Indira Gandhi: key facts about India's first woman Prime Minister
The childhood "Vanar Sena", Prime Minister in 1966, bank nationalisation, the 1971 war, Pokhran, the Emergency, her return and 31 October 1984.
Rohit Tandon · 27 October 2026 · 4 min read
Indira Gandhi was India's first, and so far only, woman Prime Minister. Leading the country for about 16 years, she took decisions that deeply shaped India's politics, economy and image in the world — some are still praised today, and some are still debated. Here are the key facts of her life.
Indira Gandhi at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 November 1917, Allahabad (Anand Bhawan) |
| Full name | Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Nehru before marriage) |
| Parents | Kamala Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Prime Minister | 1966–1977 and 1980–1984 |
| Honour | Bharat Ratna (1971) — the first woman to receive it |
| Died | 31 October 1984, New Delhi |
Early life
Indira grew up amid the freedom movement. As a child she formed a children's "Vanar Sena" (monkey brigade), which did small jobs such as carrying messages for the activists. She studied at Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan and then at Oxford in England. In 1942 she married Feroze Gandhi. While her father Jawaharlal Nehru was Prime Minister, she worked as his aide — read about Nehru in 10 key facts about Jawaharlal Nehru.
Major decisions as Prime Minister
- 1966: after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, she became Prime Minister on 24 January 1966.
- 1969 — bank nationalisation: 14 large private banks were nationalised so that banking would reach villages and farmers.
- 1971 — "Garibi Hatao" and the war: she won the election with this slogan; the same year India won a decisive war against Pakistan and Bangladesh was born.
- 1974 — Pokhran: India's first nuclear test was carried out at Pokhran in Rajasthan on 18 May 1974.
- The Green Revolution: during her years new farming techniques spread and India moved towards self-sufficiency in food grains.
More events of her years
- 1972: the Simla Agreement was signed with Pakistan.
- 1975: Sikkim became India's 22nd state, and India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched.
- 1982: the ninth Asian Games were held in New Delhi, and colour television broadcasts began in India the same year.
- 1983: New Delhi hosted the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which she chaired.
The Emergency and her return
In 1975 the Allahabad High Court set aside her election. After this, a state of Emergency was declared in the country on 25 June 1975, lasting until 21 March 1977. During this period civil rights were curtailed, opposition leaders were jailed and the press was censored. The Emergency is counted among the most controversial periods of Indian democracy. Her party lost the 1977 election, but in 1980 she returned as Prime Minister with a large majority.
Did you know? In 1984, when Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked him how India looked from space. His answer was "Saare Jahan Se Achha" — better than all the world. Read Gaganyaan: India's human spaceflight mission.
31 October 1984
In June 1984 a military operation, "Operation Blue Star", was carried out in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to deal with militancy in Punjab. A few months later, on 31 October 1984, she was assassinated in New Delhi by two of her own bodyguards. Her death anniversary is remembered as "Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas" (National Resolve Day).
Key points
- Indira Gandhi was India's first woman Prime Minister.
- 14 large banks were nationalised in 1969.
- Bangladesh was born after the 1971 war.
- The country was under Emergency from 1975 to 1977.
- She was assassinated on 31 October 1984.
Frequently asked questions
When did Indira Gandhi first become Prime Minister?
On 24 January 1966, after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
When was the Emergency declared in India?
On 25 June 1975; it lasted until 21 March 1977.
Full profile: Indira Gandhi's profile · More articles: People.
Sources
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