukherjee
Known for upholding o Died: May 3,
o Born:
judicial independence. 1969
December 11,
Later served as the Vice 4. Varahagiri Venkata
1935
Giri
President of India. o Died: August
o Born: August
3. Basappa Danappa Jatti 31, 2020
10, 1894
13. Ram Nath Kovind
o Died: June 24,
Term: 11 February 1977 – o Born: October
1980
25 July 1977 1, 1945
5. Fakhruddin Ali
Life: Born in 1912 in o (Still living as
Ahmed
Karnataka; started as a o Born: May 13, of 2024)
lawyer and later became 14. Droupadi Murmu
1905
o Born: June 20,
Chief Minister of Mysore. o Died:
1958
Influence: Took over as February 11,
o (Still living as
acting President after 1977
6. Giani Zail Singh of 2024)
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's
death. Played a stabilizing o Born: May 5,
1916 1. Giani Zail Singh
role during the politically (acting for a brief
o Died:
turbulent period after the period in 1987)
November 25,
Emergency. o Details as
1994
4. Mohammad 7. R. Venkataraman above.
Hidayatullah (Second o Born: 2. Dr. Shankar Dayal
Term) December 4, Sharma (acting in
1910 1992)
Term: 6 October 1982 – o Died: January o Details as
31 October 1982 27, 2009 above.
Life: Hidayatullah returned 8. Dr. Shankar Dayal 3. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul
as acting President during Sharma Kalam (acting briefly
in 2002)
a brief absence of
 o Details as
above.
4. Pranab Mukherjee
(acting briefly in 2012)