First in India GK banner
🥇

First in Indian Politics & Constitution

60 Questions First in India

60 MCQs on political and constitutional firsts in India — first President, PM, Speaker, CAG, CEC, women pioneers, communist states, UN firsts — for UPSC, SSC CGL, RRB NTPC 2026.

0/60
1

Who was the first Vice President of India?

2

Who was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India?

3

When were India's first general elections held?

4

Which was the first state to be formed on a purely linguistic basis in India?

5

Who was the first Attorney General of India?

6

Which was the first state to fall under President's Rule (Article 356) in India?

7

Who was the first Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India?

8

What was the first constitutional amendment made to the Indian Constitution?

9

Who was the first Indian to serve as the President of the UN General Assembly?

10

Which was the first state to have a communist government elected by popular vote in India?

11

Who was the first person to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in a by-election in India?

12

Who was the first woman to serve as the Chief Justice of a High Court in India?

13

Who was the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?

14

Which was the first state to introduce the Right to Information (RTI) at the state level before the central RTI Act?

15

Who was the first Indian to become a Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations?

16

What was the first state to be bifurcated after the States Reorganisation Act of 1956?

17

Who was the first person to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day?

18

Which was the first Union Territory of India to become a full-fledged state?

19

Who was the first Indian to serve as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India?

20

When was the National Emergency first declared in India under Article 352?

22

Who was the first woman to become a Chief Minister of an Indian state?

23

Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

24

The first Law Minister of independent India was:

25

Who was the first woman to be appointed as the Governor of an Indian state?

26

Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?

28

Which political leader served as the first Health Minister of independent India?

29

Who was the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India?

31

Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?

32

Who was the first woman to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress?

33

Who was the first Chief Justice of India?

34

Who was the first leader to lead a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha?

35

Who was the first Finance Minister of independent India (Interim Government)?

36

Who was the first person to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha?

37

Who was the first Indian to become the President of the International Court of Justice?

40

Who was the first woman to be elected as the President of India?

41

Who was the first woman to hold the office of Cabinet Minister in Independent India?

42

Who served as the first leader of the Rajya Sabha upon its inception in 1952?

43

Which political personality was the first woman to be elected as the Speaker of a State Legislative Assembly in India?

44

Who was the first Dalit individual to hold the office of the President of India?

45

The first Lok Sabha had a Deputy Speaker; identify the person who held this position.

46

Who was the first person to serve as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in India?

47

Who holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as the Chief Election Commissioner of India?

48

Who was the first Union Minister for Education in independent India?

49

Who was the first woman to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha?

50

Which Indian leader was the first to resign from the Union Cabinet due to differences over the Hindu Code Bill?

51

Who was the first person to be appointed as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in Independent India?

53

The first Railway Minister of independent India was:

54

Who was the first Indian to be a member of the British Parliament?

55

Who was the first Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India?

56

Which Indian state was the first to implement the Panchayati Raj system?

57

Who was the first Solicitor General of India?

58

Who was the first Indian to become the President of the United Nations Security Council?

59

Who was the first woman to serve as the Chief Minister of a Union Territory in India?

60

Which leader served as the first Chairman of the National Development Council (NDC)?

61

Who was the first Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Interim Government of India formed in 1946?

62

Who served as the first Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

63

Who was the first woman to be appointed as a High Court Judge in India?

65

Which political leader was the first to represent India at the United Nations General Assembly in 1946?

66

Who was the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of independent India's first State (then Madras Presidency)?

69

Who was the first Chairman of the Minorities Commission of India?

1 / 60

Important Notes — First in Indian Politics & Constitution

Historical Milestones: Firsts in Indian Political Leadership

Understanding the pioneers of Indian political history is essential for aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, and state-level competitive exams. This section covers the foundational figures who shaped the constitutional and administrative landscape of independent India.

Key Executive and Legislative Figures

  • First President of India: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (served from 1950 to 1962). He is the only President to serve two full terms.
  • First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru. He holds the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister (1947–1964).
  • First Vice President of India: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1952–1962). He later became the second President of India.
  • First Deputy Prime Minister: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the "Iron Man of India."
  • First Speaker of the Lok Sabha: Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar (G.V. Mavlankar), often referred to as the 'Father of the Lok Sabha.'
  • First Chief Election Commissioner: Sukumar Sen (1950–1958). His role was pivotal in organizing India’s first general elections.
  • First Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): V. Narahari Rao (1948–1954).

Women Pioneers in Indian Politics

The history of Indian democracy is marked by significant contributions from women who broke glass ceilings in high office. These facts are frequently tested in GK sections of SSC and banking exams.

  • First Woman President of India: Pratibha Patil (2007–2012).
  • First Woman Prime Minister of India: Indira Gandhi (1966–1977; 1980–1984).
  • First Woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha: Meira Kumar (2009).
  • First Woman Governor of an Indian State: Sarojini Naidu (Governor of the United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh, in 1947).
  • First Woman Chief Minister of an Indian State: Sucheta Kriplani (Uttar Pradesh, 1963–1967).
  • First Woman Cabinet Minister: Rajkumari Amrit Kaur (held the Health portfolio).

Landmark Political Milestones

  • First General Elections: Held between October 1951 and February 1952. These were the first elections held under the new Constitution.
  • First Law Minister of Independent India: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
  • First Chief Justice of India: H.J. Kania (1950–1951).
  • First Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha: A.K. Gopalan (1952).

Quick Revision Tips for Aspirants

When studying "Firsts in India" for competitive exams, focus on the distinction between Constitutional posts (President, CAG, Election Commissioner) and Political offices (Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers). For UPSC aspirants, ensure you connect these names with the corresponding historical events or constitutional articles (e.g., Article 74 for the Council of Ministers, Article 324 for the Election Commission) to gain a deeper conceptual understanding. Periodic revision of these dates and names is vital for high-scoring performance in the Static GK portion of your examinations.

You may also try

First in Indian Politics & Constitution MCQ — UPSC SSC Polity GK Questions 2026

First in Indian politics MCQ questions are among the highest-scoring topics in SSC CGL General Awareness and UPSC prelims GK sections. These questions test knowledge of India's constitutional firsts, pioneering office-holders, and landmark political events. From the first President of India to the first woman Chief Minister, this set of 60 MCQs covers the full spectrum of political and constitutional firsts that every competitive exam aspirant must know.

Constitutional Firsts — President, PM, Speaker, CAG

The most frequently asked "first in Indian politics" questions in SSC CGL, CHSL, and RRB NTPC revolve around the first holders of India's top constitutional offices. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India (1950–1962) — the only person to serve two full terms as President. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister (1947–1964), also the longest-serving. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was both the first Vice President (1952–1962) and first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha was G.V. Mavalankar (1952), often called the "Father of the Lok Sabha." The first Chief Election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen (1950–1958), who conducted India's first two general elections. The first Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) was V. Narahari Rao (1948–1954). The first Attorney General was M.C. Setalvad (1950–1963), also the longest-serving.

The first Chief Justice of India was H.J. Kania (1950–1951). The first Law Minister was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who also chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly. The first Education Minister was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who held the portfolio for eleven years.

Women Pioneers in Indian Politics — First Women in High Office

Questions on the first women in Indian political office are a staple in SSC and UPSC GK. Pratibha Patil was the first woman President of India (2007–2012). Indira Gandhi was the first woman Prime Minister (1966–1977; 1980–1984). Meira Kumar was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha (2009). Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman Chief Minister of any Indian state (Uttar Pradesh, 1963–1967).

Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Governor of an Indian state (United Provinces/UP, 1947). Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was the first woman Cabinet Minister, holding the Health portfolio for ten years. Leila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court (Himachal Pradesh, 1991). Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was the first Indian — and first woman — to serve as President of the UN General Assembly (1953), and also first Indian to represent India at the United Nations (1946).

Sushma Swaraj was the first woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (2009–2014) and first female Chief Minister of Delhi (1998). V.S. Rama Devi was the first woman Chief Election Commissioner (1990). Fatima Beevi was the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India (1989).

Landmark Political Events — First Elections, Emergency, Panchayati Raj

India's first general elections were held from October 1951 to February 1952 — a landmark democratic exercise covering 489 Lok Sabha seats. Sukumar Sen, as CEC, organised this massive exercise for a largely illiterate population. Andhra Pradesh became the first state formed on a purely linguistic basis in 1953, following Potti Sriramulu's fast unto death. Kerala became the first state in the world to elect a Communist government by democratic vote in 1957, led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

The first National Emergency under Article 352 was declared in 1962 during the India-China War. India's total three emergencies: 1962 (China War), 1971 (Bangladesh War), and 1975 (Internal Emergency under Indira Gandhi). Punjab was the first state to be placed under President's Rule under Article 356 (June 1951). Rajasthan was the first state to adopt Panchayati Raj on October 2, 1959, in Nagaur. Himachal Pradesh was the first Union Territory to become a full state (1971).

The first no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha was moved by J.B. Kripalani in 1963 against Nehru's government. The first Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was Dr. Ram Subhag Singh (1969). The first Finance Minister in the Interim Government (1946) was Liaquat Ali Khan. The first post-independence Finance Minister was R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, who presented the first Union Budget on November 26, 1947.

India's Firsts at the International Level

Dadabhai Naoroji (the Grand Old Man of India) was the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons in 1892, representing Finsbury Central. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was the first Indian President of the UN General Assembly (1953). Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar was the first Indian to preside over the UN Security Council (1946). Dr. Nagendra Singh was the first Indian to become President of the International Court of Justice (1985–88). Kamalesh Sharma was the first Indian Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations (2008–2016).

FAQ: First in Indian Politics MCQ
Q: Who was the first President of India?

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving from 1950 to 1962. He is the only person to have served two full terms as President.

Q: Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?

Indira Gandhi was India's first woman Prime Minister. She served two terms: 1966–1977 and 1980–1984.

Q: Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?

Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India (1950–1958). He conducted India's first two general elections, including the landmark 1951–52 elections.

Q: Who was the first woman Chief Minister of an Indian state?

Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman Chief Minister in India, serving as CM of Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967.

Q: Which was the first state to implement Panchayati Raj in India?

Rajasthan was the first state to implement the Panchayati Raj system on October 2, 1959, in Nagaur district, on the suggestion of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee.