3rd Prime Minister of India

Indira Gandhi

“Iron Lady of India”

In office

24 Jan. 1966 – 24 March 1977

14 Jan. 1980 – 31 Oct. 1984

Party

Indian National Congress

Born in

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Lived

1917–1984

Days in office

5,829

In order

1966–1977: after Gulzarilal Nanda, before Morarji Desai

1980–1984: after Charan Singh, before Rajiv Gandhi

Key achievements & events

• India's first and so far only woman prime minister
• Nationalised 14 major banks (1969) and abolished the princes' privy purses (1971)
• Led India to victory in the 1971 war, which created independent Bangladesh
• Oversaw India's first nuclear test, "Smiling Buddha" (1974)
• Declared the Emergency (1975-77), suspending elections and civil liberties

Remember: Nehru's daughter. She was assassinated by two of her bodyguards in 1984, months after Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple.