Who was the first female Prime Minister of India?

• A. Sonia Gandhi
• B. Indira Gandhi
• C. Pratibha Patil
• D. Indira Nooyi

Answer: (B)

Being the first woman to hold India's prime ministership marks a historic breakthrough in Indian politics. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966, after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, and she led the country through pivotal years, including periods of major political change and the Emergency in the mid-1970s. Her tenure established that a woman could occupy the highest executive office in the republic, shaping the path for future generations of leaders.

Sonia Gandhi has been a prominent political figure and led the Congress party, but she never served as Prime Minister. Pratibha Patil served as President of India, not as Prime Minister. Indira Nooyi is a corporate executive, long-time CEO of PepsiCo, and did not hold political office.

So Indira Gandhi is the first female Prime Minister of India.