Skip to content

How many prime ministers are still alive

GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer

As of February 2026, there are two living former Prime Ministers of India: Dr. Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi. Dr. Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, leading two consecutive United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments. He is an economist by training and was previously the architect of India's economic liberalization as Finance Minister in 1991. Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister, having first assumed office in 2014 and currently serving his third term after winning elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024.

All other former Prime Ministers have passed away—including Atal Bihari Vajpayee who died in 2018, I.K. Gujral in 2012, P.V. Narasimha Rao in 2004, and earlier leaders going back to India's independence. The relatively small number of living former Prime Ministers is partly because the office has been held by a limited number of individuals over India's 75+ years of independence, with several leaders serving multiple terms, and partly because many served during earlier decades and have since passed away due to age. The presence of living former Prime Ministers can provide valuable perspective and experience to ongoing political discourse, though their level of active engagement varies based on personal choice and health considerations.

General · Class 12