List of Indian Presidents (1950–Present): Full Details, Important Facts, and Exam Notes
- The List of Indian Presidents is one of the most important topics in Indian Polity and General Awareness. Questions based on the first President, the current President, the longest-serving President, the first woman President, the first tribal President, and the Acting Presidents are frequently asked in entrance exams such as AMU, JMI, CUET, SSC, and other competitive tests. A clear understanding of the List of Indian Presidents helps students answer direct factual questions quickly and accurately.
- In this post, you will get the complete List of Indian Presidents, the meaning of the President and Acting President, important exam facts, quick revision points, and useful FAQs. As of 10 April 2026, Droupadi Murmu is the serving President of India. She was sworn in as the 15th President of India on 25 July 2022.
What Is the President of India?
- The President of India is the constitutional head of state and is often described as the First Citizen of India. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. While the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers handle day-to-day governance, executive actions of the Union are formally taken in the name of the President.
- The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Nominated members do not take part in this election.
What Is an Acting President?
- An Acting President is a temporary head of state who takes charge when the office of the President falls vacant because of death, resignation, removal, or another constitutional situation. This ensures continuity at the highest constitutional office until a new President is elected.
- Usually, the Vice President discharges the functions of the President in such a situation. If both the offices of President and Vice President are vacant, the Chief Justice of India may discharge those functions for the time being. In Indian history, V. V. Giri, M. Hidayatullah, and B. D. Jatti served in acting capacity at different times.
Complete List of Indian Presidents (1950–Present)
Below is the complete List of Indian Presidents in chronological order, along with their tenure and key facts for exam revision.
| No. | President | Tenure | Key Fact |
| 1 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 26 January 1950 – 13 May 1962 | First President of India; only President to serve two full terms. |
| 2 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13 May 1962 – 13 May 1967 | Renowned philosopher; his birthday is observed as Teachers’ Day in India. |
| 3 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969 | First Muslim President of India; first President to die in office. |
| – | V. V. Giri (Acting) | 3 May 1969 – 20 July 1969 | Served as Acting President after Dr. Zakir Husain’s death. |
| – | M. Hidayatullah (Acting) | 20 July 1969 – 24 August 1969 | Chief Justice of India who discharged the functions of the President. |
| 4 | V. V. Giri | 24 August 1969 – 24 August 1974 | Only person to serve as both Acting President and elected President. |
| 5 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | 24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977 | President during the Emergency; died in office. |
| – | B. D. Jatti (Acting) | 12 February 1977 – 24 July 1977 | Served as Acting President after Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s death. |
| 6 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | 25 July 1977 – 25 July 1982 | Elected unopposed as President. |
| 7 | Giani Zail Singh | 25 July 1982 – 25 July 1987 | First Sikh President of India. |
| 8 | R. Venkataraman | 25 July 1987 – 25 July 1992 | Veteran lawyer, freedom fighter, and statesman. |
| 9 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | 25 July 1992 – 25 July 1997 | Scholar and former Vice President of India. |
| 10 | K. R. Narayanan | 25 July 1997 – 25 July 2002 | First Dalit President of India. |
| 11 | Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | 25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007 | Known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile Man of India.” |
| 12 | Pratibha Devisingh Patil | 25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012 | First woman President of India. |
| 13 | Pranab Mukherjee | 25 July 2012 – 25 July 2017 | Senior statesman; later awarded the Bharat Ratna. |
| 14 | Ram Nath Kovind | 25 July 2017 – 25 July 2022 | Second Dalit President of India; former Governor of Bihar. |
| 15 | Droupadi Murmu | 25 July 2022 – Present | First tribal President of India and second woman President. |
This List of Indian Presidents matches the official sequence used by Rashtrapati Bhavan. Official records recognize 15 Presidents from Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Droupadi Murmu, while the Acting Presidents are usually shown separately in exam preparation.
Important Facts from the List of Indian Presidents
- First President of India
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India. He held office from 26 January 1950 to 13 May 1962 and remains the only President to serve two full terms.
2. Longest-Serving President of India
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was also the longest-serving President of India. His tenure lasted for more than 12 years, which makes him a very important name in the List of Indian Presidents.
3. First Muslim President of India
Dr. Zakir Husain was the first Muslim President of India. He is also remembered as the first President to die in office.
- Acting Presidents of India
India had three individuals who served in acting capacity in connection with the presidency: V. V. Giri, M. Hidayatullah, and B. D. Jatti. V. V. Giri first became Acting President after the death of Dr. Zakir Husain and was later elected President. M. Hidayatullah, then Chief Justice of India, discharged the functions of the President in 1969. B. D. Jatti served as Acting President after the death of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
- First Sikh President of India
Giani Zail Singh was the first Sikh President of India. He served from 25 July 1982 to 25 July 1987.
- First Dalit President of India
K. R. Narayanan was the first Dalit President of India. This remains one of the most repeated fact-based questions from the List of Indian Presidents.
- First Woman President of India
Pratibha Devisingh Patil was the first woman President of India. She assumed office on 25 July 2007.
- First Tribal President of India
Droupadi Murmu is the first tribal President of India. She is also the second woman to hold the office of President.
- Current President of India
Droupadi Murmu is the current President of India. She became the 15th President of India on 25 July 2022.
- President Known as the People’s President
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is widely known as the People’s President. He is also popularly remembered as the Missile Man of India.
Quick Revision Points
- First President of India — Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- Longest-serving President — Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- First Muslim President — Dr. Zakir Husain
- First President to die in office — Dr. Zakir Husain
- Only Chief Justice to act as President — M. Hidayatullah
- Only person to be both Acting President and elected President — V. V. Giri
- First Sikh President — Giani Zail Singh
- First Dalit President — K. R. Narayanan
- First woman President — Pratibha Patil
- First tribal President — Droupadi Murmu
- Current President of India — Droupadi Murmu
Why the List of Indian Presidents Is Important for Exams
The List of Indian Presidents is important for exams because question setters often ask direct factual questions from this topic. They may ask about the first President, the current President, the first woman President, the first tribal President, the Acting Presidents, or the President who served the longest. Students who revise the List of Indian Presidents carefully can answer many Indian Polity and General Awareness questions with confidence.
- This topic is especially important because it combines history, polity, and current affairs. A student who remembers the List of Indian Presidents along with the key facts attached to each name is better prepared for objective-type questions in entrance examinations.
FAQs
Who was the first President of India?
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India. He took office on 26 January 1950.
Who is the current President of India?
Droupadi Murmu is the current President of India. She was sworn in on 25 July 2022 as the 15th President of India.
How many Presidents has India had?
India has had 15 Presidents from 1950 to the present. In addition, some individuals served in acting capacity for short periods.
Who was the first woman President of India?
Pratibha Devisingh Patil was the first woman President of India. She assumed office on 25 July 2007.
Who was the first tribal President of India?
Droupadi Murmu was the first tribal President of India. She is also the second woman to hold the office.
Who was the first Muslim President of India?
Dr. Zakir Husain was the first Muslim President of India. He served from 13 May 1967 to 3 May 1969.
Who was the longest-serving President of India?
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the longest-serving President of India and the only one to serve two full terms.
Who was the Acting President of India in 1969?
In 1969, V. V. Giri first served as Acting President after the death of Dr. Zakir Husain. Later, M. Hidayatullah discharged the functions of the President after Giri resigned to contest the presidential election.
Who was the first Dalit President of India?
K. R. Narayanan was the first Dalit President of India.
Which President is known as the People’s President?
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is known as the People’s President.
Conclusion
The List of Indian Presidents is a short but highly important topic for exam preparation. If students learn the sequence, tenure, and key facts properly, they can solve many General Awareness and Indian Polity questions quickly and correctly. The best revision method is to remember the names in order and connect each President with one special fact.
