Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 275

Who was the second Prime Minister of India?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the timeline of India's early Prime Ministers.

Correct Answer: B) Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, CLAT

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The sequence of India's Prime Ministers is an important aspect of Indian political history. The first Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from 1947 until his death in 1964. Upon Nehru's death, Gulzarilal Nanda served as an interim Prime Minister for a brief period until the Congress Party could elect a new leader. Lal Bahadur Shastri was elected as the second Prime Minister of India and took office on June 9, 1964. He served until his death in 1966.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a key figure in the Indian independence movement and was known for his contributions to the country's political landscape. He was a close associate of Jawaharlal Nehru and played a significant role in the Indian National Congress. Shastri's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, during which he famously coined the slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" to boost the morale of the Indian armed forces and farmers.

After Shastri's death, Indira Gandhi was elected as the third Prime Minister of India. She served two terms, from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984. It is important to distinguish between the roles of Prime Minister and President. Rajendra Prasad, mentioned in one of the options, was the first President of India, not a Prime Minister. His role was largely ceremonial, unlike the executive role of the Prime Minister.

Understanding the sequence of India's Prime Ministers is crucial for students preparing for competitive exams such as the UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, and CLAT, where questions on Indian political history are common. It is also important to remember the roles and contributions of each Prime Minister to fully grasp the context of India's political development.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: Incorrect. Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India, serving two terms: 1966-1977 and 1980-1984. She succeeded Lal Bahadur Shastri.
  • Option B: Correct. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India, serving from 1964 to 1966. He took office after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • Option C: Incorrect. Gulzarilal Nanda served as an interim Prime Minister twice, in 1964 and 1966, but he was not a full-term Prime Minister.
  • Option D: Incorrect. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving from 1950 to 1962, not a Prime Minister.

Mnemonic: LBS for Lal Bahadur Shastri

Back to Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 275 – Practice all questions