Key Concepts

15 Practice MCQs

1. Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India? A) Sardar Patel
   B) C. Rajagopalachari
   C) Jawaharlal Nehru
   D) B. R. Ambedkar
   Answer: C) Jawaharlal Nehru
   Solution: Nehru took oath on 15 Aug 1947.
   Shortcut: “Nehru = 15-8-47” (date-match).
   Concept tag: First PM

2. The only Prime Minister to be awarded the Bharat Ratna while in office was: A) Indira Gandhi
   B) Lal Bahadur Shastri
   C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
   D) Rajiv Gandhi
   Answer: A) Indira Gandhi (1971)
   Solution: Awarded during her 2nd term.
   Shortcut: “IG = BR-71” (Indira Gandhi, Bharat Ratna 1971).
   Concept tag: Awards

3. Who succeeded Lal Bahadur Shastri as PM after his death at Tashkent? A) Gulzarilal Nanda
   B) Indira Gandhi
   C) Morarji Desai
   D) Charan Singh
   Answer: B) Indira Gandhi
   Solution: Took oath on 24 Jan 1966.
   Shortcut: “Shastri-66 → Indira-66” (same year switch).
   Concept tag: Succession

4. The first non-Congress Prime Minister of India was: A) Morarji Desai
   B) V. P. Singh
   C) Chandra Shekhar
   D) H. D. Deve Gowda
   Answer: A) Morarji Desai
   Solution: Led Janata Party govt. (1977-79).
   Shortcut: “Morarji = Janata = 1977” (first break of Congress).
   Concept tag: Party change

5. Who has the shortest term as PM (13 days)? A) Chandra Shekhar
   B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
   C) Deve Gowda
   D) I. K. Gujral
   Answer: B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
   Solution: May 1996, could not prove majority.
   Shortcut: “13-day Vajpayee” (rhymes).
   Concept tag: Shortest tenure

6. The first PM to resign after losing no-confidence motion was: A) V. P. Singh
   B) Morarji Desai
   C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
   D) H. D. Deve Gowda
   Answer: B) Morarji Desai
   Solution: July 1979; resigned before vote.
   Shortcut: “Morarji = 1st to resign” (alphabetical first among options).
   Concept tag: No-confidence

7. Who was the PM during the 1971 Indo-Pak war that created Bangladesh? A) Lal Bahadur Shastri
   B) Indira Gandhi
   C) Rajiv Gandhi
   D) Morarji Desai
   Answer: B) Indira Gandhi
   Solution: Dec 1971 victory.
   Shortcut: “IG-71 = Bangladesh” (same year).
   Concept tag: War & PM

8. The PM who launched the “Green Revolution” programme in 1960s: A) Nehru
   B) Shastri
   C) Indira Gandhi
   D) Rajiv Gandhi
   Answer: B) Lal Bahadur Shastri
   Solution: Coined slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
   Shortcut: “Shastri = Kisan” (farmer connect).
   Concept tag: Schemes

9. Who headed the National Front government of 1989-90? A) V. P. Singh
   B) Chandrasekhar
   C) Deve Gowda
   D) I. K. Gujral
   Answer: A) V. P. Singh
   Solution: Implemented Mandal Commission report.
   Shortcut: “VP = Mandal-89” (VP & year).
   Concept tag: Coalition era

10. The first PM born after independence (1949) is: A) Manmohan Singh
    B) Narendra Modi
    C) Rajiv Gandhi
    D) H. D. Deve Gowda
    Answer: B) Narendra Modi (b. 17 Sept 1950)
    Solution: Only post-1947 born among list.
    Shortcut: “Modi-50” (remember 50).
    Concept tag: Birth year

11. Who was the acting PM twice for short intervals (1964 & 1966)? A) Gulzarilal Nanda
    B) Charan Singh
    C) Chandra Shekhar
    D) I. K. Gujral
    Answer: A) Gulzarilal Nanda
    Solution: After Nehru & Shastri deaths.
    Shortcut: “Nanda = 2-time caretaker” (N for Number-2).
    Concept tag: Acting PM

12. The slogan “Garibi Hatao” was given by: A) Nehru
    B) Indira Gandhi
    C) Rajiv Gandhi
    D) V. P. Singh
    Answer: B) Indira Gandhi (1971 election)
    Solution: Focus on poverty alleviation.
    Shortcut: “IG-71 = Garibi” (G for both).
    Concept tag: Slogans

13. Which PM piloted the 1991 economic liberalisation budget as Finance Minister? A) P. V. Narasimha Rao
    B) Manmohan Singh
    C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    D) I. K. Gujral
    Answer: A) P. V. Narasimha Rao
    Solution: PM 1991-96; FM role delegated but reforms under his leadership.
    Shortcut: “Rao = Reform-91” (R-R).
    Concept tag: Economic reform

14. Who was the PM when India conducted Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998? A) Deve Gowda
    B) I. K. Gujral
    C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    D) Manmohan Singh
    Answer: C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    Solution: 11-13 May 1998.
    Shortcut: “Vajpayee-98 = Atom” (V looks like funnel of blast).
    Concept tag: Nuclear tests

15. The first Sikh Prime Minister of India: A) Manmohan Singh
    B) Charan Singh
    C) I. K. Gujral
    D) Deve Gowda
    Answer: A) Manmohan Singh (2004-14)
    Solution: 10-year tenure.
    Shortcut: “M-Singh = Sikh” (same word root).
    Concept tag: Religion

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