Prime Minister of India

The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. The Prime Minister is technically outranked by the President of India, but because the President's duties are largely ceremonial, the Prime Minister has effective responsibility for government.

Related Topics:
India - President of India

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India follows a parliamentary system of government, modelled after that of the United Kingdom. In this system, the Prime Minister is generally the leader of a party (or coalition of parties) that can gain a majority in the lower house (Lok Sabha) of the Parliament of India. The Prime Minister either has to be a current member of one of the houses of Parliament, or be elected within six months of being appointed.

Related Topics:
Parliamentary system - United Kingdom - Lok Sabha - Parliament of India

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There have been twelve people who have served as Prime Minister of India. Jawaharlal Nehru served for four terms (1947-1952, 1952-1957, 1957-1962, and 1962-1964). Indira Gandhi served three terms (1966-1971, 1971-1977, and 1980-1984) and Atal Behari Vajpayee served on two separate occasions (1996, 1998-2004). Gulzari Lal Nanda served as acting Prime Minister during two transition periods, but is generally not counted as a Prime Minister in his own right.

Related Topics:
Jawaharlal Nehru - 1947 - 1952 - 1957 - 1962 - 1964 - Indira Gandhi - 1966 - 1971 - 1977 - 1980 - 1984 - Atal Behari Vajpayee - 1996 - 1998 - 2004 - Gulzari Lal Nanda

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The early years were dominated by the Indian National Congress party, which held the premiership for the first thirty years of India's independence. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister in 1977. Atal Behari Vajpayee of the Bharatiya Janata Party became that party's first Prime Minister in 1996, and was later returned to power in 1998. The 2004 elections to the Lok Sabha returned the Congress back to power, and Dr. Manmohan Singh was named the Prime Minister-designate on 19 May 2004 after party president Sonia Gandhi declined the post. He was sworn in on May 22,2004. Singh, a member of the Sikh faith, is the first non-Hindu Prime Minister of India.

Related Topics:
Indian National Congress - Morarji Desai - 1977 - Atal Behari Vajpayee - Bharatiya Janata Party - 1996 - 1998 - 2004 elections to the Lok Sabha - Dr. Manmohan Singh - 19 May - 2004 - Sonia Gandhi - May 22 - Sikh - Hindu

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The official residence of the Prime Minister of India is 7 Race Course Road.

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