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List of External Affairs Ministers of India (1947-2025) - Download PDF!

Last Updated on Jun 26, 2025
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In the dynamic realm of Indian diplomacy and international relations, the role of the foreign minister of India stands as a pillar of the nation's global presence . Exploring the list of foreign minister of India from 1947 to till date reveals the evolving priorities and strategic shifts in India's foreign policy . This journey includes influential leaders such as the external affairs minister during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, those who led during critical diplomatic moments, and the first Indian to become minister of external affairs who was not a regular or professional prime minister. Through this detailed list of foreign minister of India from 1947 to till date, we spotlight the stories, achievements, and milestones of those who have shaped India’s voice on the world stage—from the nation’s first External Affairs Minister to the present incumbent. Join us as we trace the legacy of India's foreign policy architects and their profound impact on the country’s international trajectory. It is to be noted that questions from the list of foreign minister of India are asked under static GK in various competitive exams.

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Current foreign minister of India 2025 

The current foreign minister of India 2025 is Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He has been in the position since May 30, 2019. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha since 5 July 2019. He previously served as the Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to January 2018. He became the second-ever diplomat to be appointed as India's External Affairs minister, after Natwar Singh.

Jaishankar is a career diplomat and has held several important positions in the Indian Foreign Service, including as Ambassador to the United States and China. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

As the foreign minister of India, Jaishankar has been focused on strengthening India's relations with its neighbours and with major powers such as the United States, China, and Russia. He has also been working to promote India's interests in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the G20.

Jaishankar is a strong advocate for India's rise as a global power and believes that India should play a more active role in international affairs. He is a respected figure in the Indian Foreign Service and is seen as a capable and experienced leader.

Here are some of the achievements of Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as the External Affairs Minister of India:

  • Strengthened India's relations with its neighbours, especially with China and Pakistan.
  • Promoted India's interests in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the G20.
  • Negotiated a number of important agreements with other countries, including the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement and the India-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement.
  • Played a key role in the resolution of the Doklam standoff with China in 2017.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is a leading figure in Indian foreign policy and is seen as a key architect of India's rise as a global power.

Know All About Cabinet Ministers of India.

Free Download Quiz on List of External Affairs Ministers of India 


List of External Affairs Ministers of India

Know about all the list of foreign minister of India from 1947 to till date from the below -.

S. No

Name

From

To

Political Party

0

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

30th May 2019

Incumbent

Bharatiya Janata Party

1

Sushma Swaraj

27th may 2014

29th May 2019

Bharatiya Janata Party

2

Salman Khurshid

28 October 2012

26 May 2014

Indian National Congress

3

S. M. Krishna

22 May 2009

26 October 2012

Indian National Congress

4

Pranab Mukherjee

24 October 2006

22 May 2009

Indian National Congress

5

Manmohan Singh

06 November 2005

24 October 2006

Indian National Congress

6

K. Natwar Singh

22 May 2004

06 November 2005

Indian National Congress

7

Yashwant Sinha

01 July 2002

22 May 2004

Bharatiya Janata Party

8

Jaswant Singh

05 December 1998

23 June 2002

Bharatiya Janata Party

9

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

19 March 1998

05 December 1998

Bharatiya Janata Party

10

I. K. Gujral

01 June 1996

18 March 1998

Janata Dal

11

Sikander Bakht

21 May 1996

01 June 1996

Bharatiya Janata Party

12

Pranab Mukherjee

10 February 1995

16 May 1996

Indian National Congress

13

Dinesh Singh

18 January 1993

10 February 1995

Indian National Congress

14

P. V. Narasimha Rao

31 March 1992

18 January 1993

Indian National Congress

15

Madhavsinh Solanki

21 June 1991

31 March 1992

Indian National Congress

16

Vidya Charan Shukla

21 November 1990

20 February 1991

Samajwadi Janata Party

17

I. K. Gujral

05 December 1989

10 November 1990

Janata Dal

18

V. P. Singh

02 December 1989

05 December 1989

Janata Dal

19

P. V. Narasimha Rao

25 June 1988

02 December 1989

Indian National Congress

20

Rajiv Gandhi

25 July 1987

25 June 1988

Indian National Congress

21

N. D. Tiwari

22 October 1986

25 July 1987

Indian National Congress

22

P. Shiv Shankar

12 May 1986

22 October 1986

Indian National Congress

23

Bali Ram Bhagat

25 September 1985

12 May 1986

Indian National Congress

24

Rajiv Gandhi

31 October 1984

24 September 1985

Indian National Congress

25

Indira Gandhi

19 July 1984

31 October 1984

Indian National Congress

26

P. V. Narasimha Rao

14 January 1980

19 July 1984

Indian National Congress

27

Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra

26 March 1977

28 July 1979

Janata Party (Secular)

28

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

26 March 1977

28 July 1979

Janata Party

29

Yashwantrao Chavan

10 October 1974

24 March 1977

Indian National Congress

30

Sardar Swaran Singh

27 June 1970

10 October 1974

Indian National Congress

31

Dinesh Singh

14 February 1969

27 June 1970

Indian National Congress

32

Indira Gandhi

06 September 1967

13 February 1969

Indian National Congress

33

M. C. Chagla

14 November 1966

05 September 1967

Indian National Congress

34

Sardar Swaran Singh

18 July 1964

14 November 1966

Indian National Congress

35

Lal Bahadur Shastri

09 June 1964

17 July 1964

Indian National Congress

36

Gulzarilal Nanda

27 May 1964

09 June 1964

Indian National Congress

37

Jawaharlal Nehru

02 September 1946

27 May 1964

Indian National Congress

Know All About Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.

First External Affairs Minister of India

The first foreign minister of India name was Jawaharlal Nehru. He served in the position from 1947 to 1964, under the first Prime Minister of India, himself. Nehru was a leading figure in the Indian independence movement and was known for his commitment to non-alignment and peaceful coexistence.

Nehru was born in 1889 in Allahabad, India. He was educated at Harrow School in England and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He returned to India in 1912 and joined the Indian National Congress. He became a leading figure in the independence movement and was imprisoned several times by the British colonial authorities.

After independence, Nehru was appointed as the first Prime Minister of India. He served in this position for 17 years and played a key role in the development of the Indian nation. He was also the first foreign minister of India and played a major role in shaping India's foreign policy.

Nehru was a visionary leader who played a key role in the development of India. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in Indian history.

Here are some of the achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru as the first External Affairs Minister of India:

  • Established the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Foreign Service.
  • Promoted India's non-aligned foreign policy.
  • Played a key role in the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  • Negotiated a number of important agreements with other countries, including the Panchsheel Agreement and the Indus Water Treaty.
  • Led India to victory in the 1962 war with China.

Jawaharlal Nehru was a leading figure in Indian foreign policy and is seen as a key architect of India's rise as a global power.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India - Brief Overview

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, initially named the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, underwent several transformations. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru initially held the portfolio until 1964. The MEA administers various acts, including those related to immigration, shipping, and pilgrim protection. In 2016, it was merged with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to streamline governance. The MEA also oversees the Indian Foreign Service, having full control over its administration. This integration aligns with the government's goal of minimizing bureaucracy. The MEA plays a pivotal role in India's foreign relations, both historically and in the present day.

Ministry of External Affairs Overview

Formed

2 September 1946

Jurisdiction

Government of India

Headquarters

South Block, Secretariat Building, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, Delhi, India

Employees

4,888 (March 2023), 1,011 (IFS)

Annual Budget (2023–24)

₹18,050 crore (US$2.3 billion) [2]

Minister Responsible

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, foreign minister of India 2025

Deputy Ministers Responsible

V. Muraleedharan, MoS

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, MoS

Meenakshi Lekhi, MoS

Ministry Executives

Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary

Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West)

Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East)

Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV & OIA)

Dammu Ravi,[3], Secretary (Economic Relations)

 

Arindam Bagchi, AS-XP and Spokesperson

Website

www.mea.gov.in

Important Points Related to the Ministry of External Affairs of India

Here is some major information about the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Role and Responsibility: The MEA is responsible for implementing India's foreign policy and representing the Government of India globally through its embassies and missions.

Leadership: The MEA is headed by the Minister of External Affairs, a Cabinet Minister, with the Foreign Secretary, an Indian Foreign Service officer, serving as the most senior civil servant.

Historical Evolution: Initially named the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, it was renamed the Ministry of External Affairs in 1948.

Prime Minister's Role: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru initially held the MEA portfolio until a separate Cabinet-ranked Minister was appointed after his death in 1964.

Legislative Oversight: The Committee on External Affairs is responsible for legislative oversight of the MEA.

Integration: In 2016, the MEA was integrated with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to streamline government operations.

Indian Foreign Service (IFS): The MEA is the cadre-controlling authority of the Indian Foreign Service, wholly supervising its administration.

Organizational Structure: The MEA comprises various secretaries, including the Foreign Secretary, Secretary (West), Secretary (East), Secretary (Economic Relations), and others.

Development Partnership Administration (DPA): DPA, under the MEA, manages projects aimed at enhancing India's strategic presence in neighbouring countries and beyond.

India Perspectives: India Perspectives is the MEA's flagship publication, providing insights into India's culture, diplomacy, and bilateral relations, reaching readers in 170 countries.

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It is also important to understand that topics such as “ministers of India” are crucial for your competitive exams. To know more about other important GK topics, download our Testbook app today and make your way easy to learn.

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External Affairs Minister of India FAQs

The current foreign minister of India 2025 is Dr. S. Jaishankar, serving since 2019 and continuing under the new cabinet. He appears in the latest List of External Affairs Ministers of India.

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the 34th foreign minister of India and features in the list of foreign ministers of India from 1947 to till date.

As per the 2024–2025 cabinet, the current Home Affairs Minister of India is Amit Shah, who continues to handle internal security and law enforcement matters.

The Defence Minister of India in 2023 was Rajnath Singh, one of the senior-most leaders in the Union Cabinet and regularly listed in government records.

In 2023, Nirmala Sitharaman held the office of Finance Minister, making her one of the few to consecutively manage the country's economic affairs.

The external affairs minister during Manmohan Singh included K. Natwar Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, S. M. Krishna, and Salman Khurshid, who served between 2004 and 2014.

K. Raghuramaiah was the first person to become External Affairs Minister of India without being a regular or acting Prime Minister.

The list of foreign minister of India from 1947 to till date can be found on official government portals and educational websites like Testbook under the List of External Affairs Ministers of India topic.

The first Indian who became the foreign minister of India without being the Prime Minister was Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

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