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Question

Who among the following had the shortest span in office as the Prime Minister of India?

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2022 GAT Previous Year Paper (10-Apr-2022)
The correct answer is Chaudhary Charan Singh

Understanding the Tenures of Indian Prime Ministers

The question asks us to identify which among the given individuals served the shortest time as the Prime Minister of India. To answer this, we need to look at the tenure of each leader mentioned in the options.

Let's examine the period each of these prominent figures held the office of Prime Minister:

  • Lal Bahadur Shastri: He served as the Prime Minister of India from June 9, 1964, to January 11, 1966. This is a tenure of approximately 1 year and 7 months.
  • Chaudhary Charan Singh: His term as Prime Minister was from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980. This period is less than 6 months.
  • Chandra Shekhar: He held the office from November 10, 1990, to June 21, 1991. This tenure is approximately 7 and a half months.
  • H. D. Deve Gowda: His period as Prime Minister was from June 1, 1996, to April 21, 1997. This is a tenure of approximately 10 and a half months.

To clearly compare their tenures, let's look at the approximate duration:

Prime Minister Approximate Tenure Duration
Lal Bahadur Shastri 1 year, 7 months
Chaudhary Charan Singh 5.5 months
Chandra Shekhar 7.5 months
H. D. Deve Gowda 10.5 months

Comparing these durations, it is clear that Chaudhary Charan Singh had the shortest span in office among the four listed Prime Ministers.

Comparing Prime Ministerial Tenures

The calculation of the exact number of days might vary slightly, but the comparison based on months and years is sufficient to determine the shortest tenure among these specific individuals. Chaudhary Charan Singh's tenure of less than six months is notably shorter than the others.

Conclusion: Shortest Serving Prime Minister

Based on the tenures, Chaudhary Charan Singh served as the Prime Minister of India for the shortest period among the options provided. His term lasted from July 1979 to January 1980.

Revision Table: Indian Prime Ministers and Tenures

Prime Minister Start Date End Date
Lal Bahadur Shastri 1964-06-09 1966-01-11
Chaudhary Charan Singh 1979-07-28 1980-01-14
Chandra Shekhar 1990-11-10 1991-06-21
H. D. Deve Gowda 1996-06-01 1997-04-21

Additional Information: Shortest & Longest Tenures

While Chaudhary Charan Singh had the shortest tenure among the given options, it's interesting to note historical context regarding tenures:

  • The shortest tenure for any Prime Minister of India was actually held by Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his first term in 1996, which lasted only 13 days.
  • The longest-serving Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru, who held office for over 16 years.

Understanding the duration of different Prime Ministerial terms provides valuable insight into India's political history and government stability.

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