The Prime Minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India, and head of the Council of Ministers, appointed by the President to assist the latter in the administration of the affairs of the executive in India. The Prime Minister is responsible for the discharge of the functions and power vested in the President in terms of the Constitution of India. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, and recognized as leader of the majority party in the two Houses of the Parliament of India.

     The Prime Minister leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the Government of India. They are invited by the President as leader of the majority party in the Parliament of India to form a government at the federal level and exercise its powers. In practice the Prime Minister nominates the members of their Council of Ministers to the President.

     The Prime Minister is responsible for distribution of work of the Government to various ministries and offices and in terms of the Government of India. The Prime Minister, in consultation with the Cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the Houses of Parliament and is required to answer the question from the Members of Parliament to them as the in-charge of the portfolios in the capacity as Prime Minister of India. The Prime Minister is also the ex officio Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. They also appoint the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, who is responsible for the functioning of the Commission and reports to the Prime Minister.

     The Prime Minister represents the country in various delegations, high level meetings and international organizations that require the attendance of the highest government office and also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance. The Prime Minister also has exclusive jurisdiction over disposal of two national funds, - the PM's National Relief Fund and the PM's National Defence Fund.

     The incumbent prime minister is Dr. Manmohan Singh, in office since May 22, 2004.


1. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru
Period : 15 August 1947 - 27 May 1964
Party : Indian National Congress

2. Gulzarilal Nanda
Period : 27 May 1964 - 9 June 1964
Party : Indian National Congress

3. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Period : 9 June 1964 - 11 January 1966
Party : Indian National Congress

4. Gulzarilal Nanda
Period : 11 January 1966 - 24 January 1966
Party : Indian National Congress

5. Indira Gandhi
Period : 24 January 1966 - 24 March 1977
Party : Indian National Congress

6. Morarji Desai
Period : 24 March 1977 - 28 July 1979
Party : Janata Party

7. Choudhary Charan Singh
Period : 28 July 1979 - 14 January 1980
Party : Janata Party

8. Indira Gandhi
Period : 14 January 1980 - 31 October 1984
Party : Indian National Congress

9. Rajiv Gandhi
Period : 31 October 1984 - 2 December 1989
Party : Indian National Congress

10. Vishwanath Pratap Singh
Period : 2 December 1989 - 10 November 1990
Party : Janata Dal

11. Chandra Shekhar
Period : 10 November 1990 - 21 June 1991
Party : Samajwadi Janata Party

12. P. V. Narasimha Rao
Period : 21 June 1991 - 16 May 1996
Party : Indian National Congress

13. Atal Behari Vajpayee
Period : 16 May 1996 - 1 June 1996
Party : Bharatiya Janata Party

14. H. D. Deve Gowda
Period : 1 June 1996 - 21 April 1997
Party : Janata Dal

15. Inder Kumar Gujral
Period : 21 April 1997 - 19 March 1998
Party : Janata Dal

16. Atal Behari Vajpayee
Period : 19 March 1998 - 22 May 2004
Party : Bharatiya Janata Party

17. Dr. Manmohan Singh
Period : 22 May 2004 - Till Date
Party : Indian National Congress