Presidents of India For PSC

Feb 2022|🟢Current|10 min read|46 entries

Key Takeaway

he President of India is known as theFirst Citizen of Indiabecause he represents the whole country and is the leader of India's executive, legislative, and judicial departments.

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com

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Basic FactsMinimum agelimit
35 years
Maximum agelimit
no limit
Maximum no. of times a person can be elected to the office of the President
no limit
First President
Dr. Rajendra Prasad(1950)
First Vice President of India*
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
First Acting President of India*
V.V. Giri
First WomanPresident of India*
Pratibha Patil(2007)
First Muslim President of India*
Dr. Zakir Hussain(1967)
First President of India who died while in office*
Dr. Zakhir Hussain(May 3, 1969)
First Sikh President
Giani Zail Singh(1982)
First President who elected without any opposition
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy(1977)
First Dalit President Of India*
K. R. Narayanan(1997)
First Scientist President of India*
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam(2002)
First & Only President who won solely on the basis of second-preference votes
V.V. Giri(1969; vs Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy)
Chief Justice of India served as the President of India for some time*
Justice M. Hidayatullah.No. of Presidents who received Bharat Ratna –6.Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,  Zakir Hussain, Dr. V. V. Giri, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam & Pranab Mukherjee.📌Read More:Bharat RatnaList of Presidents of India (1952-2025)1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1952-1962)First President of India
Sobriquet
Bihar Gandhi
Awards
Bharat Ratna(1962)
Books
Atmakatha(Autobiography), India Divided. Satyagraha at Champaran
Teacher's Day
September 5, Birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan(since 1962)
Represented India at UNESCO(1946
52)
Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union(1949
1952)
Vice President of India(1962*
1967)
Governor of Bihar(1957*
1962; 5 consecutive years).Co-foundedJamia Millia Islamia University, Aligarh on October 29, 1920 (at the age of 23)
Former Name
National Muslim University.shifted to New Delhi in 1925.renamed as Jamia Millia Islamia in 1935.buried in the Jamia Millia Islamia campus
Member of UNESCO (1956
1958)
Awards
Bharat Ratna (1963), Padma Vibhushan (1954)
V.V. Giri (1969
1974)Fourth President of India
First High Commissioner of India to Ceylon(1947*
1951)
Governor of Uttar Pradesh(1956*
1960), Governor of Kerala(1960 – 1965)& the Governor of Karnataka(1967–1969)
President during emergency 'Internal Disturbance.'Elected on Congress ticket to the Assam Legislative Assembly on two terms(1957
1962)and(1962–1967)from Jania constituency.In 1942, he was arrested in the Quit India movement and sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment
Awards
Soviet Land Prize(By Russia; for travelogue on former Tamil Nadu Prime Minister, Kumaraswami Kamaraj's visit to Russia),  Tamra Patra ( in recognition of his efforts to India's freedom fight)
Cabinet Minister(1956
1967), holding the portfolios of Education, Law, Public Works, Industry and Commerce, National Resources, and Separate Revenue
Ambassador to
Japan, United Kingdom, USA, Thailand, Turkey & People's Republic of China.'The best diplomat of the country'– Nehru
Books
India and America: Essays in Understanding (1984) & Non-Alignment in Contemporary International Relations (1981)
Nicknames
People’s President, Missile Man of India
First President who cast his vote in Parliamentary Election
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Awards
Bharat Ratna(1997)
Books*
Wings of Fire (Autobiography), My Journey,India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium,  Ignited Minds,The Luminous Sparks, etc
Union Finance Minister(2009
2012)
Awards
Padma Bushan (2008)
Books
The Presidential Years, 2012-2017, Beyond Survival: Emerging Dimensions of Indian Economy (1984) and Challenges Before the Nation (1993)
The first President to gave policy address in the new parliament building in India
Droupadi Murmu
Acting Presidents of IndiaTotal no. of Acting Presidents in India
3
First Acting President of India*
Justice Hidayatullah(1969)
Acting President for the Shortest Period
Justice Hidayatullah(1969)
Acting President for the Longest Period
B.D

* Time-sensitive data — verify for latest information