List of Presidents of India (1950–2026): Complete Chronological List

List of Presidents of India (1950–2026): Droupadi Murmu currently serves as the President of India. Under Article 52 of the Indian Constitution, the President is the ceremonial head of the state. While the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers exercise executive authority, all formal executive actions of the Union government are conducted in the name of the President.

Presidents of India List from 1950 to 2026

Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the first President of India, while Droupadi Murmu is the 15th individual to hold this esteemed office, succeeding Shri Ram Nath Kovind. As the head of state, the President's authority is integral to national protocols, including the signing of international treaties and MoUs. Below is the comprehensive list of every President elected since independence.

List of Indian Presidents (1950 to 2026)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, and Droupadi Murmu is the incumbent president. The following table provides a chronological record of India's leadership, covering the period from 1950 to 2026.

Name	Starting date	Ending date	Profiles
1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad	January 26th, 1950	May 13th, 1962	He was the first President of the Republic of India.
2. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	May 13th, 1962	May 13th, 1967	He was the 2nd President of India.
3. Dr.the  Zakir Hussain	May 13th, 1967	May 3rd, 1969	He was the 3rd President of India.
4. Varahagiri Venkata Giri	May 3rd, 1969	July 20th, 1969	He was acting President because of Hussain’s death.
5. Mohammad Hidayatullah	July 20th, 1969	August 24th, 1969	He was acting President till Giri’s presidency.
6. Varahagiri Venkata Giri	August 24th, 1969	August 24th, 1974	He was the 4th President of India.
7. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed	August 24th, 1974	February 11th, 1977	He was the 5th President of India.
8. Basappa Danappa Jatti	February 11th, 1977	July 25th, 1977	He was a chief minister of the Mysore but got elected as President, After the death of Ahmed.
9. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy	July 25th, 1977	July 25th, 1982	Reddy was the 6th President of India unopposed.
10. Giani Zail Singh	July 25th, 1982	July 25th, 1987	He was the 7th President of India and was also a member of the Congress party.
11. Ramaswamy Venkataraman	July 25th, 1987	July 25th, 1992	He was the 8th President of India. He was also a lawyer and a professional politician.
12. Shankar Dayal Sharma	July 25th, 1992	July 25th, 1997	He was the 9th President of India, and he was also a member of the National Congress Party of India.
13. Kocheril Raman Narayanan	July 25th, 1997	July 25th, 2002	He was the 10th President of India and the best diplomat in India.
14. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam	July 25th, 2002	July 25th, 2007	He was the 11th President of India, and he was a great scientist. He worked in ISRO and DRDO organizations.
15. Pratibha Patil	July 25th, 2007	July 25th, 2012	She was the 12th President of India, and she was the first woman to Be President.
16. Pranab Mukherjee	July 25th, 2012	July 25th, 2017	He was the 13th President of India, and he was also a senior leader of the National Congress party.
17. Shri Ram Nath Kovind	July 25th, 2017	July 21st, 2022	He is the 14th President of India, and he is also the ex-governor Of Bihar.
18. Droupadi Murmu	July 21st, 2022	Working	She is the 15th President of India and was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party

Droupadi Murmu Became the New President of India

Droupadi Murmu assumed office as the 15th President of India following the 2022 presidential election. She holds the historic distinction of being the second woman to serve in this role and the first person from a tribal community to ascend to the presidency. Formerly the Governor of Jharkhand and a teacher from Odisha, she brings a wealth of public service experience to the highest constitutional office.

Presidents of India: Eligibility

Article 58 of the Indian Constitution outlines the essential qualifications and eligibility criteria for candidates seeking the office of the President. The key requirements are detailed below:

1. The President should be a citizen of India.
2. The President must be above the age of 35 years.
3. The President should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.
4. The President of India should not contain any office of profit under the State Government, Union, and other local authorities.

List of Presidents of India

Below, we provide a comprehensive overview and detailed analysis of the complete list of Presidents of India.

Droupadi Murmu (2022 - Incumbent)

Droupadi Murmu was elected as the 15th President of the Republic of India on July 21, 2022. Her distinguished career includes serving as the first woman Governor of Jharkhand, Chairperson of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat, and National Vice-President of the BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha. Below is the list of all predecessors who have occupied the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Shri Ram Nath Kovind (2017-2022)

Shri Ram Nath Kovind served as the 14th President of India from July 25, 2017, to July 21, 2022. Prior to his presidency, he served as the Governor of Bihar. Throughout his career, he has been a prominent advocate for social equality, justice, and integrity in the Indian public sector.

Pranab Mukherjee (2012-2017)

Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. A titan of Indian politics, he held various high-level cabinet portfolios, including Foreign, Defence, Commerce, and Finance, during his illustrious career. He passed away on August 31, 2020, at the age of 84.

Pratibha Patil (2007-2012)

Pratibha Patil made history as the first woman to serve as the President of India, holding office as the 12th President from 2007 to 2012. Previously, she was the first woman to serve as the Governor of Rajasthan. Her parliamentary experience also includes serving as Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2002-2007)

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a renowned aerospace scientist, served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. Known as the "Missile Man of India," he played a pivotal role in developing the nation's nuclear and missile defense programs, leaving behind a profound legacy of scientific excellence.

Kocheril Raman Narayanan (1997-2002)

K.R. Narayanan served as the 10th President of India from 1997 to 2002 and was the first Dalit to hold the office. A seasoned diplomat and former Union Minister for External Affairs, he brought decades of international relations expertise to the presidency after serving as the Vice-President of India.

Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992-1997)

Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was the 9th President of India, serving from 1992 to 1997. His extensive political career included roles as Chief Minister of Bhopal, Union Cabinet Minister, and Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, reflecting his deep commitment to public administration and legal reform.

Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1987-1992)

R. Venkataraman served as the 8th President of India from 1987 to 1992. Before his presidency, he was a key figure in the Indian freedom struggle and received various international honors, including the Soviet Land Prize, for his contributions to public life.

Giani Zail Singh (1982-1987)

Giani Zail Singh assumed the presidency in 1982. A former Chief Minister of Punjab, his five-year tenure was marked by significant and challenging events in Indian history, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Operation Blue Star.

Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (1977-1982)

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the first President of India to be elected unopposed. He transitioned to the presidency from his role as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and served until 1982.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1974-1977)

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed served as the 5th President of India from 1974 to 1977. Like Dr. Zakir Husain, he passed away while in office, marking a solemn chapter in the nation's political history.

Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1969-1974)

V.V. Giri was the President of India from 1969 to 1974 and holds the distinction of being the only President to have been elected as an independent candidate. He was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1975.

Dr Zakir Hussain (1967-1969)

Dr. Zakir Husain was the first Muslim President of India, serving from 1967 until his death in 1969. Following his passing, Mohammad Hidayatullah served as the Acting President. Dr. Husain had previously served as the Governor of Bihar.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1962-1967)

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is commemorated as Teachers' Day, served as the second President of India from 1962 to 1967. A distinguished philosopher, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.

Dr Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving two consecutive terms from 1950 to 1962. A key leader in the Indian Independence Movement and the President of the Constituent Assembly, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1962.

List of Presidents of India: Important points

The President serves as the constitutional head of the parliamentary system and the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. While representing the nation globally, the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

The President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of:
(i) Elected members of both Houses of Parliament
(ii) Elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
(iii) Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry (as per the 70th Amendment Act, 1992).

The President is elected for a term of five years and is eligible for immediate re-election, with no constitutional limit on the number of terms served.

The President may be removed from office through the process of impeachment for violating the Constitution. This motion can be initiated in either House of Parliament.

The Vice President assumes the office of the President in the event of a vacancy due to death, resignation, or impeachment. If the office of the Vice President is also vacant, the Chief Justice of India serves as the acting President.

Presidents of India: Important Facts

1. Seven Presidents had active political party affiliations prior to their election.

2. Six of these Presidents were previously active members of the Indian National Congress.

3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad remains the only President to have served two full terms.

4. Current President Droupadi Murmu is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

List of Prime Ministers of India - Click to Check