View source for Prime Minister of India

{{Short description|Head of government of India}}
{{For|a list of prime ministers|List of prime ministers of India}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Prime Minister
| body = Republic of India
| native_name = {{transliteration|hi|ISO|Bhāratīya Gaṇarājyasya Pradhānamantrī}} ([[ISO 15919|ISO]])
| insignia = PMO India Logo.svg
| insigniasize = 200px
| insigniacaption = Logo of the Prime Minister of India
| flag = Flag of India.svg
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = [[Flag of India]]
| image = The official portrait of Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India.jpg
| imagecaption = 
| imagesize = 200px
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Narendra Modi]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 26 May 2014
| department = [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]<br>[[Union Council of Ministers]]<br>[[Government of India#Executive|Executive branch of the Union Government]]
| style = {{plainlist|
* [[The Honourable]] (formal)
* [[Mister|Mr. Prime Minister]] (informal)
* [[Excellency|His Excellency]] (diplomatic)}}
| type = [[Head of government]]
| abbreviation = PM
| member_of = {{plainlist|[[Parliament of India]]<br>[[Union Council of Ministers]]|[[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]}}
| reports_to = {{bulleted list|[[President of India|The President]]|[[Vice President of India|The Vice President]]|[[Parliament of India]]}}
| residence = [[7, Lok Kalyan Marg|Panchavati]]
| seat = [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Seva Teerth, New Delhi]]
| nominator = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MPs]] of the [[Lok Sabha]]
| appointer = [[President of India]]
| appointer_qualified = By [[Convention (norm)#Government|convention]], based on appointee's ability to [[Parliamentary system|command confidence]] in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure#Derivatives|At the pleasure of the president]]
| termlength_qualified = {{unbulleted list|[[Lok Sabha]] term is 5 years unless dissolved sooner|No term limits specified}}
| constituting_instrument = Articles 74 & 75 of the [[Constitution of India]]
| precursor = [[Secretary of State for India]] and [[Interim Government of India|Vice President of the Executive Council]]
| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1947|08|15}}
| first = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| deputy = [[Deputy Prime Minister of India|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| salary = {{bulleted list|{{INRConvert|280000}} {{small|(per month)}}<ref name=salary1/>|{{INRConvert|3360000}} {{small|(annual)}}<ref name=salary1>as per Section 3 of {{Cite web|url=https://mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/MinisterAct1952_080714.pdf|title=The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act 1952 and the rules made thereunder|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs]]|access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref>}}
| website = {{URL|https://pmindia.gov.in}}
}}
{{Politics of India}}
The '''prime minister of India'''<!--"prime minister" is uncapitalised here because it is preceded by the modifier "The", as per [[MOS:JOBTITLES]] bullet 3 and table column 2 example 1. Any proposal for modification to the guideline should be posted at its talk page, [[WT:MOSBIO]].--> ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|hi|ISO|Bhāratīya Gaṇarājyasya Pradhānamantrī}}) is the [[head of government]]<ref>Article 74 of [[Constitution of India]]</ref> of the [[Republic of India]]. [[Executive authority]] is vested in the prime minister and his chosen [[Union Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]],<ref name=majeed-roi-2>{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180&ndash;207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...the executive authority is vested in the prime minister and in his Council of Ministers. (p. 185)}}</ref><ref name=dam-3>{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=Executive power, ordinarily, is exercised by Prime Minister.}}</ref><ref name=prime-ministers-india-2>{{citation|last=Britannica|first=Eds. Encycl.|chapter= List of prime ministers of India|title=Encyclopaedia Britannica|date=20 February 2020|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|chapter-url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-prime-ministers-of-India-1832692|access-date=2 April 2022|quote=Effective executive power rests with the Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister}}</ref> despite the [[president of India]] being the nominal head of the executive.<ref name=pillay-cri-pm-2>{{citation|last=Pillay|first=Anashri|editor1-last=Masterman|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Schütze|editor2-first=Robert|isbn=978-1-107-16781-0|lccn=2019019723|doi=10.1017/9781316716731|chapter=The Constitution of the Republic of India|title=Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|pages=146&ndash;147|s2cid=219881288|quote=An elected  President is the nominal head of state but exercises little power.}}</ref><ref name=majeed-roi-1>{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180&ndash;207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...The president is the constitutional head. (p. 185)}}</ref><ref name=dam-2>{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=The President is the head of the Union of India}}</ref><ref name=nsingh-india>{{citation|last=Singh|first=Nirvikar|chapter=Holding India Together: The Role of Institutions of Federalism|editor1-last=Mishra|editor1-first=Ajit|editor2-last=Ray|editor2-first=Tridip|pages=300&ndash;323, 306|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|isbn=978-0-19-881255-5|title=Markets, Governance, and Institutions: In the Process of Economic Development}}</ref>  The prime minister has to be a member of one of the houses of bicameral [[Parliament of India]], alongside heading the respective house.<ref name="pillay-cri-pm-3">{{citation|last=Pillay|first=Anashri|editor1-last=Masterman|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Schütze|editor2-first=Robert|isbn=978-1-107-16781-0|lccn=2019019723|doi=10.1017/9781316716731|chapter=The Constitution of the Republic of India|title=Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|pages=146&ndash;147|s2cid=219881288|quote=... Like the British system, there are two houses of parliament &ndash; the Lok Sabha, which has 545 members, is the main legislative body.  In practice, it is the party with a majority in the Lok Sabha which elects its leader as the Prime Minister.}}</ref> The prime minister and the cabinet are at all times responsible to the [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of the parliament.<ref name="dam-4">{{citation|last=Dam|first=Shubhankar|chapter=Executive|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|editor1-last=Choudhry|editor1-first=Sujit|editor2-last=Khosla|editor2-first=Madhav|editor3-last=Mehta|editor3-first=Pratap Bhanu|location=Oxford and New York|page=307|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-870489-8|quote=Along with his or her cabinet, the Prime Minister is responsible to the Lower House of Parliament.}}</ref><ref name="majeed-roi-3">{{citation|last=Majeed|first=Akhtar|chapter=Republic of India|pages=180&ndash;207, 185|title=Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries|series=A Global Dialogue on Federalism, Volume I|editor1-last=Kincaid|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Tarr|editor2-first=G. Alan|location=Montreal & Kingston|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press for Forum of Federation and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies|year=2005|isbn=0-7735-2849-0|quote=...Both for the Union and the states, a "cabinet-type" system of parliamentary government has been instituted in which the executive is continuously responsible to the legislature. (p. 185)}}</ref>

The sitting prime minister ranks third in the [[Order of precedence in India|Order of Precedence of India]]<ref name="OPR"/> and is appointed by the president of India; however, the prime minister has to [[Motion of no confidence|enjoy the confidence]] of the majority of Lok Sabha members, who are directly elected [[Elections in India#Parliamentary general elections (Lok Sabha)|every five years]], lest the prime minister shall resign. The prime minister can be a member of the Lok Sabha or the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of the parliament. The prime minister controls the selection and dismissal of members of the [[Union Council of Ministers]] and allocation of posts to members within the government.

The longest-serving prime minister was the first prime minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], whose tenure lasted 16 years and 286 days. His premiership was followed by [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]]'s short tenure and [[Indira Gandhi]]'s 11- and 4-year-long tenures, with both politicians belonging to the [[Indian National Congress]]. After [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|Indira Gandhi's assassination]], her son [[Rajiv Gandhi]] took charge until 1989, when a decade with five unstable governments began. This was followed by the full terms of [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], [[Manmohan Singh]], and [[Narendra Modi]], who is the current prime minister of India, serving since [[First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|26 May 2014]]. He is the first non-Congress leader to win three consecutive general elections and secure a third successive term (2014, 2019, 2024). The first prime minister to do so was [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], who won the general elections of 1952, 1957, and 1962.

==Origins and history==
India follows a [[parliamentary system]] in which the prime minister is the presiding [[head of the government]] and chief of the executive of the government. In such systems, the [[head of state]], or, the head of state's official representative (i.e., the monarch, president, or [[governor-general]]) usually holds a purely ceremonial position and acts, on most matters, only on the advice of the prime minister.

The prime minister must become a [[Member of Parliament (India)|member of parliament]] within six months of beginning their tenure, if they are not one already. A prime minister is expected to work with other central ministers to ensure the passage of bills by the parliament.

=== 1947–1984 ===
Since 1947, there have been 14 different prime ministers.{{efn|Not including [[Gulzarilal Nanda]] who served, twice, as acting prime minister.|name=56o}} The first few decades after 1947 saw the [[Indian National Congress]]' (INC) near complete domination over the political map of India. India's first prime minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], took oath on 15 August 1947. Nehru went on to serve as prime minister for 17 consecutive years, winning four [[Elections in India|general election]]s in the process. His tenure ended in May 1964, on his death.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XUEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|title=A Man Who, with All His Mind and Heart, Loved India|date=5 June 1964|magazine=Life|pages=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0527.html|title=India Mourning Nehru, 74, Dead of a Heart Attack; World Leaders Honor Him|date=27 May 1964|website=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> After the death of Nehru, [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]], a former [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|home minister]] and a leader of the Congress party, ascended to the position of prime minister. Shastri's tenure saw the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. Shashtri subsequently died of a reported heart attack in [[Tashkent]], after signing the [[Tashkent Declaration]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2009/08/was_mr_shastri_murdered.html|title=Was Mr Shastri murdered?|last=Biswas|first=Soutik|date=27 August 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

After Shastri, [[Indira Gandhi]], Nehru's daughter, was elected as the country's third prime minister. The first, and to date, the only, woman to hold the post, Indira's first term in office lasted 11 years, in which she took steps such as [[Banking in India#Nationalisation in the 1960s|nationalisation of banks]];<ref>{{Cite book|title=Working a democratic constitution: A history of the Indian experience|last=Granville|first=Austin|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2003|isbn=978-0195656107|location=Delhi|pages=215|oclc=52992056}}</ref> end of [[Privy Purse in India|allowances]] and political posts, which were received by members of the royal families of the erstwhile [[princely state]]s of the [[British Indian Empire]].<ref name="Interpretation Act 1889">Interpretation Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c.&nbsp;63), s.&nbsp;18.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=India's silent revolution: The rise of the lower castes in North India|last=Christophe|first=Jaffrelot|publisher=[[C. Hurst & Co.]]|year=2003|isbn=978-1850653981|location=London|pages=131–142|oclc=54023168}}</ref> In addition, events such as the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]];<ref>{{Cite book|title=A History of India|url=https://archive.org/details/historyindia00kulk|url-access=limited|last1=Hermann|first1=Kulke|last2=Rothermund|first2=Dietmar|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2004|isbn=978-0415329194|edition=4th|location=New York City|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyindia00kulk/page/n371 359]|oclc=57054139}}</ref> the establishment of a sovereign [[Bangladesh]];<ref>{{Cite book|title=One world divisible: a global history since 1945|last=David|first=Reynolds|publisher=[[W. W. Norton]]|year=2001|isbn=978-0393321081|location=New York City|pages=244–247|oclc=46977934}}</ref> accession of [[Sikkim]] to India, through a [[1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum|referendum]] in 1975;<ref>{{Cite book|title=Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface|publisher=Mouton|year=1978|isbn=978-3110806496|editor-last=Fisher|editor-first=James F.|location=[[The Hague]]|pages=225|oclc=561996779}}</ref> and India's [[Smiling Buddha|first nuclear test]] in [[Pokhran]] occurred during Indira's first term. In 1975, amid growing unrest and a court order declaring Indira's election to the Lok Sabha void, President [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]], on Indira's advice, imposed a [[The Emergency (India)|state of emergency]], therefore bestowing the government with the power to [[rule by decree]]; this period is known for human rights violations such as mass sterilisation and the imprisonment of Indira's political opponents.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Unsettling memories: narratives of the emergency in Delhi|last=Emma|first=Tarlo|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|year=2001|isbn=978-0520231207|location=[[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]|oclc=46421940}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-tale-of-three-emergencies-real-reason-always-different/235992/0|title=A tale of three Emergencies: real reason always different|last=Jaitley|first=Arun|author-link=Arun Jaitley|date=5 November 2007|website=[[The Indian Express]]|oclc=70274541|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

After widespread protests, the emergency was lifted in 1977, and a [[Elections in India|general election]] was held. All of the political parties of the opposition, after the conclusion of the emergency, fought together against the Congress, under the umbrella of the [[Janata Party]], in the [[1977 Indian general election|general election of 1977]], and were successful in defeating the Congress. Subsequently, [[Morarji Desai]], a former [[Deputy Prime Minister of India|deputy prime minister]], became the first non-Congress prime minister of India. Desai's government was composed of groups with opposite ideologies, in which unity and coordination were difficult to maintain. Ultimately, after two and a half years as PM; on 28 July 1979, Desai tendered his resignation to the president; and his government fell. Thereafter, [[Charan Singh]], a deputy prime minister in Desai's cabinet, with outside, conditional support from Congress, proved a majority in [[Lok Sabha]] and took oath as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Predictioneer's game: Using the logic of brazen self-interest to see and shape the future|last=Bueno de Mesquita|first=Bruce|publisher=[[Random House]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-8129-7977-0|edition=1st|location=New York City|pages=xxiii|oclc=290470064}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Congress, Indira to Sonia Gandhi|last=Sanghvi|first=Vijay|publisher=Kalpaz Publications|year=2006|isbn=978-8178353401|location=Delhi|pages=114–122|oclc=74972515}}</ref> However, Congress pulled its support shortly after, and Singh had to resign; he had a tenure of 5 months, the shortest in the history of the office.

In [[1980 Indian general election|1980]], after a three-year absence, the Congress returned to power with an absolute majority. Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister a second time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indira-gandhi-becomes-indian-prime-minister|title=Indira Gandhi becomes Indian Prime Minister – Jan 19, 1966|work=[[History (U.S. TV network)|History]]|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=[[A&E Networks]]}}</ref> In June 1984, [[Operation Blue Star]], an [[Indian Army]] operation against [[Sikhism|Sikh]] militants inside the [[Golden Temple]], the most sacred site in Sikhism, was conducted, resulting in reportedly thousands of deaths, both of the militants and civilians.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Globalizations and social movements: Culture, power, and the transnational public sphere|last1=Guidry|first1=John A.|last2=Kennedy|first2=Michael D.|last3=Zald|first3=Mayer N.|publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]]|year=2000|isbn=978-0472067213|location=[[Ann Arbor]]|pages=319|oclc=593248991}}</ref> In revenge, on 31 October of that year, Gandhi was shot dead by [[Satwant Singh]] and [[Beant Singh (assassin)|Beant Singh]], two of her bodyguards, in the garden of her residence at 1, [[Safdarjung Road]], New Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/06/world/india-hangs-two-sikhs-convicted-in-assassination-of-indira-gandhi.html|title=India Hangs Two Sikhs Convicted in Assassination of Indira Gandhi|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=6 January 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=4 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref>

=== 1984–1999 ===
After Indira, [[Rajiv Gandhi|Rajiv]], her eldest son and 40 years old at the time, was sworn in on the evening of 31 October 1984, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the office of prime minister. Rajiv immediately called for a general election. In the subsequent [[1984 Indian general election|general election]], the Congress secured a [[supermajority]], winning 401 of 552 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]], the maximum number received by any party in the history of India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/29/newsid_3314000/3314987.stm|title=1984: Rajiv Gandhi wins landslide election victory|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19841231&id=sTdTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3454,6835384&hl=en|title=Rajiv Gandhi takes oath as India's Prime Minister|date=31 December 1984|website=[[Deseret News]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0745-4724|access-date=5 April 2018|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> [[V. P. Singh|Vishwanath Pratap Singh]], first [[Minister of Finance (India)|finance minister]] and then later [[Minister of Defence (India)|defence minister]] in Gandhi's cabinet, uncovered irregularities, in what became known as the [[Bofors scandal]], during his stint at the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]; Singh was subsequently expelled from Congress and formed the [[Janata Dal]] and, with the help of several anti-Congress parties, also formed the [[National Front (India)|National Front]], a coalition of many political parties.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/world/new-opposition-front-in-india-stages-lively-rally.html?scp=1&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22%20%22jan%20morcha%22&st=cse|title=New Opposition Front in India Stages Lively Rally|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=18 September 1988|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref>

In the [[1989 Indian general election|general election of 1989]], the National Front, with outside support from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]], came to power.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/02/world/indian-opposition-chooses-a-premier.html?scp=14&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse|title=Indian opposition chooses a premier|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=2 December 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref> [[V. P. Singh]] was elected prime minister.<ref name=":1" /> During a tenure of less than a year, Singh and his government accepted the [[Mandal Commission]]'s recommendations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mandal-vs-mandir/|title=Mandal vs Mandir|last=Malhotra|first=Inder|date=23 March 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=[[Indian Express Group]]|oclc=70274541}}</ref> Singh's tenure came to an end after he ordered the arrest of BJP member [[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/30/world/india-ready-to-bar-hindu-move-today.html|title=India ready to bar Hindu move today|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=30 October 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref> as a result, BJP withdrew its outside support to the government, V. P. Singh lost the subsequent [[Motion of no confidence|vote-of-no-confidence]] 146–320 and had to resign.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/world/india-s-cabinet-falls-as-premier-loses-confidence-vote-by-142-346-and-quits.html?sec=travel&pagewanted=all|title=India's Cabinet Falls as Premier Loses Confidence Vote, by 142–346, and Quits|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=8 November 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref> After V. P. Singh's resignation, [[Chandra Shekhar]] along with 64 [[Member of Parliament (India)|members of parliament]] (MPs) floated the [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/world/dissidents-split-indian-prime-minister-s-party.html?scp=16&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse|title=Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister's Party|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=6 November 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref> and proved a majority in the [[Lok Sabha]] with support from Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?scp=17&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse|title=Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier|last=Hazarika|first=Sanjoy|date=10 November 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=5 April 2018|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref> But Shekhar's premiership did not last long, Congress proceeded to withdraw its support; Shekhar's government fell as a result, and [[1991 Indian general election|new election]]s were announced.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Chandra-Shekhar-critical/article14790254.ece|title=Chandra Shekhar critical|date=8 July 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref>

Rajiv Gandhi [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|was assassinated]] on the campaign trail for the [[1991 Indian general election|general election of 1991]], and the Congress, under the leadership of [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], rode a sympathy wave to form a [[minority government]]; Rao became the first PM of [[South India]]n origin.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4120429.stm|title=Narasimha Rao – a reforming PM|date=23 December 2004|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> After the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], India was on the brink of [[Sovereign bankruptcy|bankruptcy]], so, Rao took steps to [[liberalise]] the economy, and appointed [[Manmohan Singh]], an economist and a former [[List of Governors of Reserve Bank of India|governor of the Reserve Bank of India]], as finance minister.<ref name=":3" /> Rao and Singh then took various steps to liberalise the economy,<ref name=":3" /> these resulted in unprecedented economic growth in India.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=DeLong|first=J. Bradford|author-link=J. Bradford DeLong|date=July 2001|title=India Since Independence: An Analytic Growth Narrative|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246458096|journal=In Search of Prosperity: Analytic Narratives on Economic Growth|access-date=5 April 2018|via=Research Gate}}</ref> His premiership, however, was also a witness to the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid]], which resulted in the death of about 2,000 people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11436552|title=Timeline: Ayodhya holy site crisis|date=6 December 2012|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> Rao, however, did complete five continuous years in office, becoming the first prime minister outside of the [[Nehru–Gandhi family|Nehru—Gandhi family]] to do so.<ref name=":3" />

After the end of Rao's tenure in May 1996, the nation saw four prime ministers in a span of three years, ''{{Abbr|[[viz.]]|videlicet}}'', two tenures of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]; one tenure of [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] from 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997; and one tenure of [[I. K. Gujral]] from 21 April 1997 to 19 March 1998. The government of Prime Minister Vajpayee—elected in [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]—took some concrete steps; in May 1998, after a month in power, the government announced the [[Pokhran-II|conduct of five underground nuclear explosions]] in [[Pokhran]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9805/17/india.nuke.tests/|title=India releases pictures of nuclear tests|date=17 May 1998|website=[[Cable News Network]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]]|location=New Delhi|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> In response to these tests, many [[Western world|western countries]], including the United States, imposed [[economic sanctions]] on India,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/india_nuclear_testing/92797.stm|title=US imposes sanctions on India|date=13 May 1999|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> but, due to the support received from Russia, France, the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf countries]] and some other nations, the sanctions, were largely, not considered successful.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Morrow|first1=Daniel|last2=Carriere|first2=Michael|date=1 January 1999|title=The economic impacts of the 1998 sanctions on India and Pakistan|journal=The Nonproliferation Review|volume=6|issue=4|pages=1–16|doi=10.1080/10736709908436775|issn=1073-6700}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=India's nuclear diplomacy after Pokhran II|last=Rai|first=Ajai K.|publisher=[[Longman]]|others=Foreword by [[Ved Prakash Malik]]|year=2009|isbn=978-8131726686|location=Delhi|oclc=313061697}}</ref> A few months later in response to the Indian nuclear tests, Pakistan also [[Chagai-I|conducted nuclear tests]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Eating grass: The making of the Pakistani bomb|last=Khan|first=Feroz Hassan|publisher=[[Stanford University Press]]|year=2012|isbn=978-0804784801|location=[[Stanford, California|Stanford]]|pages=281|oclc=816041307}}</ref> Given the deteriorating situation between the two countries, the governments tried to improve bilateral relations. In February 1999, India and Pakistan signed the [[Lahore Declaration]], in which the two countries announced their intention to annul mutual enmity, increase trade and use their nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/21bus.htm|title=Vajpayee, Sharief sign Lahore Declaration|last=Iype|first=George|date=21 February 1999|work=[[Rediff.com]]|location=Lahore|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref>

In May 1999, [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] leader [[J. Jayalalithaa]] withdrew from the ruling [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) coalition;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/318912.stm|title=Jayalalitha: Actress-turned-politician|date=14 April 1999|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> Vajpayee's government, hence, became a [[Caretaker government|caretaker]] one after losing a motion-of-no-confidence 269–270, this coincided with the [[Kargil War]] with Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-was-ready-to-cross-loc-use-nuclear-weapons-in-kargil-war-115120300518_1.html|title=India was ready to cross LoC, use nuclear weapons in Kargil war|date=3 December 2015|work=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=Business Standard Ltd|location=New Delhi|oclc=496280002}}</ref> In the subsequent [[1999 Indian general election|October 1999 general election]], the BJP-led NDA and its affiliated parties secured a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, winning 299 of 543 seats in the [[lower house]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/468258.stm|title=Indian election: What they said|date=8 October 1999|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref>

=== 2000–present ===
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 380
| align             = right
| image_style       = border:none;
| title             = 
| image1            = The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on May 24, 2004.jpg
| caption1          = Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on May 24, 2004
| image2            = Modi at the 69th UN general assembly.jpg
| caption2          = Prime minister [[Narendra Modi]] addressing the 69th [[United Nations General Assembly]], c. 2014
}}
  
Vajpayee continued the process of economic liberalisation during his reign, resulting in economic growth.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayees-five-steps-that-changed-india-forever/articleshow/62240161.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's five steps that changed India forever|date=27 December 2017|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=6 April 2018|others=ET Online|location=New Delhi|oclc=61311680}}</ref> In addition to the development of infrastructure and basic facilities, the government took several steps to improve the infrastructure of the country, such as, the [[National Highways Development Project]] (NHDP) and the ''[[Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana]]'' (PMGSY; [[International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration|IAST]]: {{IAST|Pradhānamaṃtrī Grāma Saḍaka Yojanā}}; {{Literal translation}} Prime Minister Rural Road Scheme),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/A-leader-of-substance-Along-with-Narasimha-Rao-Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee-laid-the-foundation-of-new-India/articleshow/17747366.cms?referral=PM|title=A leader of substance: Along with Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of new India|last=Panagariya|first=Arvind|date=25 December 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2018|oclc=23379369|author-link=Arvind Panagariya}}</ref> for the development of roads. But during his reign, the [[2002 Gujarat riots|2002 Gujarat communal riots]] in the state of Gujarat took place; resulting in about 2,000 deaths.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The ethics of terrorism: Innovative approaches from an international perspective (17 lectures)|last1=Yakov|first1=Gilinskiy|last2=Gilly|first2=Thomas Albert|last3=Sergevnin|first3=Vladimir|publisher=Charles C. Thomas Publishers|year=2009|isbn=978-0398079956|location=[[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]|pages=28|oclc=731209878}}</ref> Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister came to an end in May 2004, making him the first non-Congress PM to complete a full five-year tenure.<ref name=":4" />

In the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 election]], the Congress emerged as the largest party in a [[hung parliament]]; the Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA), with outside support from the Left Front, the [[Samajwadi Party]] (SP) and [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP) among others, proved a majority in the Lok Sabha,<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3736723.stm|title=India swears in its first Sikh PM|date=22 May 2004|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> and Manmohan Singh was elected prime minister; becoming the first Sikh prime minister of the nation.<ref name=":5" /> During his tenure, the country retained the economic momentum gained during Prime Minister Vajpayee's tenure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6294409.stm|title=Indian economy 'to overtake UK'|last=Grammaticas|first=Damian|date=24 January 2007|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=6 April 2018|location=Delhi}}</ref> Apart from this, the government succeeded in getting the ''[[National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005]]'', and the ''[[Right to Information Act, 2005]]'' passed in the parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/learning-from-nrega/article6342811.ece|title=Learning from NREGA|last=Drèze|first=Jean|date=23 August 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=6 April 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119|author-link=Jean Drèze}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-gives-assent-to-law-on-right-to-information/articleshow/1152297.cms|title=President gives assent to law on right to information|date=25 June 2005|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=New Delhi|oclc=23379369}}</ref> Further, the government strengthened India's relations with nations like Afghanistan,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/india-afghanistan-relations|title=India-Afghanistan Relations|last=Bajoria|first=Jayshree|date=22 July 2009|work=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7540204.stm|title=India announces more Afghan aid|date=4 August 2008|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> Russia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/%0D%0Anews/2005/dec/06pmrus2.htm|title=India, Russia sign agreements to strengthen ties|last=Roychowdhury|first=Amitabh|date=6 December 2005|work=[[Rediff.com]]|location=Moscow|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref> the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf States]], and the United States, culminating with the ratification of [[India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement]] near the end of Singh's first term.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Finally-its-done-India-back-on-the-nuclear-train/articleshow/3551691.cms?referral=PM|title=Finally, it's done: India back on the nuclear train|last=Rajghatta|first=Chidanand|date=2 October 2008|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2018|location=Washington D.C.|oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7650286.stm|title=A win-win situation for India|last=Sirohi|first=Seema|date=9 October 2008|work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/01/us.india.nuclear/|title=Senate approves nuclear deal with India|date=1 October 2008|website=[[Cable News Network]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting Network]]|location=Washington D.C.|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> At the same time, the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks]] also happened during Singh's first term in office.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/opinion/18friedman.html|title=No Way, No How, Not Here|last=Friedman|first=Thomas L.|date=17 February 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=6 April 2018|location=New Delhi|issn=0362-4331|oclc=1645522}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/mumbai-terror-attacks-pakistanis-charged/story?id=9176592|title=Mumbai Terror Suspects Charged a Year After Attacks|last=Schifrin|first=Nick|date=25 November 2009|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> In the [[2009 Indian general election|general election of 2009]], the mandate of UPA increased.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/more-congress-less-upa/358357/|title=More Congress, less UPA|date=17 May 2009|work=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=6 April 2018|publisher=Business Standard Ltd|others=B. S. Reporter|location=New Delhi|oclc=496280002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/manmohan_gets_presidential_invite_to_form_govt.php|title=Manmohan gets presidential invite to form govt|date=21 May 2009|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref> Prime Minister Singh's second term, however, was surrounded by accusations of high-level scandals and corruption.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/15560793.cms?intenttarget=no|title=Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly responsible for coal scam: Arun Jaitley|date=19 August 2012|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=[[Indore]]|oclc=61311680}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-2g-scam-disappointed-over-manmohan-singh-s-refusal-to-appear-before-jpc-says-yashwant-sinha-1820446|title=2G scam: Disappointed over Manmohan Singh's refusal to appear before JPC, says Yashwant Sinha {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=9 April 2013|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Asian News International]]|oclc=801791672}}</ref> Singh resigned as prime minister on 17 May 2014, after Congress' defeat in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/prime-minister-manmohan-singh-resigns-after-10-years-in-office-562442|title=Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Resigns After 10 Years in Office|date=17 May 2014|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=6 April 2018|editor-last=Ghosh|editor-first=Deepshikha|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/highlights/story/manmohan-singh-resigns-as-prime-minister-193309-2014-05-17|title=Manmohan Singh to continue as PM till Modi assumes office|date=17 May 2014|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0254-8399|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Manmohan-Singh-resigns-bringing-to-an-end-his-10-year-tenure/articleshow/35254774.cms|title=Manmohan Singh resigns bringing to an end his 10-year tenure|date=17 May 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=New Delhi|oclc=23379369}}</ref>

In the [[2014 Indian general election|general election of 2014]], the BJP-led NDA won an absolute majority, winning 336 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP became the first party since 1984 to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. [[Narendra Modi]], then the [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]], was elected prime minister, becoming the first prime minister to have been born in an independent India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Narendra-Modi-appointed-Prime-Minister-swearing-in-on-May-26/articleshow/35388297.cms?|title=Narendra Modi appointed Prime Minister, swearing in on May 26|date=20 May 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|location=New Delhi|oclc=23379369}}</ref>

[[Narendra Modi]] was re-elected as prime minister in 2019 with a bigger mandate than that of 2014. The BJP-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] won 354 seats out of which the [[BJP]] secured 303 seats.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48347081 |title = Landslide win for Narendra Modi in India elections|work = BBC News|date = 23 May 2019}}</ref>

=== Party affiliation ===
{{See also|List of prime ministers of India}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Party
!PMs
!{{Abbr|Years in Office|Total years these parties held the office of Prime Minister of India}}
!Name(s)
![[Political alliance|Alliance]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};" |
|[[Indian National Congress]]
| style="text-align: center;" |6{{Efn|name=56o}}
|54 years
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]], [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Rajiv Gandhi]], [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] and [[Manmohan Singh]]{{Efn|name=56o}}
|{{ubl|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]], [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] and [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI (M)]] (1969–1971)|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] (1991–1994)|[[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] (2004–2014)}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}};" |
|'''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
| style="text-align: center;" |2
|'''17 years'''
|[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and '''[[Narendra Modi]]'''
|[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (from 1998)
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Janata Dal}};" |
|[[Janata Dal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |3
|2 years
|[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]], [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] and [[Inder Kumar Gujral]]
| [[National Front (India)|NF]] (1989–1990) [[United Front (India, 1996)|UF]] (1996–1998)
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Janata Party}};" |
|[[Janata Party]]
| style="text-align: center;" |1
|2 years
|[[Morarji Desai]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Janata Party|JP]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Janata Party (Secular)}};" |
|[[Janata Party (Secular)]]
| style="text-align:  center;" |1
|<1 years
|[[Charan Singh]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)}}; " |
| nowrap="" |[[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]]
| style="text-align: center;" |1
|<1 years
|[[Chandra Shekhar]]
| JP 
External support from [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|}

== Constitutional framework and position of Prime Minister ==
The [[Constitution of India|Constitution]] envisions a scheme of affairs in which the [[president of India]] is the head of state; in terms of Article 53 with office of the prime minister being the head of [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of India|Council of Ministers]] to assist and advise the president in the discharge of their constitutional functions. To quote, Article 53, [[wikisource:Constitution of India/Part V|74]] and 75 provide as under:
{{blockquote|The executive powers of the Union shall be vested in the president and shall be exercised either directly or through subordinate officers, in accordance with the Constitution.| Article 53(1), Constitution of India}}
{{blockquote|There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the president who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.| [[Article 74 (Constitution of India)|Article 74(1)]], Constitution of India}} 
{{blockquote|The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.| Article 75(1), Constitution of India}}
Like most [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary democracies]], the [[Head of state|president]]'s duties are mostly [[Titular ruler|ceremonial]] as long as the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] and the [[rule of law]] is obeyed by the cabinet and the legislature. The prime minister of India is the head of government and has the responsibility for executive power. The president's constitutional duty is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|article 60]]. In the constitution of India, the prime minister is mentioned in only four of its articles (articles 74, 75, 78 and 366). The prime minister plays a crucial role in the [[government of India]] by enjoying majority in the [[Lok Sabha]].

==Appointment, tenure and removal==
===Eligibility===
According to Article 84 of the Constitution of India, which sets the principle qualification for member of Parliament, and Article 75 of the Constitution of India, which sets the qualifications for the minister in the Union Council of Ministers, and the argument that the position of prime minister has been described as ''[[primus inter pares]]'' (the first among equals),<ref>{{Cite book|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|last1=Basu|first1=Durga Das|last2=Manohar|first2=V. R.|last3=Banerjee|first3=Bhagabati Prosad|last4=Khan|first4=Shakeel Ahmad|publisher=Lexis Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur|year=2008|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9|edition=20th|location=New Delhi|pages=199|oclc=289009455}}</ref> A prime minister must:

* Be a [[Indian nationality law|citizen of India]].
* Be a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] or the [[Rajya Sabha]]. If the person chosen as prime minister is neither a member of the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha at the time of selection, he must become a member of either of the houses within six months.
* Be above 25 years of age if he is a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|member of the Lok Sabha]], or, above 30 years of age if he is a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|member of the Rajya Sabha]].
* Not hold any office of profit under the government of India or the government of any state or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said governments.

Once a candidate is elected as the prime minister, he must vacate his posts at any private or government companies and may take up the position only on completion of his term.

===Oaths of office and secrecy===
[[File:Shri_Narendra_Modi_sworn_in_as_Prime_Minister.jpg|thumb|[[First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi]], 2014]]
The prime minister is required to make and subscribe in the presence of the [[president of India]] before entering office, the oath of office and secrecy, as per the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Oath of office:
{{Blockquote|I, (name), do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as Prime Minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.|[[Constitution of India]], Third Schedule, Part I|title=|source=}}

Oath of secrecy:
{{Blockquote|I, (name), do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as Prime Minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.|Constitution of India, Third Schedule, Part II}}

===Tenure and removal from office===
The prime minister serves at 'the pleasure of the president', hence, a prime minister may remain in office indefinitely, so long as the president has confidence in him/her. However, a prime minister must have the confidence of Lok Sabha, the lower house of the [[Parliament of India]].

The term of a prime minister can end before the end of a Lok Sabha's term, if a [[Majority|simple majority]] of its members no longer have confidence in him/her, this is called a [[Motion of no confidence|vote-of-no-confidence]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19870515-under-the-constitution-does-the-president-have-the-right-to-remove-the-prime-minister-798837-1987-05-15|title=Under the Constitution, does the President have the right to remove the Prime Minister?|last1=Gupta|first1=Surajeet Das|last2=Badhwar|first2=Inderjit|date=15 May 1987|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|issn=0254-8399|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Three prime ministers, [[I. K. Gujral]],<ref name=":9" /> [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] and [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] have been voted out from office this way. In addition, a prime minister can resign from office; [[Morarji Desai]] was the first prime minister to resign while in office.

Upon ceasing to possess the requisite qualifications to be a member of Parliament subject to the ''[[Representation of the People Act, 1951]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/legislative/election/volume%201/representation%20of%20the%20people%20act,%201951.pdf|title=Sections 7 & 8k, The representation of the people act,1951|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501024716/http://lawmin.nic.in/legislative/election/volume%201/representation%20of%20the%20people%20act,%201951.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Role and power of the prime minister==

=== Prime Minister Administrative Structure of India ===

{{chart top|width=100%|Prime Minister Administrative Structure}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{tree chart| | |PM| | |PM=Prime Minister of India<br/>'''[[Narendra Modi]]'''}}
{{tree chart| | |,|-|-|v|-|-|.}}
{{tree chart|PMO| |MOP| |CS|
|PMO=[[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]<br/>Principal Secretary: '''[[Pramod Kumar Mishra]]'''
|MOP=[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]]<br/>Minister: [[Jitendra Singh Rana|Jitendra Singh]]
|CS=[[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]]<br/>Cabinet Secretary: '''[[T. V. Somanathan]]'''}}
{{tree chart| | | |!| | | | |!| | |}}
{{tree chart|DAE| |DOS| |DPOT| |DARPG| |DPPW|
|DAE=[[Department of Atomic Energy]]<br/>Secretary: '''Ajit Kumar Mohanty'''
|DOS=[[Department of Space (India)|Department of Space]]<br/>Secretary & ISRO Chairman: '''Dr. V. Narayanan'''
|DPOT=[[Department of Personnel and Training]]<br/>Secretary: '''Rachna Shah'''
|DARPG=[[Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances]]<br/>Secretary: '''V. Srinivas'''
|DPPW=[[Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare]]<br/>Secretary: '''V. Srinivas'''}}
{{tree chart| |!| | | | | | | | | |!| | |}}
{{tree chart|ISRO| |ANT| | | | | | |RAW| |SPG| |JIC| |NAC|
|ISRO=[[Indian Space Research Organisation]]<br/>Chairman: '''Dr. V. Narayanan'''
|ANT=[[Antrix Corporation]]<br/>Chairman: (under ISRO)
|RAW=[[Research and Analysis Wing]]<br/>Head: (Cabinet Secretary–level oversight)
|SPG=[[Special Protection Group]]<br/>Director: (Cabinet oversight)
|JIC=[[Joint Intelligence Committee (India)|Joint Intelligence Committee]]<br/>Chairman: (Cabinet Secretariat)
|NAC=[[National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention]]<br/>Secretary: (Cabinet Secretariat)}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

=== Executive powers ===
[[File:PM_India_org.png|Agencies under the Prime Minister|550x550px|thumb]]
The prime minister leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the government of India. The president of India, subject to eligibility, invites a person who is commanding support of majority members of Lok Sabha to form the [[government of India]], also known as the central government or Union government, at the national level and exercise its powers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |title=The Constitution of India |access-date=16 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416084719/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2016 }}</ref> In practice the prime minister nominates the members of their [[Union Council of Ministers|council of ministers]] to the president.<ref name="cabinet">{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/team.htm|title=Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers|publisher=pmindia.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093318/http://pmindia.nic.in/team.htm|archive-date=20 April 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/mos_ind.htm|title=Ministers of State (Independent Charge)|publisher=pmindia.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093303/http://pmindia.nic.in/mos_ind.htm|archive-date=20 April 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/mos.htm|title=Ministers of State (without Independent Charge)|publisher=pmindia.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093900/http://pmindia.nic.in/mos.htm|archive-date=20 April 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> He also works upon to decide a core group of ministers (known as the cabinet),<ref name = "cabinet"/> as in charge of the important functions and ministries of the [[government of India]].

The prime minister is responsible for aiding and advising the president in distribution of work of the government to various ministries and offices and in terms of the ''Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cabsec.nic.in/abr/welcome.html |title=(Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 |publisher=cabsec.nic.in |access-date=5 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430161837/http://cabsec.nic.in/abr/welcome.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 April 2008}}</ref> The co-ordinating work is generally allocated to the [[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cabsec.gov.in/ |title=Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India |publisher=cabsec.gov.in |access-date=5 June 2008 }}</ref> While the work of the government is generally divided into various ministries, the prime minister may retain certain portfolios if he is not allocated to any member of the cabinet.

The prime minister, in consultation with the cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the houses of parliament and is required to answer questions from the Members of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pmindia.nic.in/parl.htm |title=PM's answers to Parliamentary Questions |publisher=pmindia.nic.in |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420091356/http://pmindia.nic.in/parl.htm |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}</ref>

Some specific ministries/department are not allocated to anyone in the cabinet but the prime minister themself. The prime minister is usually always in charge/head of:
* [[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]] (as [[Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]])
* [[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]]
* [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]]
*[[Cabinet Committee on Security]]
*Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
* [[NITI Aayog]] (formerly [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]])
* [[Department of Atomic Energy]]
* [[Department of Space]]
* [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Nuclear Command Authority]]
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 380
| align             = right
| image_style       = border:none;
| title             = 
| image1            = Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Desai sign the New Delhi Declaration. - NARA - 177417.tif
| caption1          = US President [[Jimmy Carter]] and PM [[Morarji Desai]] signing the New Delhi declaration, 3 January 1978
| image2            = Vladimir Putin meeting with Narendra Modi in the Kremlin.jpg
| caption2          = Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] meeting prime minister Narendra Modi in the [[Kremlin]], Moscow, 24 December 2015
}}

The prime minister represents the country in various delegations, high level meetings and international organisations that require the attendance of the highest government office,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pmindia.nic.in/visits.htm |title=Recent Visit of the Prime Minister |publisher=pmindia.nic.in |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093915/http://pmindia.nic.in/visits.htm |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}</ref> and also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pmindia.nic.in/message.htm |title=Recent National Messages of the PM |publisher=pmindia.nic.in |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420085705/http://pmindia.nic.in/message.htm |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}</ref>

Per [[wikisource:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 78]] of the [[Constitution of India]], the union cabinet and the president officially communicate through the prime minister. Otherwise, the Constitution recognises the prime minister as a member of the union cabinet only outside the sphere of union cabinet.

==== Administrative and appointment powers ====
The prime minister recommends to the president, among others, names for the appointment of:

* [[Chief Election Commissioner of India]] (CEC) and other [[Election Commissioners of India]] (ECs)
* [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]] (C&AG)
* Chairperson and members of the [[Union Public Service Commission]] (UPSC)
* [[Chief Information Commissioner of India]] (CIC) and [[Information Commissioner of India|Information Commissioners of India]]
* Chairperson and members of the [[finance commission]] (FC)
* [[Attorney General of India]] (AG) and [[Solicitor General of India]] (SG)

As the chairperson of [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]] (ACC), the prime minister, on the non-binding advice of the [[Cabinet Secretary of India]] led-Senior Selection Board (SSB), decides the postings of top civil servants, such as, [[Secretary to Government of India|secretaries]], [[Additional secretary to Government of India|additional secretaries]] and [[Joint secretary to Government of India|joint secretaries]] in the government of India.<ref name="Governance in India2">{{Cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education]]|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|edition=2nd|location=[[Noida]]|publication-date=25 August 2014|pages=3.16–3.17}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/may/31spec.htm|title=What does the Cabinet Secretary do?|last=Iype|first=George|date=31 May 2006|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=http://dopt.gov.in/committeereports/current-system|title=The Current System|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> Further, in the same capacity, the PM decides the assignments of top military personnel such as the [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]], [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]], [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] and commanders of operational and training commands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/from-india-today-magazine/story/20170102-indian-army-chief-bipin-rawat-praveen-bakshi-modi-government-infantry-officer-830076-2016-12-22|title=New chief on the block|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=22 December 2016|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|issn=0254-8399|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> In addition, the ACC also decides the posting of [[Indian Police Service]] officers, the [[All India Services|All India Service]] for policing, which staffs most of the higher level law enforcement positions at federal and state level, in the [[government of India]].

Also, as the [[Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]], the PM also exercises control over the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS),<ref name="Governance in India">{{Cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education]]|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|edition=2nd|location=[[Noida]]|publication-date=25 August 2014|pages=7.6}}</ref> the country's premier civil service,<ref name="Profile IAS">{{Cite web|url=http://persmin.gov.in/ais1/Docs/ServiceProfile.pdf|title=Service Profile for the Indian Administrative Service|publisher=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite book|title=Public Administration in India|last=Tummala|first=Krishna Kumar|publisher=Allied Publishers|year=1996|isbn=978-8170235903|location=[[Mumbai]]|pages=154–159|oclc=313439426}}</ref> which staffs most of the senior civil service positions;<ref name="Profile IAS" /><ref name=":19" /> the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB);<ref name="Governance in India23">{{Cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education]]|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|edition=2nd|location=[[Noida]]|publication-date=25 August 2014|pages=7.37}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://dopt.gov.in/about-us/functions/organisation-under-mop-list|title=Organisation Under DOPT|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref> and the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI),<ref name="Governance in India23" /><ref name=":6" /> except for the selection of its director, who is chosen by a committee of: (a) the prime minister, as chairperson; (b) the [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|leader of the opposition]] in Lok Sabha; and (c) the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cbi-director-appointment-cji-kehar-narendra-modi-mallikarjun-kharge-ptm-955305-2017-01-16|title=All about CBI director's appointment as PM Modi, CJI Kehar, Kharge meet to vet names|date=16 January 2017|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0254-8399|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

Unlike most other countries, the prime minister does not have much influence over the selection of judges; that is done by a collegium of judges consisting of the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice of India]], four senior most [[List of sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India|judges]] of the [[Supreme Court of India]] and the [[List of current Indian chief justices|chief justice]] (or the senior-most judge) of the concerned [[List of high courts in India|state high court]].<ref name="Where Angles Fear to Tread">{{cite book|title=Supreme but not infallible: Essays in honour of the Supreme Court of India|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2013|isbn=978-0-19-567226-8|editor=Kirpal|editor-first=Bhupinder N.|edition=6th impr.|location=New Delhi|pages=97–106|oclc=882928525}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/08/07/stories/05072524.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106074107/http://www.thehindu.com/2001/08/07/stories/05072524.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2016|title=Higher judicial appointments – II|last=Iyer|first=V. R. Krishna|author-link=V. R. Krishna Iyer|date=7 August 2001|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> The executive as a whole, however, has the right to send back a recommended name to the collegium for reconsideration;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/in-defence-of-the-collegium/|title=In defence of the collegium|last=Thomas|first=K.T.|date=13 August 2014|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=8 April 2018|publisher=[[Indian Express Group]]|oclc=70274541|author-link=K. T. Thomas (Justice)}}</ref> this, however, is not a full veto power, and the collegium can still put forward a rejected name.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mop-on-appointments-sc-puts-its-foot-down-rejects-govt-plan-to-veto-postings-on-national-security-grounds-collegium-4582978/|title=MoP on appointments: SC puts its foot down, rejects Govt plan to veto postings on national security grounds|last=Chhibber|first=Maneesh|date=24 March 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=10 April 2018|publisher=[[Indian Express Group]]|location=New Delhi|oclc=70274541}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-governments-veto-power-on-judges-appointment-wants-reasons-in-writing-1673816|title=Supreme Court Rejects Government's Veto Power on Judges Appointment, Wants Reasons in Writing|date=27 March 2017|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=10 April 2018|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref>

=== Legislative powers ===
The prime minister acts as the leader of the house of the chamber of parliament that s/he belongs to, generally the [[Lok Sabha]]. In this role, the prime minister is tasked with representing the executive in the legislature, announces important legislation, and is further expected to respond to the opposition's concerns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/practice_procedure/oppo.asp#LE|title=Rajya Sabha – Role of The Leader of The House, Leader of the Opposition and Whips Brief History|website=[[Rajya Sabha]]|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> Article 85 of the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]] confers the president with the power to convene and end extraordinary sessions of the parliament; this power, however, is exercised only on the advice of the prime minister and their council; hence, in practice the prime minister does exercise some control over affairs of the parliament.

== Languages of the Prime Minister's Office ==
{{See also|Languages of India}}
The official website of the Prime Minister's Office is available in 13 Indian languages namely [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Manipuri language|Manipuri]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Urdu]] out of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], in addition to [[English language|English]] and [[Hindi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMINDIA Multilingual Website now available in 13 languages Assamese and Manipuri versions of Prime Minister's Official Website launched |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1514873 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>

The thirteen Indian language websites can be accessed at the following links:

# Hindi: https://www.pmindia.gov.in/hi/
# Assamese: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/asm/
# Bengali: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/bn/
# Gujarati: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/gu/
# Kannada: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/kn/
# Marathi: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/mr/
# Malayalam: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/ml/
# Manipuri: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/mni/
# Odia: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/ory/
# Punjabi: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/pa/
# Tamil: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/ta/
# Telugu: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/te/
# Urdu: https://www.pmindia.gov.in/ur/

==Compensation and benefits==
Article 75 of the Constitution of India confers the Parliament with the power to decide the remuneration and other benefits of the prime minister and other ministers are to be decided by the Parliament.<ref>The Constitution of India, Article 75-6</ref> and is renewed from time to time. The original remunerations for the prime minister and other ministers were specified in the Part B of the second schedule of the constitution, which was later removed by an amendment.

In 2010, the Prime Minister's Office reported that the prime minister does not receive a formal salary; only monthly allowances.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Raise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh? |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=14 August 2012 |date=23 July 2010 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/07/23/a-raise-for-prime-minister-mamohan-singh/}}</ref> That same year ''[[The Economist]]'' reported that, on a [[purchasing power parity]] basis, the prime minister received an equivalent of $4106 per year. As a percentage of the country's per-capita GDP (gross domestic product), this is the lowest of all countries ''The Economist'' surveyed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leaders of the fee world: How much a country's leader is paid compared to GDP per person  |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=14 August 2012 |date=5 July 2010 |url=https://www.economist.com/news/2010/07/05/leaders-of-the-fee-world}}</ref><ref name="salary">{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/pmsalary_jul2012.pdf|title=Pay & Allowances of the Prime Minister|publisher=pmindia.nic.in/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718011828/http://pmindia.nic.in/pmsalary_jul2012.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2013|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Prime-ministerial pay and allowances
!As on
!Gross amount in INR (₹)
!Gross amount in USD ($)
|-
|October 2009
|₹100,000
|$1,400
|-
|October 2010
|₹135,000
|$1,900
|-
|July 2012
|₹160,000
|$2,200
|-
! colspan="3" |Sources:<ref name="salary" />
|}

=== Residence ===
[[File:Prime Minister of Bharat, Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi welcomes VP JD Vance and his family to 7, LKM.jpg|thumb|right|[[PM Modi]] welcomes [[JD Vance]], 50th [[Vice President of the United States]], and his family to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg (2025)]]
The [[7, Lok Kalyan Marg]], previously called 7, Race Course Road, in New Delhi, currently serves as the official place of residence for the prime minister of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM chairing meeting on CWG|url=https://www.sify.com/news/pm-chairing-meeting-on-cwg-news-national-kiosEdgbdhd.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811162041/http://www.sify.com/news/pm-chairing-meeting-on-cwg-news-national-kiosEdgbdhd.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|access-date=20 April 2021|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

The residence during the tenure of Nehru, the first prime minister, was [[Teen Murti Bhavan]]. [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] chose [[10, Janpath]] as an official residence. [[Indira Gandhi]] resided at [[Safdarjung Road|1, Safdarjung Road]]. [[Rajiv Gandhi]] became the first prime minister to use 7, Lok Kalyan Marg as his residence, which was used by his successors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janardan Thakur recalls a conversation with the late Kamalapati Tripathi|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jan/10jana.htm|access-date=20 April 2021|author =Janardan Thakur|author-link= Janardan Thakur|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

=== Travel ===
[[File:Air India One Chennai.png|thumb|Air India One [[Boeing 777-300ER]] (K7066)]]
For ground travel, the prime minister uses a highly modified, armoured version of a [[Range Rover (L405)|Range Rover]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-ditches-bmw-opts-for-a-range-rover/article19498141.ece|title=Modi ditches BMW, opts for a Range Rover|date=15 August 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=10 April 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref> The prime minister's motorcade comprises a fleet of vehicles, the core of which consists of at least three armoured [[BMW 7 Series]] sedans, two armoured [[Range Rover (L405)|Range Rovers]], at least 8–10 [[BMW X5]]s, six [[Toyota Fortuner]]s/[[Toyota Land Cruiser|Land Cruisers]], and at least two [[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]] ambulances.

For air travel, [[Boeing 777-300ER]]s designated by the call sign [[Air India One]] (AI-1 or AIC001) and maintained by the [[Indian Air Force]] are used.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/new-vvip-planes-replacements-for-aged-air-india-one-to-arrive-this-month/articleshow/62417728.cms|title=New VVIP planes: Replacements for aged Air India One to arrive this month|last=Sinha|first=Saurabh|date=8 January 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=10 April 2018|location=New Delhi|oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/air-india-one-seat-no-59g/687970/1|title=Air India One, Seat No 59G – Indian Express|last=Nayyar|first=Dhiraj|date=26 September 2010|website=[[The Indian Express]]|publisher=[[Indian Express Group]]|oclc=70274541|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> There are several helicopters, such as [[Mi-8]], used for carrying the prime minister over short distances. These aircraft are operated by the [[Indian Air Force]].

=== Protection ===

[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at Rajpath, on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day Parade 2018, in New Delhi on January 26, 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Armed SPG agents accompanying prime minister Narendra Modi on the Rajpath on the occasion of 69th republic day, 2018]]
The [[Special Protection Group]] (SPG) is charged with protecting the sitting prime minister and their family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/independence-day-security-cover-narendra-modi-pm-spg-204259-2014-08-16|title=The men who protect PM Narendra Modi|date=16 August 2014|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|location=New Delhi|issn=0254-8399|access-date=10 April 2018|agency=Mail Today Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/spg-takes-over-security-arrangements-for-modi/article22828615.ece|title=SPG takes over security arrangements for Modi|last=Prasad|first=S.|date=22 February 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=10 April 2018|location=[[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]]|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref> The security is aided by the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] (CRPF), [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) and the [[Delhi Police]] to provide three-rung security for the estate.

=== Office ===
{{Main|Prime Minister's Office (India)}}
The [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] (PMO) acts as the principal workplace of the prime minister. The office is located at [[South Block]], and is a 20-room complex, and has the [[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]], the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] and the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] adjacent to it. The office is headed by the [[Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India|principal secretary to the prime minister of India]], generally a former civil servant, mostly from the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) and rarely from the [[Indian Foreign Service]] (IFS).

==Family==
{{Main|Spouse of the prime minister of India}}
[[File:Barack and Michelle Obama attend a dinner hosted by Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur at the Prime Ministers residence in New Delhi, Nov. 7, 2010.jpg|right|thumb|Manmohan Singh and [[Gursharan Kaur]], hosting [[Barack Obama]] and [[Michelle Obama]]<nowiki/>at their residence on 7 November 2010.  Seated at the table are [[Rahul Gandhi]] to the left of Mrs. Obama and unseen to her right, [[Sonia Gandhi]], both from the family of former prime minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]].]]
The prime minister's spouse sometimes accompanies him/her on foreign visits. The prime minister's family is also assigned protection by the [[Special Protection Group]], though it was removed after [[Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019|Special Protection Group Act]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Fatima|date=26 August 2019|title=What is the Special Protection Group and why Manmohan Singh's security cover was removed|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/what-is-the-special-protection-group-and-why-manmohan-singhs-security-cover-was-removed/282179/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The most prominent of the family of prime ministers is the [[Nehru–Gandhi family]], which has had three prime ministers, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[Rajiv Gandhi]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FKepYC6wzwC&pg=PA45|title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy|date=10 February 2011|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-0-330-54020-9|pages=45|language=en|author-link=Ramachandra Guha}}</ref> Many family members of former prime ministers are politicians.

== Post-premiership ==

Former prime ministers are entitled to a bungalow,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20040607-former-presidents-prime-ministers-enjoy-benefits-at-taxpayers-expense-789819-2004-06-07|title=Former presidents, Prime Ministers enjoy benefits at taxpayers expense|last=Sahgal|first=Priya|date=7 June 2004|website=[[India Today]]|publisher=[[Aroon Purie]]|issn=0254-8399|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/perks-for-life/article3371380.ece|title=Perks for life|date=1 May 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 April 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref> and are also entitled the same facilities as those given to a serving cabinet minister,<ref name=":7" /> including a fourteen-member secretarial staff, for a period of five years; reimbursement of office expenses; six domestic [[Business class|executive-class]] air tickets each year; and security cover from the armed forces and police as established by law.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />

In addition, former prime ministers rank seventh on the [[Indian order of precedence]], equivalent to [[Chief Minister (India)|chief ministers]] of states (within their respective states) and cabinet ministers.<ref name="rajyasabha">{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|title=Order of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|work=[[Rajya Sabha]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="OPR">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|title=Table of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527155701/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|title=Table of Precedence|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428030937/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|archive-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> As a former [[Member of Parliament (India)|member of the parliament]], the prime minister also receives a pension after he leaves office. In 2015, a former MP receives a minimum pension of {{INRConvert|20000|lk=on}} per month, plus, if he/she served as an MP for more than five years, {{INRConvert|1500|lk=on}} for every year served.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Matthew |first1=Liz |title=Government moves to double MPs' salary to Rs 2.8 lakh a month, hike pensions |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/govt-moves-to-double-mps-salary-to-rs-2-8-lakh-a-month/ |access-date=11 August 2020 |agency=[[The Indian Express]] |date=25 December 2015}}</ref>{{update inline|date=August 2020}}

Some prime ministers have had significant careers after their tenure, including [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], who continues to be a [[Member of Parliament (India)|member of Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lok Sabha election results 2019: Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda loses to BJP's GS Basavaraju in Tumkur|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/politics/lok-sabha-elections-former-pm-deve-gowda-trailing-in-tumkur-prajwal-revanna-leads-in-hasan-3434651.htm|access-date=20 April 2021|website=cnbctv18.com|date=23 May 2019|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{#section-h:List of prime ministers of India|Lifespan of prime ministers}}

===Death===
[[File:Army, Navy & Air Force personnels, the three wings of services, carrying the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Late Shri P V Narasimha Rao towards service aircraft at Palam Airport, New Delhi on December 24.jpg|thumb|The body of late prime minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], draped in the flag of the [[Republic of India]], being carried by personnel of the [[Indian Army|Army]], [[Indian Navy|Navy]], and [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]], at Palam Airport, Delhi, en route to [[Hyderabad]] for cremation, 24 December 2004.]]
Prime ministers are accorded a [[state funeral]]. It is customary for states and union territories to declare a [[National day of mourning|day of mourning]] on the occasion of death of any former prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/atal-bihari-vajpayees-demise-several-states-declare-public-holiday/articleshow/65428798.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee death: Several states declare public holiday |date=17 August 2018|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>

=== Commemoration ===
{{Further|List of things named after prime ministers of India}}
Several institutions are named after prime ministers of India. The birth date of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] is celebrated as [[Children's Day (India)|children's day]] while the birth date of [[Charan Singh]] is celebrated as farmer's day in India. Prime ministers are also commemorated on the postage stamps of several countries.

== Prime ministerial funds ==
The prime minister presides over various funds.

=== National Defence Fund ===
{{Main|National Defence Fund}}
The [[National Defence Fund]] (NDF) was set up the Indian government in 1962, in the aftermath of [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Sino-Indian War]]. The prime minister acts as chairperson of the fund's executive committee, while, the ministers of defence, finance and home act as the members of the executive committee, the finance minister also acts the treasurer of the committee. The secretary of the fund's executive committee is a [[Joint secretary to Government of India|joint secretary]] in the Prime Minister's Office, dealing with the subject of NDF.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/national-defence-fund/|title=National Defence Fund|website=Prime Minister of India, [[Government of India]]|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> The fund, according to its website, is "entirely dependent on voluntary contributions from the public and does not get any budgetary support.". Donations to the fund are 100% tax-deductible under section 80G of the ''[[Income Tax Act, 1961]]''.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|url=http://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/news-heres-how-you-can-avail-tax-deduction-under-section-80g-34774|title=Here's how you can avail tax deduction under Section 80G|date=10 January 2018|work=[[Zee Business]]|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/whatsapp-asking-for-funds-for-the-army-is-not-a-hoax-but-is-is-also-not-entirely-true-indian-army-clarification|title=The Army Welfare Fund That You Might Think is a Hoax, But Isn't|last=Malhotra|first=Hansa|date=12 June 2018|work=[[The Quint]]|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref>

=== Prime Minister's National Relief Fund ===
The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was set up by the first prime minister of India, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], in 1948, to assist displaced people from Pakistan. The fund, now, is primarily used to assist the families of those who are killed during natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones and flood and secondarily to reimburse medical expenses of people with chronic and deadly diseases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/pms-funds/|title=PM National Relief Fund|website=Prime Minister of India, [[Government of India]]|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Donations to the PMNRF are 100% tax-deductible under section 80G of the ''Income Tax Act, 1961''.<ref name=":10" />

=== Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM Cares Fund) ===
In March 2020, after the rapid spread of the [[COVID-19]] virus from Wuhan to countries across the world, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] announced the formation of a special fund to deal with any kind of emergency or distress situations like the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM CARES Fund – PM's Citizen Assistance & Relief in Emergency Situations Fund|url=https://www.pmcares.gov.in/|access-date=21 February 2022|website=www.pmcares.gov.in}}</ref> The fund being fully voluntary without any government budgetary support, PM Modi appealed to the public to donate generously towards the fund. Following this donors from all sections of the society donated whole heartedly. Initially in FY 2019–20 the fund received Rs 3076.62 crores in just 5 days of its announcement. Initially the fund was used to procure COVID emergency products like ventilators, PPE kits for frontline workers and also funding the vaccine resaearch efforts and procurement. By FY 2020–21 the corpus of the [[PM CARES Fund|PM Cares Fund]] was around Rs 10990 crore.<ref>{{Cite news|title=PM CARES Fund corpus triples to Rs 10,990 crore in FY 2020–21; disbursal rises to Rs 3,976 crore|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm-cares-fund-corpus-triples-to-rs-10990-crore-in-fy-2020-21-disbursal-rises-to-rs-3976-crore/articleshow/89412517.cms|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

==Deputy Prime Minister==
{{Main|Deputy Prime Minister of India}}
The post of [[Deputy Prime Minister of India|deputy prime minister of India]] is not technically a constitutional post, nor is there any mention of it in an Act of Parliament.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/of-deputy-chief-ministers-and-the-constitution/article3632410.ece|title=Of Deputy Chief Ministers and the Constitution|last=Rajendran|first=S.|date=13 July 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|location=[[Bangalore]]|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref> But historically, on various occasions, different governments have assigned one of their senior ministers as the deputy prime minister. There is neither constitutional requirement for filling the post of deputy PM, nor does the post provide any kind of special powers.<ref name=":2" /> Typically, senior cabinet ministers like the [[Minister of Finance (India)|finance minister]] or the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|home minister]] are appointed as deputy prime minister. The post is considered to be the senior most in the cabinet after the prime minister and represents the government in their absence. Typically, deputy prime ministers have been appointed to strengthen the coalition governments.
==Oath of office==
The oath of office for [[Prime Minister of India]] as follows:

{{blockquote
|text = I, (name), do swear in the name of God (or, solemnly affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Prime Minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. 
|sign   = Schedule III
|source = [[Constitution of India]]
}}oath of office of [[Prime Minister of India]] and [[Union Council of Ministers]] In Hindi Version {{blockquote
|text = 'मैं, (अमुक), ईश्वर की शपथ लेता हूँ (सत्यनिष्ठा से प्रतिज्ञान करता हूँ) कि मैं विधि द्वारा स्थापित भारत के संविधान के प्रति सच्ची श्रद्धा और निष्ठा रखूँगा, मैं भारत की प्रभुता और अखंडता अक्षुण्ण रखूँगा, मैं संघ के प्रधानमंत्री  के रूप में अपने कर्तव्यों का श्रद्धापूर्वक और शुद्ध अंतःकरण से निर्वहन करूँगा तथा मैं भय या पक्षपात, अनुराग या द्वेष के बिना, सभी प्रकार के लोगों के प्रति संविधान और विधि के अनुसार न्याय करूँगा।' 
|sign   = तीसरी अनुसूची
|source = [[:hi:भारत का संविधान|भारत का संविधान]]
}}

The oath of secrecy is as follows:

{{blockquote
|text = I, (name), do swear in the name of God (or, solemnly affirm) that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration, or shall become known to me as a Prime Minister for the Union, except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as Prime Minister. 
|sign   = Schedule III
|source = [[Constitution of India]]
}}Oath of Secrecy in Hindi Version{{blockquote
|text = 'मैं, (अमुक), ईश्वर की शपथ लेता हूँ (सत्यनिष्ठा से प्रतिज्ञान करता हूँ) कि जो विषय संघ के प्रधानमंत्री (या,  मंत्री) के रूप में मेरे विचार के लिए लाया जाएगा अथवा मुझे ज्ञात होगा उसे किसी व्यक्ति या व्यक्तियों को, तब के सिवाय जबकि प्रधानमंत्री (या, ऐसे मंत्री) के रूप में अपने कर्तव्यों के सम्यक्‌ निर्वहन के लिए ऐसा करना अपेक्षित हो, मैं प्रत्यक्ष अथवा अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से संसूचित या प्रकट नहीं करूँगा।' 
|sign   = तीसरी अनुसूची
|source = [[:hi:भारत का संविधान|भारत का संविधान]]
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Politics}}
* [[Nehru–Gandhi family]]
* [[List of prime ministers of India]]
* [[List of presidents of India]]
* [[President of India]]
* [[Vice President of India]]     
* [[List of vice presidents of India]]
* [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]]
* [[Air transports of heads of state and government#India|Air transports of heads of state and government]]
* [[Official state car#India|Official state car]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist |
refs =
<!--<ref name=Basu>{{cite book|last=Basu|first=Durga D.|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|year=2009|publisher=LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur|location=Nagpur, India|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9|url=http://www.lexisnexis.in/d-d-basu-introduction-to-the-constitution-of-india.htm|page=199|chapter=11}}</ref>-->
| 30em
}}
== List ==
{{transcluded section|List of prime ministers of India}}
{{#section-h:List of prime ministers of India|List}}

==External links==
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