The President is the constitutional head of the Indian Republic. The list of Presidents of India is a static-GK staple in SSC, Railway and State exams, and it pairs naturally with polity questions on the President’s powers. Here is the complete list since 1950 with the facts examiners repeat.
Complete list of Presidents of India
| # | President | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 1950–1962 |
| 2 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 1962–1967 |
| 3 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 1967–1969 |
| 4 | V. V. Giri | 1969–1974 |
| 5 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | 1974–1977 |
| 6 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | 1977–1982 |
| 7 | Giani Zail Singh | 1982–1987 |
| 8 | R. Venkataraman | 1987–1992 |
| 9 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1992–1997 |
| 10 | K. R. Narayanan | 1997–2002 |
| 11 | Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | 2002–2007 |
| 12 | Pratibha Patil | 2007–2012 |
| 13 | Pranab Mukherjee | 2012–2017 |
| 14 | Ram Nath Kovind | 2017–2022 |
| 15 | Droupadi Murmu | 2022–present |
Acting Presidents (not counted in the main numbering): V. V. Giri and M. Hidayatullah both served brief spells as acting President in 1969 before Giri was elected, and B. D. Jatti served as acting President in 1977.
Key facts that repeat in exams
- First President: Dr. Rajendra Prasad — also the only President to serve two full terms.
- First Vice-President and later second President: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (his birthday, 5 September, is Teachers’ Day).
- First President to die in office: Dr. Zakir Husain (also the first Muslim President).
- First woman President: Pratibha Patil.
- First President from a Scheduled Tribe, and the youngest President: Droupadi Murmu.
- President popularly called the “People’s President”: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
- First Dalit / Scheduled Caste President: K. R. Narayanan.
- President elected unopposed: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.
How this topic is asked
Expect “firsts” (first President, first woman, first to die in office), match-the-tenure questions, and links to polity (the President is part of the Union Executive under Article 52). Learning the superlatives and the order covers most questions. Pair this list with the Vice-Presidents list, since several Vice-Presidents later became President.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first President of India?
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who served from 1950 to 1962 and is the only President to have held two full terms.
Who is the current President of India?
Droupadi Murmu, who took office in 2022 as the first President from a Scheduled Tribe and the youngest person to hold the office. Always confirm the current holder with an official source.
Who was the first woman President of India?
Pratibha Patil, who served from 2007 to 2012.
Which President was known as the People’s President?
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President, celebrated for his work as a scientist and his connect with students.