List of heads of state of India facts for kids
This article tells you about the heads of state of India. A head of state is the top leader of a country. They represent the nation. India has had different heads of state since it became independent in 1947.
First, India was a Dominion under the British King. This means the King of the United Kingdom was also India's King. He had a representative in India called a Governor-General. Then, in 1950, India became a Republic. This meant it had its own elected head of state, called the President.
The current President of India is Droupadi Murmu. She was elected in 2022.
Contents
India's First Head of State: The Monarch (1947–1950)
After India became independent in 1947, it was still part of the British Commonwealth. This meant the King of the United Kingdom was also the King of India. He was India's head of state. The way to become King was the same as for the British throne.
Quick facts for kids King of India |
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Emblem of the Union of India
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| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Formation | 15 August 1947 |
| Abolition | 26 January 1950 |
Here is a list of the Monarchs of India:
| No. | Portrait | Monarch (Born–Died) |
Time as King | Royal Family | Prime Minister | Governor-General | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Ended | ||||||
| 1 | .jpg) |
George VI (1895–1952) |
15 August 1947 | 26 January 1950 | Windsor | Nehru | Mountbatten (1947–1948) |
| Rajagopalachari (1948–1950) |
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The Governor-General of India
The Governor-General was the King's representative in India. This person carried out most of the King's duties. The Governor-General was chosen by the King. After 1947, the Indian government advised the King on who to choose.
Here are the Governor-Generals of India:
| No. | Portrait | Governor-General (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Prime Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Ended | |||||
.svg){kind=small} Chosen by George VI (1947–1950) (As King of India) |
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| 1 |  |
The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979) |
15 August 1947 | 21 June 1948 | Jawaharlal Nehru | |
| 2 |  |
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) |
21 June 1948 | 26 January 1950 | ||
The President of India (1950–Present)
In 1950, India adopted its own Constitution. India became a Republic. This meant the country would no longer have a King. Instead, the President became the new ceremonial head of state.
The President is chosen by a special group called the Electoral College. They serve for five years. If the President's position becomes empty, the Vice President steps in as acting President.
- Who was acting President?
This color means the Vice-President was acting as President
| No. | Portrait | President (Born–Died) |
Elected in | Time in Office | Political Party | Prime Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Ended | |||||||
| 1 |  |
Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963) |
1952 1957 |
26 January 1950 | 13 May 1962 | Indian National Congress | Nehru | |
| 2 |  |
Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) |
1962 | 13 May 1962 | 13 May 1967 | Independent | Nehru Nanda Shastri Nanda I. Gandhi |
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| 3 |  |
Zakir Husain (1897–1969) |
1967 | 13 May 1967 | 3 May 1969 (Died while in office.) |
Independent | I. Gandhi | |
| – |  |
V. V. Giri (1894–1980) |
– | 3 May 1969 | 20 July 1969 | Independent | I. Gandhi | |
| – |  |
Mohammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992) |
– | 20 July 1969 | 24 August 1969 | I. Gandhi | ||
| 4 | |
V. V. Giri (1894–1980) |
1969 | 24 August 1969 | 24 August 1974 | Independent | I. Gandhi | |
| 5 | .jpg) |
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977) |
1974 | 24 August 1974 | 11 February 1977 (Died while in office.) |
Indian National Congress | I. Gandhi | |
| – |  |
Basappa Danappa Jatti (1912–2002) |
– | 11 February 1977 | 25 July 1977 | Indian National Congress | I. Gandhi Desai |
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| 6 |  |
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913–1996) |
1977 | 25 July 1977 | 25 July 1982 | Janata Party | Desai C. Singh I. Gandhi |
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| 7 | .png) |
Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994) |
1982 | 25 July 1982 | 25 July 1987 | Indian National Congress | I. Gandhi R. Gandhi |
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| 8 |  |
R. Venkataraman (1910–2009) |
1987 | 25 July 1987 | 25 July 1992 | Indian National Congress | R. Gandhi V. P. Singh Shekhar Rao |
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| 9 |  |
Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999) |
1992 | 25 July 1992 | 25 July 1997 | Indian National Congress | Rao Vajpayee Deve Gowda Gujral |
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| 10 |  |
K. R. Narayanan (1920–2005) |
1997 | 25 July 1997 | 25 July 2002 | Indian National Congress | Gujral Vajpayee |
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| 11 |  |
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) |
2002 | 25 July 2002 | 25 July 2007 | Independent | Vajpayee M. Singh |
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| 12 |  |
Pratibha Patil (born 1934) |
2007 | 25 July 2007 | 25 July 2012 | Indian National Congress | M. Singh | |
| 13 |  |
Pranab Mukherjee (1935–2020) |
2012 | 25 July 2012 | 25 July 2017 | Indian National Congress | M. Singh Modi |
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| 14 |  |
Ram Nath Kovind (born 1945) |
2017 | 25 July 2017 | 25 July 2022 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi | |
| 15 |  |
Droupadi Murmu (born 1958) |
2022 | 25 July 2022 | Currently in office | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi | |
Standards and Flags
These are the special flags used by the Governor-General and the President of India.
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Governor-General's Flag (1947–1950)
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President's Flag (1950–1971)
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See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Jefes de Estado de India para niños
