Question

The first woman Prime Minister of India was _______________.
A.Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit
B.Mrs Sonia Gandhi
C.Mrs Indira Gandhi
D.Mrs Fathima Beevi

Answer 1

Hint: In India’s parliamentary system of government, the President serves as the head of the state or the nominal executive and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister serves as the head of the government or the real executive. The Indian legislative system is a bicameral one which means that there are two houses at the centre—the Lok Sabha or the House of People and the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. The members of the lower house known as the Lok Sabha are elected directly by the people from constituencies around the country and two of its members are nominated by the President from among the Anglo-Indian community. After the Lok Sabha General Elections are held, the leader of the party or coalition which wins the most number of seats in the Lok Sabha is invited to form the Government and hold the office of the Prime Minister.

Complete Step by Step answer: Option A: is incorrect. Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit was the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in pre-independent India. From 1946 to 1953, she headed the Indian delegation to the United Nations and in 1953 she became the first woman to be elected as the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
Option B: is incorrect. Mrs Sonia Gandhi is the current President of the Indian National Congress, a position she has held from 1998.
Option C: is correct. Mrs Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India and served from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 to 1984 (when she was assassinated in office)
Option D: is incorrect. Mrs Fathima Beevi was the first female judge to serve on the Supreme Court of India.

Hence, Option C is the correct answer.

 Note: The first woman President of India was Mrs Pratibha Patil. The President appoints the Prime Minister and administers the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister.