India Since Independence: Prime Ministers

Manmohan Singh

INC member, 1st Sikhi prime minister (challenged by terrorism), former finance minister, directed economic liberalization in 1991, 8-9% economic growth rates while PM, health care expansion, rural wage guarantee

Narendra Modi

BJP member, FINISH

Jawaharlal Nehru

INC member, Gandhi's friend (went against on industrialization), 1st Prime Minister (leader) of India, promoted "green revolution", nonaligned movement (reject offers from soviet aid and US), license raj (elaborate bureaucracy regulating industries)

Rajiv Gandhi

INC member, reform of economy and government, faced rebellion, assassinated by terrorist from the Tamil Tigers

Indira Gandhi

Nehrus daughter, INC member, continued Nehru's policies, faced corruption charges and internal rebellion, assassinated by her Sikhi bodyguards, PM two separate times

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

held PMO for 14 years; right leaning (privatization, pro-globalization, nationalism)

Indian National Congress (INC)

held PMO for 54 years; left leaning (mixed economy, social justice, secularism)

term limits?

no limits

real power?

yes (head of state; makes decisions)

How are they elected?

1. people vote for members of lower house 2. lower house votes for prime minister

how many since 1947?

14 prime ministers (INC mostly in power)