# List of prime ministers of India by previous experience

This is a list of prime ministers of India by previous experience. Offices assumed after assuming the role of Prime Minister

## Analysis

Seven Indian prime ministers have been active participants in the Indian independence movement.
None of the Indian prime ministers have served in the Indian Armed Forces. This is unlike many other state leaders.

## List

| No. | Name | Previous public office held and occuption | Assumed office of Prime Minister |
| 1 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Vice President of the Executive Council (2 September 1946 – 15 August 1947) Indian Independence activist Advocate in the Allahabad High Court | 15 August 1947 |
| 2 | Lal Bahadur Shastri | Minister of Home Affairs (4 April 1961 – 29 August 1963) Minister of Railways (1951–1956) Indian Independence activist | 9 June 1964 |
| 3 | Indira Gandhi | Indian Independence activist Minister of Information and Broadcasting (9 June 1964 – 24 January 1966) | 24 January 1966 |
| 4 | Morarji Desai | Deputy Prime Minister of India (13 March 1967 – 16 July 1969) Minister of Finance (13 March 1958 – 29 August 1963; 13 March 1967 – 16 July 1969) Chief Minister of Bombay State (21 April 1952 – 31 October 1956) Indian Independence activist | 24 March 1977 |
| 5 | Charan Singh | Deputy Prime Minister of India (24 January 1979 – 28 July 1979) Minister of Finance (24 January 1979 – 28 July 1979) Minister of Home Affairs (24 March 1977 – 1 July 1978) Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (3 April 1967 – 25 February 1968) Indian Independence activist | 28 July 1979 |
| 6 | Rajiv Gandhi | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (17 August 1981 – 21 May 1991) | 31 October 1984 |
| 7 | V. P. Singh | Minister of Finance (31 December 1984 – 23 January 1987) Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha (December 1984 – April 1987) Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (1983–1988) Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (9 June 1980 – 19 July 1982) | 2 December 1989 |
| 8 | Chandra Shekhar | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | 10 November 1990 |
| 9 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Minister of Home Affairs (19 July 1984 – 31 December 1984; 12 March 1986 – 12 May 1986) Minister of External Affairs (14 January 1980 – 19 July 1984; 25 June 1988 – 2 December 1989) Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (30 September 1971 – 10 January 1973) | 21 June 1991 |
| 10 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Minister of External Affairs (26 March 1977 – 28 July 1979) Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) (21 July 1993 – 10 May 1996) (1 June 1996 – 4 December 1997) | 16 May 1996 19 March 1998 13 October 1999 |
| 11 | H. D. Deve Gowda | Chief Minister of Karnataka (11 December 1994 – 31 May 1996) | 1 June 1996 |
| 12 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha (June 1996 – November 1996) Minister of External Affairs (5 December 1989 – 10 November 1990; 1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998) Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union (1976–1980) Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1973–1975) Indian Independence activist | 21 April 1997 |
| 13 | Manmohan Singh | Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha (21 March 1998 – 21 May 2004) Minister of Finance (21 June 1991 – 16 May 1996) Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (15 January 1985 – 31 August 1987) Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (15 September 1982 – 15 January 1985) Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India (1972–1976) | 22 May 2004 |
| 14 | Narendra Modi | Chief Minister of Gujarat (7 October 2001 – 22 May 2014) | 26 May 2014 |