List of heads of state of India facts for kids
India has had sixteen different people serve as its head of state since it became independent in 1947. The head of state is like the main representative of the country. Today, the head of state is Droupadi Murmu. She was chosen in 2022 by a group called the National Democratic Alliance.
From 1947 to 1950, India's head of state was the King of India. This was the same person who was the monarch of the United Kingdom. The King had a special helper in India called a governor-general. In 1950, India became a republic with its own Constitution. This meant the King and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president.
Contents
India's Monarch (1947–1950)
The King of India was chosen in the same way as the British King.
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 |
| First monarch | George VI as successor of the Emperor of India |
| Last monarch | George VI |
| Formation | 15 August 1947 |
| Abolition | 26 January 1950 |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
| Number | Picture | Monarch (Born–Died) |
Time in Power | Royal Family | Prime Minister | Governor General | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start Date | End Date | ||||||
| 1 | .jpg) |
George VI (1895–1952) |
15 August 1947 | 26 January 1950 | Windsor | Nehru | Mountbatten (1947–1948) |
| Rajagopalachari (1948–1950) |
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Governor-General's Role
The Governor-General was the King's representative in India. They held most of the King's powers. The Governor-General served as long as the King wished. After India became independent in 1947, the Governor-General was chosen only by the Indian government. The British government was not involved.
| Number | Picture | Governor-General (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Prime Minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Left | ||||
| 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 | |
India's President (1950–Present)
When India adopted its Constitution in 1950, the president took over from the monarch as the country's 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.
- What the Colors Mean
This color means the Vice-President was acting as President
| Number | Picture | President (Born–Died) |
Elected In | Time in Office | Political Party (when chosen) |
Prime Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Left | |||||||
| 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 | .jpg) |
Zakir Husain (1897–1969) |
1967 | 13 May 1967 | 3 May 1969 (died 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 |  |
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977) |
1974 | 24 August 1974 | 11 February 1977 (died 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 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Ramaswamy 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 | .jpg) |
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 | Incumbent | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi | |
Official Symbols
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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
