Prime Minister of India facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of India |
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Logo of Prime Minister of India
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| Prime Minister's Office Union Council of Ministers Executive branch of the Indian Government |
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| Style |
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| Abbreviation | PM |
| Member of |
Parliament of India
Union Council of Ministers |
| Reports to | President of India |
| Residence | 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Seat | Secretariat Building, New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Nominator | Lok Sabha members |
| Appointer | President of India |
| Term length | At the pleasure of the President
No term limits specified
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| Constituting instrument | Articles 74 & 75, Constitution of India |
| Precursor | Vice President of the Executive Council |
| Formation | 15 August 1947 |
| First holder | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister |
| Salary |
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The prime minister of India (often called PM) is the main leader of the government in India. The PM leads the Union Council of Ministers, which is like a team of top government officials. Even though the President of India is the official head of the country, the prime minister and their team hold the real power to make decisions and run the country.
To become prime minister, a person must be a member of one of the two houses of India's Parliament: the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. The prime minister and their cabinet are always answerable to the Lok Sabha. This means they need the support of most members in the Lok Sabha to stay in power.
The president of India chooses the prime minister. However, the chosen person must have the trust of most members in the Lok Sabha. If they lose this trust, they must resign. The prime minister also picks and removes members of their Council of Ministers. They also decide which jobs (ministries) each minister will have.
Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first prime minister and served the longest, for over 16 years. After him, Lal Bahadur Shastri had a short time in office. Then, Indira Gandhi served two terms, totaling about 15 years. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, became prime minister in 1984. After him, India saw several governments that didn't last very long. Later, leaders like P. V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh completed full terms. Narendra Modi is the current prime minister, serving since May 26, 2014.
Contents
India's Prime Minister: Role and History
India uses a parliamentary system of government. In this system, the prime minister is the chief of the government. They lead the executive branch, which carries out the country's laws. The head of state (like the president in India) usually has a more ceremonial role. They act on the advice of the prime minister.
If someone becomes prime minister but isn't already a member of Parliament, they must become one within six months. The prime minister works with other ministers to help pass new laws in Parliament.
Early Years: 1947–1984
Since India became independent in 1947, there have been 14 different prime ministers. For many years after 1947, the Indian National Congress (INC) party was very strong. India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, took office on August 15, 1947. He served for 17 years and won four general elections. He passed away in May 1964.
After Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri became prime minister. He was a leader of the Congress party. During his time, India fought a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri died in Tashkent after signing a peace agreement.
Then, Indira Gandhi, Nehru's daughter, became India's third prime minister. She was the first and only woman to hold this position. Her first term lasted 11 years. During this time, banks were taken over by the government. Allowances given to former royal families were also stopped. India also fought another war with Pakistan in 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Sikkim also joined India in 1975. India also conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran. In 1975, a state of emergency was declared, giving the government special powers.
The emergency ended in 1977, and new elections were held. Many opposition parties joined together to form the Janata Party. They won the election and defeated the Congress party. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress prime minister. His government faced challenges because different groups had different ideas. He resigned after two and a half years. Then, Charan Singh became prime minister with support from Congress. But Congress soon withdrew its support, and Singh had to resign after only 5 months. This was the shortest term for a prime minister.
In 1980, the Congress party returned to power, and Indira Gandhi became prime minister again. In 1984, a military operation took place at the Golden Temple in Punjab. On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was killed by her bodyguards.
From 1984 to 1999
After Indira Gandhi's death, her son, Rajiv Gandhi, became prime minister. He was 40 years old, making him the youngest prime minister ever. In the 1984 election, the Congress party won a huge victory, getting 401 out of 552 seats. This was the most seats any party has ever won.
Later, V. P. Singh, who was a minister in Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet, left Congress. He formed the Janata Dal party and, with other parties, created the National Front. In the 1989 election, the National Front came to power, and V. P. Singh became prime minister. His government accepted important recommendations for social changes. However, his term ended when a key supporting party withdrew its help.
After V. P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar became prime minister with support from Congress. But Congress soon withdrew its support, and his government also fell. New elections were called.
Rajiv Gandhi was killed during the 1991 election campaign. The Congress party, led by P. V. Narasimha Rao, won the election. Rao became the first prime minister from South India. At this time, India was facing financial problems. Rao and his finance minister, Manmohan Singh, started economic reforms. These changes helped India's economy grow a lot. Rao was the first prime minister outside the Nehru–Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term.
After Rao's term ended in 1996, India had four prime ministers in three years. These included two terms for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and one term each for H. D. Deve Gowda and I. K. Gujral. In 1998, Prime Minister Vajpayee's government conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran. Many Western countries placed economic restrictions on India. However, with support from other nations, these restrictions were not very effective. India and Pakistan tried to improve relations and signed the Lahore Declaration in 1999.
In May 1999, Vajpayee's government lost a vote of no confidence by just one vote. This happened during the Kargil War with Pakistan. In the October 1999 election, Vajpayee's party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and its allies won a strong majority.
From 2000 to Today
Vajpayee continued to make economic changes, which helped India's economy grow. His government also worked on improving roads and other infrastructure projects. Vajpayee completed a full five-year term, becoming the first non-Congress prime minister to do so.
In the 2004 election, the Congress party became the largest party. They formed a group called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Manmohan Singh became prime minister, the first Sikh to hold the position. During his time, India's economy continued to grow. His government passed important laws like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (which guarantees jobs in rural areas) and the Right to Information Act, 2005 (which allows citizens to get information from the government). India also strengthened its relationships with other countries. In 2008, there were terrorist attacks in Mumbai. In the 2009 election, the UPA won again. Manmohan Singh resigned in May 2014 after his party lost the election.
In the 2014 election, the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, won a clear majority. The BJP became the first party since 1984 to win a majority on its own. Narendra Modi became prime minister, and he was the first prime minister born after India gained independence.
Narendra Modi was re-elected in 2019 with an even bigger victory. The BJP and its allies won 354 seats, with the BJP alone winning 303 seats.
Political Parties and Prime Ministers
| Party | PMs | Years in PMO | Name(s) | Alliance | |
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| Indian National Congress | 6 | 54 years | Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh | ||
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 2 | 16 years | Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi | NDA (from 1998) | |
| Janata Dal | 3 | 2 years | Vishwanath Pratap Singh, H. D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral | NF (1989–1990) UF (1996–1998) | |
| Janata Party | 1 | 2 years | Morarji Desai | JP | |
| Janata Party (Secular) | 1 | <1 years | Charan Singh | ||
| Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) | 1 | <1 years | Chandra Shekhar | JP
External support from INC |
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How the Prime Minister Works
The Constitution of India says that the President of India is the head of the country. The prime minister leads a group of ministers who help and advise the president. This means the president usually acts on the prime minister's advice.
The prime minister is the head of the government and is in charge of carrying out the laws. The president's job is to protect the Constitution and the laws. The prime minister is mentioned in only a few articles of the Constitution. The prime minister is very important because they usually have the support of most members in the Lok Sabha.
Becoming Prime Minister: Rules and Oath
To be eligible to become prime minister, a person must:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. If they are not, they must become a member within six months of being chosen.
- Be at least 25 years old if they are a Lok Sabha member, or 30 years old if they are a Rajya Sabha member.
- Not hold any other paid government job.
Once chosen, the prime minister must leave any private or government jobs they had before.
Taking the Oath
Before starting their job, the prime minister takes two oaths in front of the president:
- Oath of Office: They promise to be loyal to the Constitution, uphold India's unity, and do their duties fairly.
- Oath of Secrecy: They promise not to share any secret government information, unless it's needed for their work.
How a Prime Minister's Term Ends
The prime minister serves as long as the president trusts them. However, the prime minister must also have the support of the Lok Sabha.
A prime minister's term can end if most Lok Sabha members no longer support them. This is called a vote of no confidence. Three prime ministers, I. K. Gujral, H. D. Deve Gowda, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, lost their jobs this way. A prime minister can also choose to resign. Morarji Desai was the first prime minister to resign while in office.
Powers and Responsibilities of the Prime Minister
The prime minister leads the government of India. The president asks the person who has the support of most Lok Sabha members to form the government. The prime minister then chooses the members of their Union Council of Ministers. They also pick a small group of important ministers (called the cabinet) to lead key government departments.
The prime minister helps the president divide government work among different ministries. The prime minister also attends Parliament sessions and answers questions from members of Parliament about government work.
Some important government departments are directly managed by the prime minister. These usually include:
- Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
- NITI Aayog (a policy think tank)
- Department of Atomic Energy
- Department of Space
- Nuclear Command Authority
The prime minister represents India at international meetings and organizations. They also speak to the country about important national issues. The prime minister is the main link between the cabinet and the president.
Who the Prime Minister Appoints
The prime minister suggests names to the president for many important positions, such as:
- Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
- Comptroller and Auditor General (who checks government spending)
- Chairperson and members of the Union Public Service Commission (who select government employees)
- Attorney General (the government's chief legal advisor)
The prime minister also decides where top government officials and military leaders will be posted. This includes leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Unlike in some other countries, the prime minister does not have much say in choosing judges. Judges are chosen by a group of senior judges.
Prime Minister's Role in Lawmaking
The prime minister is usually the leader of the Lok Sabha. In this role, they represent the government in Parliament. They announce important new laws and respond to questions from the opposition parties. The president can call or end Parliament sessions, but they do this only on the prime minister's advice. So, the prime minister has some control over Parliament's activities.
Prime Minister's Office and Life
Official Languages
The Prime Minister's Office website is available in 11 Indian languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei (Manipuri), Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu. It is also available in English and Hindi.
Salary and Benefits
The Parliament decides the prime minister's salary and other benefits. The prime minister receives monthly allowances. In 2010, it was reported that the prime minister's pay was about $4106 per year. This was considered very low compared to other world leaders.
| As on | Gross amount in INR (₹) | Gross amount in USD ($) |
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| October 2009 | ₹100,000 | $1,400 |
| October 2010 | ₹135,000 | $1,900 |
| July 2012 | ₹160,000 | $2,200 |
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Official Residence
The official home for the prime minister of India is 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. This address was previously called 7, Race Course Road.
- Jawaharlal Nehru lived at Teen Murti Bhavan.
- Lal Bahadur Shastri chose 10, Janpath.
- Indira Gandhi lived at 1, Safdarjung Road.
- Rajiv Gandhi was the first prime minister to use 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, and his successors have continued to use it.
Travel and Security
For travel on the ground, the prime minister uses a special armored Range Rover. Their motorcade includes several armored cars, SUVs, and ambulances.
For air travel, the prime minister uses special Boeing 777-300ER planes called Air India One. These planes are operated by the Indian Air Force. Helicopters like the Mi-8 are used for shorter trips.
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The Special Protection Group (SPG) is responsible for protecting the prime minister and their family. Other police forces also help provide security around the prime minister's residence.
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
The PMO is where the prime minister works. It is located in South Block in New Delhi. The office has about 20 rooms and is near the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs. The PMO is led by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, who is usually a former government official.
Life After Being Prime Minister
Former prime ministers receive a house and the same benefits as a serving cabinet minister for five years. This includes a staff, office expenses, and air tickets. They also get security from the armed forces and police.
Former prime ministers rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence. This is the same rank as state chief ministers and cabinet ministers. As former members of Parliament, they also receive a pension. In 2015, a former MP received at least ₹20,000 per month, plus more for each year they served beyond five years.
Some former prime ministers, like H. D. Deve Gowda, have continued to serve as members of Parliament after their term.
Death of a Prime Minister
When a prime minister passes away, they are given a state funeral. It is also common for states and union territories to declare a day of mourning.
Remembering Prime Ministers
Many places and institutions in India are named after former prime ministers. For example, Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday is celebrated as Children's Day. Charan Singh's birthday is celebrated as Farmer's Day. Prime ministers are also honored on postage stamps in different countries.
Funds Managed by the Prime Minister
The prime minister oversees several important funds.
National Defence Fund
The National Defence Fund (NDF) was created in 1962 after the war with China. The prime minister leads this fund's committee. The ministers of defense, finance, and home affairs are also members. This fund relies on donations from the public and does not get money from the government budget. Donations to this fund are tax-deductible.
Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was started in 1948 by Jawaharlal Nehru. It was first used to help people who had to leave their homes. Now, it mainly helps families affected by natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. It also helps people with serious illnesses pay for medical care. Donations to this fund are also tax-deductible.
PM CARES Fund
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi created the PM CARES Fund. This fund was set up to help with emergencies like the pandemic. It relies completely on voluntary donations from the public. The fund quickly received a lot of money and was used to buy medical supplies and support vaccine research.
Deputy Prime Minister
The job of deputy prime minister is not officially mentioned in the Constitution. However, governments have sometimes appointed a senior minister to this role. This position does not have any special powers. Usually, important ministers like the finance minister or home minister are chosen as deputy prime minister. This role is seen as the second most important in the cabinet. It often helps strengthen coalition governments, where several parties work together.
See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de la India para niños
- List of prime ministers of India
- List of presidents of India
- President of India
- Vice President of India
- List of vice presidents of India
- Deputy Prime Minister of India
- Air transports of heads of state and government
- Official state car
