How many years was Indira Gandhi the prime minister of India?

Answer 1

Indra Gandhi was neither the first nor the second but the third Prime Minister of India allegedly by plotting and managing the murder of the second Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri, in Tashkent (Russia)

Answer 2

·•. · By virtue of being the Prime Minister of India, the largest democracy in the world, she was able to make a significant contribution to the practice of inter-national relations.

· Her most important contribution in the realm of world peace was the shaping of the NAM (non-aligned moment). Her able leadership provided a smooth sailing for the Conference. It also led to a better understanding of the common problems of freedom, peace and social justice for the people of the Third World. It was through this Conference that she made a major chunk of humanity feel important in the UN. Here she played a more dynamic role as a leader of mankind in the international arena.

· Indira Gandhi symbolized the Third World's regeneration. Under her leadership, Indian foreign policy matured from the conscious assertion of the rights and aspirations of newly free nations to a keen awareness on their part of their own responsibility in the global context. By refusing to sign the NPT she gained political credit for upholding India's independence and for taking a principled stand against a discriminatory treaty.

· She made a mark in the world as an unrivalled leader and a champion of the Third World.

· The Bangladesh situation gave her the opportunity to emerge as a military strategist and a diplomat par excellence on the regional and the world stage. With the clear and decisive victory India and Indira were established as a major power and force in the world. Indira Gandhi became the international leader.

· She put India on the international scientific map by exploding the country's first underground nuclear device at Pokhran in 1974. This signaled India's nuclear potential and its unwillingness to abide by the nuclear rules of the superpowers.

· She was successful in protecting India's interests without succumbing to the pressure of superpowers. An increase in India's economic and military strength during her regime made India an important regional power which none of the superpowers could afford to ignore. She made India strong and a leading country in the comity of nations, gave a clarion call to the world to save humanity from the nuclear holocaust, raised her voice against all kinds of exploitation.

· Indira Gandhi was truly an international leader. As the Prime Minister of India and Chairperson of the NAM she exercised a profound influence on international affairs and made tremendous efforts for world peace, justice and equity among nations.

· As prime minister, Gandhi tried to improve the lives of Indians. With her neighbors, the Soviet Union and China, she improved relations. She also promoted science and technology. In 1971, India sent its first satellite into space. Economically, Indira Gandhi led India to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world toward the end of her time as prime minister.

· Being the first female prime minister of India and an influential leader; in a prevalently male- dominated society, Indira Gandhi was a symbol of feminism in India. As per economic surveys, when Indira became Prime minister, 65% of the population was over the poverty line, and when her regime ended in 1984, this figure was 45%. During her rule, food production increased by 250%. Literacy also increased in India by 30 %

· Indira advocated and promoted equal right s for women and their social and economic emancipation. She instituted many programs for the benefit of the underprivileged and the handicapped. She laid great emphasis of the cultural revival of India, promoted crafts and encouraged schemes for the removal of poverty.

· The first woman ever elected to lead a democracy

· She firmly believed in the policy of "rapid introduction of socialism in the country."

· Indira Gandhi strengthened the democratic structure and tradition of India. She had tremendous influence on the masses.

Answer 3

Indira Gandhi served India as Prime Minister for 15 years in two stretches from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1984.