The first woman Prime Minister of India was Indira Gandhi.

Basic facts

  • She became Prime Minister on January 19, 1966 , succeeding Lal Bahadur Shastri.
  • Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru , India’s first Prime Minister, and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress.
  • She served as PM in two phases: 1966–1977 and 1980–1984 , until her assassination on October 31, 1984.

Why this matters today

Indira Gandhi remains the only woman to have held the office of Prime Minister of India so far, making her a landmark figure in both Indian politics and women’s political representation. Her tenure is often discussed in current forums and “latest news” pieces on women in power and political history.

Quick reference table

Detail| Answer
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First woman PM of India| Indira Gandhi 59
Took office| January 19, 1966 79
Total terms| Three full terms plus part of a fourth 59
Years in office| 1966–1977 and 1980–1984 59
Still the only woman PM?| Yes, as of 2026 310

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.