First in India MCQ Questions

First in India GK Questions — First Women, Men, Presidents, PMs & Firsts Across All Fields for SSC CGL & UPSC 2026

First in India GK questions for competitive exams SSC CGL are among the most direct scoring opportunities in any General Awareness section. These questions have a single definitive answer and appear across all exam levels — from SSC CGL and RRB NTPC to UPSC Civil Services and State PSC prelims. The "First in India" category covers first office-holders in constitutional positions, pioneering women who broke barriers across various fields, first in science and space, and first in Indian history across politics, sports, military, and arts.

First in Indian Politics & Constitutional Positions

First President Prime Minister India questions appear in almost every competitive exam. Dr Rajendra Prasad was India's first President (1950–1962, also the longest-serving, elected twice). Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister (1947–1964, also the longest-serving). Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice-President (1952–1962) and second President. His birthday, September 5, is celebrated as Teachers' Day.

First in constitutional positions: Dr B.R. Ambedkar was India's first Law Minister. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the first Education Minister. V.K. Krishna Menon was India's first High Commissioner to the UK (before independence, in an unofficial capacity); after independence, the first official High Commissioner to the UK was B.G. Kher.

First Chief Justice of India: H.J. Kania (1950–1951). First Speaker of Lok Sabha: G.V. Mavalankar (elected 1952). First Chief Election Commissioner: Sukumar Sen, who successfully conducted India's first general elections in 1951–52 — a logistical feat considered remarkable given India's population and literacy levels at the time.

First Women in India — A Crucial Sub-Topic

First women men India MCQ UPSC RRB NTPC is consistently the most tested sub-topic within "First in India." Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to become President of the Indian National Congress (1925 Kanpur session) and the first woman Governor of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh, 1947). Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was the first woman President of the UN General Assembly (1953).

Indira Gandhi: first woman Prime Minister of India (1966) and, for a long time, the world's longest-serving female head of government. Pratibha Patil was the first woman President of India (2007–2012). Sucheta Kriplani was the first woman Chief Minister (Uttar Pradesh, 1963). Fathima Beevi was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India (1989).

In other fields: Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin in space (1997 STS-87 mission). Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest (1984). Arati Saha was the first Asian woman to swim the English Channel (1959). Lila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court (Himachal Pradesh High Court, 1991).

First in Indian Space & Science

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel to space (1984, aboard Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11). When asked by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space, he replied "Saare Jahan se Accha" — a frequently asked anecdote in competitive exams. Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin in space; Sunita Williams (also of Indian origin) has spent the most time in space among female astronauts.

C.V. Raman was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Science (Physics, 1930). Homi Jehangir Bhabha is called the Father of India's Nuclear Programme and founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1945. Vikram Sarabhai is called the Father of India's Space Programme. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, known as the Missile Man of India, was the chief architect of India's PSLV and also India's 11th President (2002–2007).

First in Indian Military & Sports

Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa was the first Commander-in-Chief of independent India's army (succeeded British General Sir Francis Butcher in 1949). Sam Manekshaw was the first Field Marshal of India (1973), the highest military rank. General Bipin Rawat was India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), appointed in January 2020.

Indian firsts history politics sports MCQ: Norman Pritchard won India's first Olympic medals (two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics, in 200m and 200m hurdles — though he represented British India). K.D. Jadhav won independent India's first individual Olympic medal (bronze in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics). P.T. Usha became the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final (1984 Los Angeles, 400m hurdles — she missed the bronze by 1/100th of a second).

First in Indian Cinema & Arts

Dada Saheb Phalke directed India's first feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913). Alam Ara (1931) was India's first talkie (sound film). Devika Rani was the first recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1969). A.R. Rahman was the first Indian to win an Oscar for music (2009, for Slumdog Millionaire). Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to win an Oscar (Best Costume Design, for Gandhi, 1982).

Exam Weightage

• SSC CGL/CHSL: 2–4 questions; first women, first PM/President, first in space
• RRB NTPC: 2–3 questions; firsts in science, sports, and politics
• UPSC Prelims: 1–2 questions; usually linked to historical context
• State PSC: 3–5 questions; state-specific firsts plus national firsts

Work through each sub-category systematically. "First women in India" questions appear in every exam, making that quiz the highest priority. Follow with first in politics, then space and science, then sports and cinema.