| First | Person/Entity | Description |
| First General Election in India | 1951-1952 | |
| First Muslim President of the Indian National Congress | Badruddin Tayyabji | Tyabji was a key figure in the Indian National Congress and worked towards Hindu-Muslim unity. He played a significant role in advocating for the rights and representation of Indians under British rule. Death August 19, 1906 |
| First Defence Minister | Baldev Singh | The first Defence Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1952. |
| First Indian Governor-General | C. Rajagopalachari | The first and last Indian Governor-General of India, served from 1948 to 1950. |
| First Indian Prime Minister who did not face the Parliament | Charan Singh | Remembered as the “Champion of India’s Peasants” Implementation of the Zamindari Abolition Act in Uttar Pradesh – Promoted cooperative farming and rural credit systems |
| First Lok Sabha | Constituted in 1952 | The first Lok Sabha was constituted after the first general elections in 1951-52. |
| First Law Minister | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | The first Law Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1951. |
| First Sikh Prime Minister | Dr. Manmohan Singh | The first Sikh Prime Minister of India, served from 2004 to 2014. |
| First President | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | The first President of India, served from 1950 to 1962. |
| First Vice President | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | The first Vice President of India, served from 1952 to 1962. |
| First Muslim President | Dr. Zakir Husain | The first Muslim President of India, served from 1967 to 1969. |
| First President of India who died during his tenure | Dr. Zakir Hussain | |
| First Tribal President | Droupadi Murmu | The first tribal President of India, serving since 2022. |
| First Speaker of Lok Sabha | Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar | The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha, served from 1952 to 1956. |
| First Speaker of Lok Sabha | Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar | Known as the “Father of the Lok Sabha” – Remembered for his integrity, impartiality, and dedication to parliamentary democracy |
| First Woman Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi | The first woman Prime Minister of India, served from 1966 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984. |
| First Foreign Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru | The first Foreign Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1964. |
| First Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru | The first Prime Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1964. |
| First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court | Justice Hirala J. Kania | Played a pivotal role in establishing the Supreme Court of India and shaping its early jurisprudence. His tenure is marked by the establishment and consolidation of the Supreme Court’s authority and independence |
| First Foreign Secretary of India | K.P.S Menon | Key architect of India’s foreign policy during the Nehru era, – Strengthened India’s diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and China, – Padma Bhushan (1958) |
| First Dalit President of India | K.R. Narayana | 10th President of India – 9th Vice President of India – Ambassador to the United States – Ambassador to Japan, Thailand, Turkey, and China Contributions – Advocated for social justice, equality, and democratic values |
| First Female Chief Justice of India | Leila Seth | First woman to top the London Bar exams in 1958 – First woman Chief Justice of a High Court in India (Himachal Pradesh High Court) |
| First British Viceroy of India | Lord Canning | Governor-General of India (1856-1862), Oversaw the transition from the East India Company’s rule to direct British rule in India (British Raj), Faced the challenges of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (Sepoy Mutiny) |
| First Governor-General of Independent India | Lord Mountbatten | Oversaw the partition of British India and the creation of independent India and Pakistan, – Negotiated the terms of Indian independence with Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru ,- Played a key role in the decolonization process in Southeast Asia, including the independence of Burma |
| First British Governor General of Bengal | Lord Warren Hastings | Centralized and reformed the administrative structure of the East India Company’s territories in India – Laid the foundation for British administration in India, including the establishment of civil and criminal courts Legacy – Remembered for his controversial tenure and the impeachment proceedings against him – Contributed to the consolidation of British power in India and the establishment of British colonial rule |
| First British Governor General of India | Lord William Bentinck | Instituted several reforms in British India aimed at social and administrative improvements – Known for his progressive and liberal approach to governance Contributions – Abolished the practice of Sati (widow burning) in 1829, a significant social reform – Promoted education, introduced English as the medium of instruction, and founded colleges and schools in India – Reformed the judicial system, introduced trial by jury, and enhanced the authority of Indian judges |
| First Attorney General | M.C. Setalvad | The first Attorney General of India, served from 1950 to 1963. |
| First Transgender Mayer of India | Madhu Bai Kinnar | |
| First Education Minister | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad | The first Education Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1958. |
| First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha | Meira Kumar | The first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha, served from 2009 to 2014. |
| First Indian Prime Minister who resigned without completing the full term | Morarji Desai | First Prime Minister from outside the Congress Party after independence – Known for his austere lifestyle and commitment to Gandhian principles Contributions – Implemented economic policies focused on decentralization and rural development – Advocated for prohibition and promoted the use of traditional Indian medicines |
| First woman President of the Indian National Congress | Mrs. Annie Besant | Socialist, Theosophist, Women’s Rights Activist, Writer, Orator Notable Contributions – Played a significant role in the Indian independence movement, advocating for self-rule and social reform – Served as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1917 – Founded the Central Hindu College in Varanasi (now known as Banaras Hindu University) – Advocated for women’s rights, including the right to vote and access to education Significance – Known for her contributions to Indian society and her efforts to promote religious and social harmony |
| First woman President of the United Nations General Assembly | Mrs. Vijaya Laxmi Pandit | Notable Positions – President of the United Nations General Assembly (1953) – Governor of the Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat – India’s Ambassador to the United States, Soviet Union, and United Nations Significance – Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India |
| First Cabinet Secretary of India | N.P. Pillai | Played a key role in the social and political movements in Kerala during the mid-20th century – Known for his advocacy for social justice, land reforms, and workers’ rights Contributions – Instrumental in organizing labor movements and mobilizing workers for their rights – Advocated for land reforms and the redistribution of land to the landless peasants |
| First Lok Sabha Member with the highest number of Votes | P.V. Narasimha Rao | Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1971-1973), Implemented economic reforms to liberalize the Indian economy and promote globalization – Initiated the dismantling of the License Raj system, opening up the Indian economy to foreign investment |
| First Chairperson of Lokpal of India | Pinaki Chandra Ghose | First Lokpal of India (2019-2022) – Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India |
| First Woman President | Pratibha Patil | The first woman President of India, served from 2007 to 2012. |
| First Finance Minister | R. K. Shanmukham Chetty | The first Finance Minister of India, presented the first budget in 1947. |
| First Woman Cabinet Minister | Rajkumari Amrit Kaur | The first woman to hold a cabinet position in India (Minister of Health), served from 1947 to 1957. |
| First woman Minister in a Government | Rajkumari Amrit Kaur | Minister of Health in the Indian Cabinet (1947-1957) – President of the Indian Red Cross Society (1937-1957) – Played a key role in the development of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) |
| First Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India | Ranganath Misra | Chief Justice of India (1990-1991) – Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India (1993-1996) |
| First Indian Member of the Viceroy’s executive council | S.P. Sinha | First President of the Constituent Assembly of India (1946-1947) Significance – Played a pivotal role in the framing of the Indian Constitution as the President of the Constituent Assembly |
| First Deputy Prime Minister | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | The first Deputy Prime Minister of India, served from 1947 to 1950. |
| First Home Minister | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | The first Home Minister of India. |
| First Minister of Information and Broadcasting | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | Leader of the Bardoli Satyagraha and other civil disobedience movements during the independence struggle Contributions – Led efforts to unify the princely states into the Indian Union following independence – Instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the newly independent India, earning him the title “Iron Man of India” |
| First Woman Governor | Sarojini Naidu | Played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence through her activism and leadership – Known for her eloquent speeches, inspiring poetry, and advocacy for women’s rights and social reform Key Positions – First woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress (1925) – Represented India at various international forums, including the Round Table Conferences in London Contributions – Actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement, advocating for Swaraj – Fought for women’s rights, education, and social reform, championing the cause of women’s empowerment Literary Legacy – Renowned for her poetry, which often celebrated India’s rich cultural heritage and the spirit of freedom – Published several collections of poems, including “The Golden Threshold” and “The Broken Wing” |
| First Vice President of India | Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | Vice President of India (1952-1962) – President of India (1962-1967) |
| First woman Speaker of a State Assembly | Shanno Devi | Known for her advocacy for women’s rights and social welfare – Served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Mirzapur constituency in Uttar Pradesh |
| First person to resign from the Central Cabinet | Shyama Prasad Mukherjee | Played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle and later in the formation of independent India’s political landscape – Known for his advocacy of Hindu nationalism and his efforts to protect the rights of Hindus in post-independence India Key Positions – Minister for Industry and Supply in the interim government of India (1947-1950) – Founder-president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| First Female Chief Minister of a State | Sucheta Kripalani | |
| First Woman Chief Minister | Sucheta Kripalani | The first woman Chief Minister of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh), served from 1963 to 1967. |
| First Chief Election Commissioner | Sukumar Sen | The first Chief Election Commissioner of India, served from 1950 to 1958. |
| First Female Minister of External Affairs | Sushma Swaraj | Elected to the Constituent Assembly of India in 1946 – Active participant in various movements, including the Quit India Movement Key Positions – Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1963-1967) |
| First President of Indian National Congress | W.C. Banerjee | Bonnerjee was a co-founder and the very first president of the Indian National Congress (INC) established in 1885. He even served as president again in 1892. |
| First President of Indian National Congress | Womesh Chandra Bannerjee | Trained as a barrister in England and later practiced law in India |
| First Muslim President of India | Zakir Hussain | Served as the Governor of Bihar (1957-1962) and the Vice President of India (1962-1967) |
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