This is a list of the heads of state of India, from independence in 1947 to the present day. The current head of state of India is Droupadi Murmu, elected in 2022 after being nominated by the National Democratic Alliance.
From 1947 to 1950, the head of state under the Indian Independence Act 1947 was King of India, who was also the monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Dominions of the British Commonwealth. The monarch was represented in India by a governor-general. India became a republic under the Constitution of 1950 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president.
The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
| Royal Title: | King |
| Realm: | India |
| Coatofarms: | Emblem of India (without motto).svg |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Emblem of the Union of India |
| First Monarch: | George VI as successor of the Emperor of India |
| Last Monarch: | George VI |
| Style: | His Majesty |
| Began: | 15 August 1947 |
| Ended: | 26 January 1950 |
| Appointer: | Hereditary |
| No. | Portrait | Monarch | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister | Governor General | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign start | Reign end | ||||||
| 1 | George VI | 1947 | 1950 | Windsor | Nehru | Mountbatten | |
| Rajagopalachari | |||||||
The Governor-General was the representative of the Monarch in India and exercised most of the powers of the Monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. Following independence in 1947, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of India without the involvement of the British government.
| No. | Portrait | Governor-General | Tenure | Prime Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | |||||
| 1 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl Mountbatten of Burma | 1947 | 1948 | Jawaharlal Nehru | ||
| 2 | Chakravarti Rajagopalachari | 1948 | 1950 | |||
Under the Constitution, of the Republic of India, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president is elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the vice president serves as acting president.