Matching Indian Prime Ministers and Their Periods

This question asks us to match prominent Indian Prime Ministers from List-I with the specific time periods they served in office from List-II. Knowing the tenures of India's Prime Ministers is important for understanding modern Indian history and political events.

Let's look at the lists provided:

List-I (Prime Minister):

• (A) H.D. Deve Gowda
• (B) I.K. Gujral
• (C) V.P. Singh
• (D) Manmohan Singh

List-II (Period):

• (I) May 2004 – May 2014
• (II) June 1996 – April 1997
• (III) April 1997 – March 1998
• (IV) December 1989 – November 1990

Now, let's match each Prime Minister with their correct period based on historical records:

• (A) H.D. Deve Gowda: H.D. Deve Gowda served as the Prime Minister of India from June 1996 to April 1997. This corresponds to period (II).
• (B) I.K. Gujral: Following H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral became Prime Minister and served from April 1997 to March 1998. This matches period (III).
• (C) V.P. Singh: V.P. Singh served as Prime Minister from December 1989 to November 1990, leading the National Front government. This corresponds to period (IV).
• (D) Manmohan Singh: Manmohan Singh served two full terms as Prime Minister, from May 2004 to May 2014. This matches period (I).

Based on these matches, the correct pairing is:

• (A) - (II)
• (B) - (III)
• (C) - (IV)
• (D) - (I)

Let's organize this into a table for clarity:

Comparing this with the given options, the correct answer option is the one that shows (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I).

Revision Table: Indian Prime Ministers and Tenures

Additional Information: Understanding Prime Ministerial Periods

The periods listed in the question represent significant phases in India's political history, including coalition governments which were common in the late 1980s and 1990s. Manmohan Singh's tenure marked a decade of governance by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

• V.P. Singh's government implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations, sparking significant political debate.
• The mid-1990s saw a period of political instability, with short tenures for Prime Ministers like H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral, leading United Front governments.
• I.K. Gujral is known for the 'Gujral Doctrine' concerning India's foreign policy towards its neighbours.
• Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister saw India's economy continue to grow, though it also faced challenges.

Understanding these tenures helps contextualize major policy decisions and political developments in India during these years.