List Of Presidents Of IndiaÂ
Draupadi Murmu, the NDA candidate, was announced as the new President of India on July 21, 2022. According to Article 52 of the Indian Constitution, there shall be a President of India. The President holds the nominal head position within the government and acts upon the advice of the Prime Minister (Council of Ministers).
In India, the President serves as the head of the state but doesn’t wield executive powers. However, all executive actions are carried out in the name of the President of India. Moreover, all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with foreign countries are done under the auspices of the President of India.
The first President of India was Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and the current President is Draupadi Murmu, who assumed office on July 21, 2022, succeeding Shri Ram Nath Kovind upon the completion of his tenure. Let’s take a look at the list of individuals who have held the esteemed position of President of India.
President of India List from 1950 to 2024
This table outlines the Presidents of India from 1950 to 2023, listing their names, tenures, and a brief profile of each individual who served as the President during this period.
| Name | Starting Date | Ending Date | Profiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad | January 26, 1950 | May 13, 1962 | First President of India. |
| Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | May 13, 1962 | May 13, 1967 | Second President of India. |
| Dr. Zakir Hussain | May 13, 1967 | May 3, 1969 | Third President of India |
| Varahagiri Venkata Giri | May 3, 1969 | July 20, 1969 | Acting President due to Hussain’s death. |
| Mohammad Hidayatullah | July 20, 1969 | August 24, 1969 | Acting President until Giri’s presidency. |
| Varahagiri Venkata Giri | August 24, 1969 | August 24, 1974 | Fourth President of India. |
| Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | August 24, 1974 | February 11, 1977 | Fifth President of India. |
| Basappa Danappa Jatti | February 11, 1977 | July 25, 1977 | Became President after Ahmed’s death, former Chief Minister of Mysore. |
| Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | July 25, 1977 | July 25, 1982 | Sixth President of India, elected unopposed. |
| Giani Zail Singh | July 25, 1982 | July 25, 1987 | Seventh President of India, member of the Congress party. |
| Ramaswamy Venkataraman | July 25, 1987 | July 25, 1992 | Eighth President of India, lawyer, professional politician. |
| Shankar Dayal Sharma | July 25, 1992 | July 25, 1997 | Ninth President of India, member of the National Congress party. |
| Kocheril Raman Narayanan | July 25, 1997 | July 25, 2002 | Tenth President of India, known for diplomacy. |
| Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | July 25, 2002 | July 25, 2007 | Eleventh President of India, renowned scientist. |
| Pratibha Patil | July 25, 2007 | July 25, 2012 | Twelfth President of India, first woman to hold the position. |
| Pranab Mukherjee | July 25, 2012 | July 25, 2017 | Thirteenth President of India, senior leader of National Congress party. |
| Shri Ram Nath Kovind | July 25, 2017 | July 21, 2022 | Fourteenth President of India, former Bihar Governor. |
| Droupadi Murmu | July 21, 2022 | Working | Fifteenth President of India, member of Bharatiya Janata Party. |
Droupadi Murmu Became the New President of India
Droupadi Murmu assumed the role of the President of India after the announcement of the presidential election results on July 21, 2022. Notably, she stands as the second woman to hold the esteemed position of President in India and is the first tribal woman to do so. She is India’s 15th President, succeeding Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
A member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Droupadi Murmu, aged 64 and with a background as a former teacher, hails from the state of Odisha (formerly Orissa). She has previously served as a state governor, bringing a wealth of administrative experience to her new role as the President of India.
Presidents of India: Eligibility
The eligibility criteria outlined in Article 58 of the Indian Constitution for a candidate to qualify for the presidential election include:
- Citizenship: The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- Age Requirement: The candidate should be at least 35 years old.
- Eligibility for Lok Sabha: The candidate should be eligible for election as a member of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
- No Office of Profit: The candidate running for the position of President of India should not hold any office of profit under the State Government, Union, or any other local authorities.
List of Presidents of India
Droupadi Murmu (2022 – till now) Present President of India
Droupadi Murmu assumed office as the President of the Republic of India on July 21, 2022. She holds the distinction of being the 15th President of India, succeeding Shri Ram Nath Kovind. Murmu entered the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1997 and served as the councillor of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat.
Her tenure includes chairing the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 2000 and holding the position of the national vice-president of BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha. Notably, Murmu became the first woman Governor of Jharkhand. Here’s a list of the Presidents preceding her:
Shri Ram Nath Kovind (2017 – 2022)
Shri Ram Nath Kovind served as the 14th President of India from July 25, 2017, until July 21, 2022. He was the first individual from Uttar Pradesh to assume the presidency. Prior to this role, Kovind held the position of Governor of Bihar. His tenure was marked by a commitment to equality and integrity in public life.
Pranab Mukherjee (2012 – 2017)
Pranab Mukherjee, an esteemed Indian politician and government official, held the 13th Presidency of India from 2012 to 2017. Mukherjee passed away on August 31, 2020, at the age of 84, after a prolonged illness. Renowned for his extensive political career spanning several decades, he served in various key ministerial positions including Foreign, Defence, Commerce, and Finance Minister.
Pratibha Patil (2007 – 2012)
Pratibha Patil made history as the first woman President of India, serving as the 12th President from 2007 to 2012. Prior to her presidency, Patil served as the governor of Rajasthan and held significant roles in the Rajya Sabha.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2002 – 2007)
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, an eminent aerospace scientist, held the 11th Presidency of India from 2002 to 2007. Notably, he made substantial contributions to India’s missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Kocheril Raman Narayanan (1997 – 2002)
Kocheril Raman Narayanan, previously a member of Parliament, became the 10th President of India in 1997. He was the first Dalit to hold the prestigious office.
Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992 – 1997)
Shankar Dayal Sharma, the 9th President of India, served the nation from 1992 to 1997. His tenure included significant roles in the Bhopal State, Madhya Pradesh government, and as Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1987-1992)
Ramaswamy Venkataraman, India’s 8th President, was a freedom fighter and received prestigious awards like Tamra Patra and Soviet Land Prize for his contributions before serving as President from 1987 to 1992.
Giani Zail Singh (1982-1987)
Giani Zail Singh, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, served as India’s President from 1982 to 1987. His tenure witnessed significant events like the assassination of Indira Gandhi and Operation Blue Star.
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (1977-1982)
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, India’s 6th President, was elected unopposed and transitioned from being Lok Sabha Speaker to the presidency, serving until 1982.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1974-1977)
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the 5th President, passed away during his tenure, which lasted from 1974 to 1977.
Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1969-1974)
Varahagiri Venkata Giri, an independent candidate, served as the President from 1969 to 1974 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975.
Dr. Zakir Hussain (1967-1969)
Dr. Zakir Hussain, India’s first Muslim President, passed away during his term in 1969. He had previously served as the Governor of Bihar.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1962-1967)
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, celebrated for his contributions to education, was India’s second President from 1962 to 1967 and was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962)
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India’s inaugural President and a key leader in the Independence Movement, served two consecutive terms from 1950 to 1962. He presided over the Constituent Assembly and was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1962.
List of Presidents of India: Important points
The President of India holds the constitutional headship in the parliamentary system of government. As the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, they symbolically represent the nation but do not wield ruling authority. The actual power lies with the council of ministers.
The President is elected by an electoral college comprising elected members from various segments: (i) Elected members from both houses of the Parliament. (ii) Elected members from state legislatures. (iii) Elected members from the legislative assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry (added by the 70th Amendment Act, 1992).
Their term spans five years but allows for immediate re-election and doesn’t impose limits on the number of terms served.
In case of constitutional violations by the President, impeachment proceedings can be initiated in either house of Parliament.
In situations of the President’s absence due to death, resignation, impeachment, or when the Vice President’s position is vacant, the Vice President takes over. If the Vice President’s seat is also vacant, the Chief Justice of India assumes the duties of the President.
Presidents of India: Important Facts
Here are some notable facts about the Presidents of India:
- Seven Presidents have had prior affiliation with a political party before their election.
- Six among them were active members of the Congress Party.
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President, remains the sole individual to have held office for two terms.
- The incumbent President, Draupadi Murmu, a former member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, assumed the role of President of India.
