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{{Short description|Head of the executive branch of the Government of India}}{{For|list of prime ministers|List of prime ministers of India}}{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}{{Pp-move-indef|small=no}}{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

factoids

| insignia = PMO India Logo.svg| insigniasize = 200px| insigniacaption = Logo of Prime Minister of India| flag = Flag of India.svg| flagborder = yes| flagcaption = Flag of India| image = Official Photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Portrait.png| imagecaption = | imagesize = | alt = Official Portrait, 15 March 2022| incumbent = Narendra Modi| acting = Prime Minister’s Office (India)>Prime Minister’s OfficeUnion Council of MinistersExecutive branch of the Indian Government

• The Honourable
• Mr. Prime Minister (informal)
• His Excellency (diplomatic)}}| type = Head of government| abbreviation = PM

Parliament of India Union Council of MinistersPlanning Commission (India)>Planning Commission}}President of IndiaVice President of India>Parliament of India}}| residence = 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India| seat = Secretariat Building, New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaLok Sabha Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha>members| appointer = President of IndiaConvention (norm)#Government>convention, based on appointee’s ability to command confidence in the Lok SabhaAt His Majesty’s pleasure#Derivatives>At the pleasure of the PresidentLok Sabha term is 5 years unless dissolved sooner|No term limits specified}}| constituting_instrument = Articles 74 & 75, Constitution of IndiaInterim Government of India>Vice President of the Executive CouncilJawaharlal NehruDeputy Prime Minister of India>Deputy Prime Minister{{INRConvert(per month)}}3360000}} {{smallWEBSITE=MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, 28 January 2019, }}pmindia.gov.in}}}}{{Politics of India}}The prime minister of India (IAST: {{transliteration|hi|IAST|Bhārat kÄ“ PradhānamantrÄ«}}) is the head of government of the Republic of India.{{citation|last=Pillay|first=Anashri|editor1-last=Masterman|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Schütze|editor2-first=Robert|isbn=978-1-107-16781-0|lccn=2019019723|doi=10.1017/9781316716731|chapter=The Constitution of the Republic of India|title=Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|pages=146–147|s2cid=219881288|quote=The head of government is the Prime Minister.}}{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=The Prime Minister is the head of government.}} Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Council of Ministers,{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180–207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen’s University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...the executive authority is vested in the prime minister and in his Council of Ministers. (p. 185)}}{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=Executive power, ordinarily, is exercised by Prime Minister.}}{{citation|last=Britannica|first=Eds. Encycl.|chapter= List of prime ministers of India|title=Encyclopaedia Britannica|date=20 February 2020|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|chapter-url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-prime-ministers-of-India-1832692|access-date=2 April 2022|quote=Effective executive power rests with the Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister}} despite the president of India being the nominal head of the executive.{{citation|last=Pillay|first=Anashri|editor1-last=Masterman|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Schütze|editor2-first=Robert|isbn=978-1-107-16781-0|lccn=2019019723|doi=10.1017/9781316716731|chapter=The Constitution of the Republic of India|title=Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|pages=146–147|s2cid=219881288|quote=An elected President is the nominal head of state but exercises little power.}}{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180–207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen’s University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...The president is the constitutional head. (p. 185)}}{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=The President is the head of the Union of India}}{{citation|last=Singh|first=Nirvikar|chapter=Holding India Together: The Role of Institutions of Federalism|editor1-last=Mishra|editor1-first=Ajit|editor2-last=Ray|editor2-first=Tridip|pages=300–323, 306|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|isbn=978-0-19-881255-5|title=Markets, Governance, and Institutions: In the Process of Economic Development}} The prime minister has to be a member of one of the houses of bicameral Parliament of India, alongside heading the respective house.{{citation|last=Pillay|first=Anashri|editor1-last=Masterman|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Schütze|editor2-first=Robert|isbn=978-1-107-16781-0|lccn=2019019723|doi=10.1017/9781316716731|chapter=The Constitution of the Republic of India|title=Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|pages=146–147|s2cid=219881288|quote=... Like the British system, there are two houses of parliament – the Lok Sabha, which has 545 members, is the main legislative body. In practice, it is the party with a majority in the Lok Sabha which elects its leader as the Prime Minister.}} The prime minister and their cabinet are at all times responsible to the Lok Sabha.{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=Along with his or her cabinet, the Prime Minister is responsible to the Lower House of Parliament.}}{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180–207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen’s University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...Both for the Union and the states, a “cabinet-type” system of parliamentary government has been instituted in which the executive is continuously responsible to the legislature. (p. 185)}}The prime minister is appointed by the president of India; however, the prime minister has to enjoy the confidence of the majority of Lok Sabha members, who are directly elected every five years, lest the prime minister shall resign. The prime minister can be a member of the Lok Sabha or of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the parliament. The prime minister controls the selection and dismissal of members of the Union Council of Ministers; and allocation of posts to members within the government.The longest-serving prime minister was Jawaharlal Nehru, also the first prime minister, whose tenure lasted 16 years and 286 days. His premiership was followed by Lal Bahadur Shastri’s short tenure and Indira Gandhi’s 11- and 4-year-long tenures, both politicians belonging to the Indian National Congress. After Indira Gandhi’s assassination, her son Rajiv Gandhi took charge until 1989, when a decade with five unstable governments began. This was followed by the full terms of P. V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi. Modi is the 14th and current prime minister of India, serving since 26 May 2014.

Origins and history

India follows a parliamentary system in which the prime minister is the presiding head of the government and chief of the executive of the government. In such systems, the head of state, or, the head of state’s official representative (i.e., the monarch, president, or governor-general) usually holds a purely ceremonial position and acts—on most matters—only on the advice of the prime minister.The prime minister—if they are not already—must become a member of parliament within six months of beginning their tenure. A prime minister is expected to work with other central ministers to ensure the passage of bills by the parliament.

1947–1984

{{multiple image| perrow = 2| total_width = 380| align = right| image_style = border:none;| title = | image1 = Lord_Mountbatten_swears_in_Jawaharlal_Nehru_as_the_first_Prime_Minister_of_free_India_on_Aug_15,_1947.jpgLord Mountbatten swears in Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of India on Independence Day (India)>15 August 1947.| image2 = Jawaharlal Nehru with Lal Bahadur Shastri and K. Kamaraj.jpg| caption2 = Lal Bahadur Shastri, K. Kamaraj, and Nehru, ca. 1963}}Since 1947, there have been 14 different prime ministers.{{efn|Not including Gulzarilal Nanda who served, twice, as acting prime minister.|name=56o}} The first few decades after 1947 saw the Indian National Congress’ (INC) near complete domination over the political map of India. India’s first prime minister—Jawaharlal Nehru—took oath on 15 August 1947. Nehru went on to serve as prime minister for 17 consecutive years, winning four general elections in the process. His tenure ended in May 1964, on his death.MAGAZINE,books.google.com/books?id=XUEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32, A Man Who, with All His Mind and Heart, Loved India, 5 June 1964, Life, 32, WEB,www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0527.html, India Mourning Nehru, 74, Dead of a Heart Attack; World Leaders Honor Him, 27 May 1964, The New York Times, 0362-4331, 1645522, 4 April 2018, After the death of Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri—a former home minister and a leader of the Congress party—ascended to the position of prime minister. Shastri’s tenure saw the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Shashtri subsequently died of a reported heart attack in Tashkent, after signing the Tashkent Declaration.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2009/08/was_mr_shastri_murdered.html, Was Mr Shastri murdered?, Biswas, Soutik, 27 August 2009, BBC, 4 April 2018, After Shastri, Indira Gandhi—Nehru’s daughter—was elected as the country’s first woman prime minister. Indira’s first term in office lasted 11 years, in which she took steps such as nationalisation of banks;BOOK, Working a democratic constitution: A history of the Indian experience, Granville, Austin, Oxford University Press, 2003, 978-0195656107, Delhi, 215, 52992056, end of allowances and political posts, which were received by members of the royal families of the erstwhile princely states of the British Indian Empire.Interpretation Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 63), s. 18.BOOK, India’s silent revolution: The rise of the lower castes in North India, Christophe, Jaffrelot, C. Hurst & Co., 2003, 978-1850653981, London, 131–142, 54023168, In addition, events such as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971;BOOK, A History of India,archive.org/details/historyindia00kulk, limited, Hermann, Kulke, Rothermund, Dietmar, Routledge, 2004, 978-0415329194, 4th, New York City, 359, 57054139, the establishment of a sovereign Bangladesh;BOOK, One world divisible: a global history since 1945, David, Reynolds, W. W. Norton, 2001, 978-0393321081, New York City, 244–247, 46977934, accession of Sikkim to India, through a referendum in 1975;BOOK, Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface, Mouton, 1978, 978-3110806496, Fisher, James F., The Hague, 225, 561996779, and India’s first nuclear test in Pokhran occurred during Indira’s first term. In 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed—on Indira’s advice—imposed a state of emergency, therefore, bestowing the government with the power to rule by decree, the period is known for human right violations.BOOK, Unsettling memories: narratives of the emergency in Delhi, Emma, Tarlo, University of California Press, 2001, 978-0520231207, Berkeley, California, Berkeley, 46421940, WEB,archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-tale-of-three-emergencies-real-reason-always-different/235992/0, A tale of three Emergencies: real reason always different, Jaitley, Arun, Arun Jaitley, 5 November 2007, The Indian Express, 70274541, 4 April 2018, After widespread protests, the emergency was lifted in 1977, and a general election was to be held. All of the political parties of the opposition—after the conclusion of the emergency—fought together against the Congress, under the umbrella of the Janata Party, in the general election of 1977, and were successful in defeating the Congress. Subsequently, Morarji Desai—a former deputy prime minister—became the first non-Congress prime minister of India. The government of prime minister Desai was composed of groups with opposite ideologies, in which unity and co-ordination were difficult to maintain. Ultimately, after two and a half years as PM; on 28 July 1979, Morarji tendered his resignation to the president; and his government fell. Thereafter, Charan Singh—a deputy prime minister in Desai’s cabinet—with outside, conditional support from Congress, proved a majority in Lok Sabha and took oath as prime minister.BOOK, Predictioneer’s game: Using the logic of brazen self-interest to see and shape the future, Bueno de Mesquita, Bruce, Random House, 2009, 978-0-8129-7977-0, 1st, New York City, xxiii, 290470064, BOOK, The Congress, Indira to Sonia Gandhi, Sanghvi, Vijay, Kalpaz Publications, 2006, 978-8178353401, Delhi, 114–122, 74972515, However, Congress pulled its support shortly after, and Singh had to resign; he had a tenure of 5 months, the shortest in the history of the office.{{multiple image| perrow = 2| total_width = 380| align = left| image_style = border:none;| title = | image1 = Pahlavis meet Indira Gandhi in India, 1970.jpg| caption1 = Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi of Iran being received by prime minister Indira Gandhi at New Delhi airport, 1970| image2 = Jimmy Carter with India Prime Minister, Morarji Desai - NARA - 177381.tif| caption2 = US President Jimmy Carter (right) with Prime minister Morarji Desai, 1978}}In 1980, after a three-year absence, the Congress returned to power with an absolute majority. Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister a second time.NEWS,www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indira-gandhi-becomes-indian-prime-minister, Indira Gandhi becomes Indian Prime Minister – Jan 19, 1966, History (U.S. TV network), History, 4 April 2018, A&E Networks, During her second tenure, Operation Blue Star—an Indian Army operation inside the Golden Temple, the most sacred site in Sikhism—was conducted, resulting in reportedly thousands of deaths.BOOK, Globalizations and social movements: Culture, power, and the transnational public sphere, Guidry, John A., Kennedy, Michael D., Zald, Mayer N., University of Michigan Press, 2000, 978-0472067213, Ann Arbor, 319, 593248991, Subsequently, on 31 October 1984, Gandhi was shot dead by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh—two of her bodyguards—in the garden of her residence at 1, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1989/01/06/world/india-hangs-two-sikhs-convicted-in-assassination-of-indira-gandhi.html, India Hangs Two Sikhs Convicted in Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Crossette, Barbara, 6 January 1989, The New York Times, 4 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522,

1984–1999

After Indira, Rajiv—her eldest son and 40 years old at the time—was sworn in on the evening of 31 October 1984, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the office of prime minister. Rajiv immediately called for a general election. In the subsequent general election, the Congress secured an absolute majority, winning 401 of 552 seats in the Lok Sabha, the maximum number received by any party in the history of India.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/29/newsid_3314000/3314987.stm, 1984: Rajiv Gandhi wins landslide election victory, BBC, 5 April 2018, WEB,news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19841231&id=sTdTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3454,6835384&hl=en, Rajiv Gandhi takes oath as India’s Prime Minister, 31 December 1984, Deseret News, New Delhi, 0745-4724, 5 April 2018, Associated Press, Vishwanath Pratap Singh—first finance minister and then later defence minister in Gandhi’s cabinet—uncovered irregularities, in what became known as the Bofors scandal, during his stint at the Ministry of Defence; Singh was subsequently expelled from Congress and formed the Janata Dal and—with the help of several anti-Congress parties—also formed the National Front, a coalition of many political parties.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/world/new-opposition-front-in-india-stages-lively-rally.html?scp=1&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22%20%22jan%20morcha%22&st=cse, New Opposition Front in India Stages Lively Rally, Crossette, Barbara, 18 September 1988, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, In the general election of 1989, the National Front—with outside support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front—came to power.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1989/12/02/world/indian-opposition-chooses-a-premier.html?scp=14&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse, Indian opposition chooses a premier, Crossette, Barbara, 2 December 1989, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, V. P. Singh was elected prime minister. During a tenure of less than a year, Singh and his government accepted the Mandal Commission’s recommendations.NEWS,indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mandal-vs-mandir/, Mandal vs Mandir, Malhotra, Inder, 23 March 2015, The Indian Express, 5 April 2018, Indian Express Group, 70274541, Singh’s tenure came to an end after he ordered the arrest of BJP member Lal Krishna Advani,NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1990/10/30/world/india-ready-to-bar-hindu-move-today.html, India ready to bar Hindu move today, Crossette, Barbara, 30 October 1990, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, as a result, BJP withdrew its outside support to the government, V. P. Singh lost the subsequent vote-of-no-confidence 146–320 and had to resign.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/world/india-s-cabinet-falls-as-premier-loses-confidence-vote-by-142-346-and-quits.html?sec=travel&pagewanted=all, India’s Cabinet Falls as Premier Loses Confidence Vote, by 142–346, and Quits, Crossette, Barbara, 8 November 1990, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, After V. P. Singh’s resignation, Chandra Shekhar along with 64 members of parliament (MPs) floated the Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya),NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/world/dissidents-split-indian-prime-minister-s-party.html?scp=16&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse, Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister’s Party, Crossette, Barbara, 6 November 1990, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, and proved a majority in the Lok Sabha with support from Congress.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?scp=17&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse, Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier, Hazarika, Sanjoy, 10 November 1990, The New York Times, 5 April 2018, 0362-4331, 1645522, But Shekhar’s premiership did not last long, Congress proceeded to withdraw its support; Shekhar’s government fell as a result, and new elections were announced.NEWS,www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Chandra-Shekhar-critical/article14790254.ece, Chandra Shekhar critical, 8 July 2007, The Hindu, 5 April 2018, The Hindu Group, Press Trust of India, New Delhi, 0971-751X, 13119119, In the general election of 1991, Congress—under the leadership of P. V. Narasimha Rao—formed a minority government; Rao became the first PM of South Indian origin.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4120429.stm, Narasimha Rao – a reforming PM, 23 December 2004, BBC, 5 April 2018, After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India was on the brink of bankruptcy, so, Rao took steps to liberalise the economy, and appointed Manmohan Singh—an economist and a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India—as finance minister. Rao and Singh then took various steps to liberalise the economy, these resulted in an unprecedented economic growth in India.JOURNAL, DeLong, J. Bradford, J. Bradford DeLong, July 2001, India Since Independence: An Analytic Growth Narrative,www.researchgate.net/publication/246458096, In Search of Prosperity: Analytic Narratives on Economic Growth, 5 April 2018, Research Gate, His premiership, however, was also a witness to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, which resulted in the death of about 2,000 people.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11436552, Timeline: Ayodhya holy site crisis, 6 December 2012, BBC, 5 April 2018, Rao, however, did complete five continuous years in office, becoming the first prime minister outside of the Nehru—Gandhi family to do so.{{multiple image| perrow = 2| total_width = 380| align = right| image_style = border:none;| title = | image1 = Bezoek premier Rajiv Gandhi van India ontvangst op Paleis Huis ten Bosch Prins, Bestanddeelnr 933-4643.jpg| caption1 = Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, left with PM Rajiv Gandhi, Prince Claus, and Sonia Gandhi, The Hague, 1985| image2 = Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao Unveiling Inaugural Plaque - National Science Centre - New Delhi 1992-01-09 262.tif| caption2 = Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, left, inaugurating the National Science Centre, New Delhi, 1 September 1992}}After the end of Rao’s tenure in May 1996, the nation saw four prime ministers in a span of three years, {{Abbr|viz.|videlicet}}, two tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee; one tenure of H. D. Deve Gowda from 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997; and one tenure of I. K. Gujral from 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998. The government of Prime Minister Vajpayee—elected in 1998—took some concrete steps. In May 1998—after a month in power—the government announced the conduct of five underground nuclear explosions in Pokhran.WEB,www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9805/17/india.nuke.tests/, India releases pictures of nuclear tests, 17 May 1998, Cable News Network, Turner Broadcasting System, New Delhi, 5 April 2018, In response to these tests, many western countries, including the United States, imposed economic sanctions on India,WEB,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/india_nuclear_testing/92797.stm, US imposes sanctions on India, 13 May 1999, BBC, 5 April 2018, but, due to the support received from Russia, France, the Gulf countries and some other nations, the sanctions—were largely—not considered successful.JOURNAL, Morrow, Daniel, Carriere, Michael, 1 January 1999, The economic impacts of the 1998 sanctions on India and Pakistan, The Nonproliferation Review, 6, 4, 1–16, 10.1080/10736709908436775, 1073-6700, BOOK, India’s nuclear diplomacy after Pokhran II, Rai, Ajai K., Longman, Foreword by Ved Prakash Malik, 2009, 978-8131726686, Delhi, 313061697, A few months later in response to the Indian nuclear tests, Pakistan also conducted nuclear tests.BOOK, Eating grass: The making of the Pakistani bomb, Khan, Feroz Hassan, Stanford University Press, 2012, 978-0804784801, Stanford, California, Stanford, 281, 816041307, Given the deteriorating situation between the two countries, the governments tried to improve bilateral relations. In February 1999, the India and Pakistan signed the Lahore Declaration, in which the two countries announced their intention to annul mutual enmity, increase trade and use their nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes.WEB,www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/21bus.htm, Vajpayee, Sharief sign Lahore Declaration, Iype, George, 21 February 1999, Rediff.com, Lahore, 5 April 2018, In May 1999, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam withdrew from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition;WEB,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/318912.stm, Jayalalitha: Actress-turned-politician, 14 April 1999, BBC, 5 April 2018, Vajpayee’s government, hence, became a caretaker one after losing a motion-of-no-confidence 269–270, this coincided with the Kargil War with Pakistan.NEWS,www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-was-ready-to-cross-loc-use-nuclear-weapons-in-kargil-war-115120300518_1.html, India was ready to cross LoC, use nuclear weapons in Kargil war, 3 December 2015, Business Standard, 5 April 2018, Business Standard Ltd, New Delhi, 496280002, In the subsequent October 1999 general election, the BJP-led NDA and its affiliated parties secured a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, winning 299 of 543 seats in the lower house.WEB,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/468258.stm, Indian election: What they said, 8 October 1999, BBC, 5 April 2018,

2000–present

{{multiple image| perrow = 2| total_width = 380| align = right| image_style = border:none;| title = | image1 = The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on May 24, 2004.jpg| caption1 = Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on May 24, 2004| image2 = Modi at the 69th UN general assembly.jpg| caption2 = Prime minister Narendra Modi addressing the 69th United Nations General Assembly, c. 2014}} Vajpayee continued the process of economic liberalisation during his reign, resulting in economic growth.NEWS,economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayees-five-steps-that-changed-india-forever/articleshow/62240161.cms, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s five steps that changed India forever, 27 December 2017, The Economic Times, 6 April 2018, ET Online, New Delhi, 61311680, In addition to the development of infrastructure and basic facilities, the government took several steps to improve the infrastructure of the country, such as, the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY; IAST: {{IAST|PradhānamaṃtrÄ« Grāma Saḍaka Yojanā}}; {{Literal translation}} Prime Minister Rural Road Scheme),NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/A-leader-of-substance-Along-with-Narasimha-Rao-Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee-laid-the-foundation-of-new-India/articleshow/17747366.cms?referral=PM, A leader of substance: Along with Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of new India, Panagariya, Arvind, 25 December 2012, The Times of India, 6 April 2018, 23379369, Arvind Panagariya, for the development of roads. But during his reign, the 2002 Gujarat communal riots in the state of Gujarat took place; resulting in about 2,000 deaths.BOOK, The ethics of terrorism: Innovative approaches from an international perspective (17 lectures), Yakov, Gilinskiy, Gilly, Thomas Albert, Sergevnin, Vladimir, Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 2009, 978-0398079956, Springfield, Illinois, Springfield, 28, 731209878, Vajpayee’s tenure as prime minister came to an end in May 2004, making him the first non-Congress PM to complete a full five-year tenure.In the 2004 election, the Congress emerged as the largest party in a hung parliament; Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)—with outside support from the Left Front, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) among others—proved a majority in the Lok Sabha,NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3736723.stm, India swears in its first Sikh PM, 22 May 2004, BBC, 6 April 2018, and Manmohan Singh was elected prime minister; becoming the first Sikh prime minister of the nation. During his tenure, the country retained the economic momentum gained during Prime Minister Vajpayee’s tenure.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6294409.stm, Indian economy ‘to overtake UK’, Grammaticas, Damian, 24 January 2007, BBC, 6 April 2018, Delhi, Apart from this, the government succeeded in getting the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, and the Right to Information Act, 2005 passed in the parliament.NEWS,www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/learning-from-nrega/article6342811.ece, Learning from NREGA, Drèze, Jean, 23 August 2008, The Hindu, 6 April 2018, The Hindu Group, 0971-751X, 13119119, Jean Drèze, NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-gives-assent-to-law-on-right-to-information/articleshow/1152297.cms, President gives assent to law on right to information, 25 June 2005, The Times of India, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, New Delhi, 23379369, Further, the government strengthened India’s relations with nations like Afghanistan;NEWS,www.cfr.org/backgrounder/india-afghanistan-relations, India-Afghanistan Relations, Bajoria, Jayshree, 22 July 2009, Council on Foreign Relations, 6 April 2018, NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7540204.stm, India announces more Afghan aid, 4 August 2008, BBC, 6 April 2018, Russia;WEB,www.rediff.com/%0D%0Anews/2005/dec/06pmrus2.htm, India, Russia sign agreements to strengthen ties, Roychowdhury, Amitabh, 6 December 2005, Rediff.com, Moscow, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, the Gulf states; and the United States, culminating with the ratification of India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement near the end of Singh’s first term.NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Finally-its-done-India-back-on-the-nuclear-train/articleshow/3551691.cms?referral=PM, Finally, it’s done: India back on the nuclear train, Rajghatta, Chidanand, 2 October 2008, The Times of India, 6 April 2018, Washington D.C., 23379369, NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7650286.stm, A win-win situation for India, Sirohi, Seema, 9 October 2008, Outlook (Indian magazine), Outlook, BBC, 6 April 2018, WEB,edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/01/us.india.nuclear/, Senate approves nuclear deal with India, 1 October 2008, Cable News Network, Turner Broadcasting Network, Washington D.C., 6 April 2018, At the same time, the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks also happened during Singh’s first term in office.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/opinion/18friedman.html, No Way, No How, Not Here, Friedman, Thomas L., 17 February 2009, The New York Times, 6 April 2018, New Delhi, 0362-4331, 1645522, WEB,abcnews.go.com/International/mumbai-terror-attacks-pakistanis-charged/story?id=9176592, Mumbai Terror Suspects Charged a Year After Attacks, Schifrin, Nick, 25 November 2009, ABC News, 6 April 2018, In the general election of 2009, the mandate of UPA increased.NEWS,www.business-standard.com/india/news/more-congress-less-upa/358357/, More Congress, less UPA, 17 May 2009, Business Standard, 6 April 2018, Business Standard Ltd, B. S. Reporter, New Delhi, 496280002, NEWS,www.ndtv.com/news/india/manmohan_gets_presidential_invite_to_form_govt.php, Manmohan gets presidential invite to form govt, 21 May 2009, NDTV, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, New Delhi, Prime Minister Singh’s second term, however, was surrounded by accusations of high-level scandals and corruption.NEWS,economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/15560793.cms?intenttarget=no, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly responsible for coal scam: Arun Jaitley, 19 August 2012, The Economic Times, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, Indore, 61311680, NEWS,www.dnaindia.com/india/report-2g-scam-disappointed-over-manmohan-singh-s-refusal-to-appear-before-jpc-says-yashwant-sinha-1820446, 2G scam: Disappointed over Manmohan Singh’s refusal to appear before JPC, says Yashwant Sinha {{!, Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=9 April 2013|work=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=Asian News International|oclc=801791672}} Singh resigned as prime minister on 17 May 2014, after Congress’ defeat in the 2014 general election.NEWS,www.ndtv.com/elections-news/prime-minister-manmohan-singh-resigns-after-10-years-in-office-562442, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Resigns After 10 Years in Office, 17 May 2014, NDTV, 6 April 2018, Ghosh, Deepshikha, New Delhi, WEB,www.indiatoday.in/elections/highlights/story/manmohan-singh-resigns-as-prime-minister-193309-2014-05-17, Manmohan Singh to continue as PM till Modi assumes office, 17 May 2014, India Today, Aroon Purie, New Delhi, 0254-8399, 6 April 2018, NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Manmohan-Singh-resigns-bringing-to-an-end-his-10-year-tenure/articleshow/35254774.cms, Manmohan Singh resigns bringing to an end his 10-year tenure, 17 May 2014, The Times of India, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, New Delhi, 23379369, In the general election of 2014, the BJP-led NDA got an absolute majority, winning 336 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats; the BJP itself became the first party since 1984 to get a majority in the Lok Sabha. Narendra Modi—the Chief Minister of Gujarat—was elected prime minister, becoming the first prime minister to have been born in an independent India.NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Narendra-Modi-appointed-Prime-Minister-swearing-in-on-May-26/articleshow/35388297.cms?, Narendra Modi appointed Prime Minister, swearing in on May 26, 20 May 2014, The Times of India, 6 April 2018, Press Trust of India, New Delhi, 23379369, Narendra Modi was re-elected as prime minister in 2019 with a bigger mandate than that of 2014. The BJP-led NDA winning 354 seats out of which BJP secured 303 seats.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48347081, Landslide win for Narendra Modi in India elections, BBC News, 23 May 2019,

Party affiliation

{{See also|List of prime ministers of India}}{| class=“wikitable“! colspan=“2” |Party!{{Abbr|No|Total number of Prime Minister}}!{{Abbr|Years in PMO|Total years these parties held PMO}}!Name(s)!AllianceIndian National CongressJawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh{{Efn>name=56o}}Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India>CPI and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (1969–1971)>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1971–1976)>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1991–1994)>United Progressive Alliance (2004–2014)>I.N.D.I.A (2023-Present)}}Bharatiya Janata PartyAtal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra ModiNational Democratic Alliance>NDA (from 1998)Janata DalVishwanath Pratap Singh, H. D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar GujralNational Front (India)>NF (1989–1990) UF (1996–1998)Janata PartyMorarji DesaiJPJanata Party (Secular)- content above as imported from Wikipedia
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