As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, I can provide information on the Presidents of India up to that point.
Please note that there may have been changes or developments since then. Here is a list of Presidents of India from 1950 to 2022:
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962)
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1962-1967)
- Dr. Zakir Hussain (1967-1969)
- Varahagiri Venkata Giri (Acting President: 1969-1974, President: 1974-1977)
- Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1974-1977)
- Basappa Danappa Jatti (Acting President: 1977-1979)
- Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1977-1982)
- Giani Zail Singh (1982-1987)
- R. Venkataraman (1987-1992)
- Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992-1997)
- K. R. Narayanan (1997-2002)
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (2002-2007)
- Pratibha Patil (2007-2012)
- Pranab Mukherjee (2012-2017)
- Ram Nath Kovind (2017-2022)
The Constitution of India, adopted on November 26, 1949, with enforcement beginning on January 26, 1950, saw Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected as the inaugural President. Serving until 1962, he set the precedent for a line of fifteen subsequent Presidents, with Ram Nath Kovind completing his term in July 2022. Not seeking re-election, Kovind was succeeded by Draupadi Murmu, who became the 15th Indian President after being appointed by the electoral college in July 2022.
- Rajendra Prasad:
- Tenure: 13 May 1952 – 13 May 1957, 13 May 1957 – 13 May 1962
- Description: Elected twice, he was also the President of the Constituent Assembly before assuming the presidency.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:
- Tenure: 13 May 1962 – 13 May 1967
- Description: A renowned philosopher and writer, Radhakrishnan held key positions in Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University.
- Zakir Hussain:
- Tenure: 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969
- Description: A Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna awardee, he had the shortest presidency, passing away in office.
- Varahagiri Venkata Giri:
- Tenure: 3 May 1969 – 20 July 1969, 24 August 1969 – 24 August 1974
- Description: Elected Vice President in 1967, he served a short term due to Zakir Hussain’s sudden death.
- Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed:
- Tenure: 24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977
- Description: President during the Emergency, he was the second President to die in office.
- Neelam Sanjiva Reddy:
- Tenure: 25 July 1977 – 25 July 1982
- Description: The first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he became the youngest President and contested twice for the presidency.
- Zail Singh:
- Tenure: 25 July 1982 – 25 July 1987
- Description: Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Union Home Minister.
- Ramaswamy Venkataraman:
- Tenure: 25 July 1987 – 25 July 1992
- Description: Received “Tamra Patra” for contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
- Shankar Dayal Sharma:
- Tenure: 25 July 1992 – 25 July 1997
- Description: Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Indian Minister for Communications.
- K. R. Narayanan:
- Tenure: 25 July 1997 – 25 July 2002
- Description: Served as India’s ambassador to Thailand, Turkey, China, and the United States.
- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam:
- Tenure: 25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007
- Description: Key role in India’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs, Bharat Ratna recipient.
- Pratibha Patil:
- Tenure: 25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012
- Description: First woman President of India.
- Pranab Mukherjee:
- Tenure: 25 July 2012 – 25 July 2017
- Description: Best Parliamentary Award in 1997, Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
- Ram Nath Kovind:
- Tenure: 25 July 2017 – 25 July 2022
- Description: Former Governor of Bihar.
- Draupadi Murmu:
- Tenure: 25 July 2022 – Incumbent
- Description: Former Governor of Jharkhand.
- Thank you for sharing this information about the qualifications of the Indian President and additional facts related to the presidency. It’s a comprehensive overview that covers the eligibility criteria, the election process, and interesting facts about past Presidents.
- For those aspiring for competitive exams, staying updated on current affairs and general knowledge topics, including information about the Presidents of India, is crucial. The provided facts about the longest-serving and shortest-serving Presidents, interim Presidents, the first Chief Minister to become President, and the first and only woman President, Pratibha Patil, are insightful for exam preparation.
- As you rightly pointed out, keeping track of such static GK topics is important, and online quizzes can be a valuable resource for self-assessment and reinforcement of knowledge.
- For the most current information and updates, candidates are always advised to refer to the latest sources and stay informed about any changes in the political landscape or constitutional provisions. Best of luck to all the aspirants in their exam preparations!
