The first Prime Minister of India was Jawaharlal Nehru. He took office on August 15, 1947, the day India gained independence from British rule, and served until his death in May 1964. Nehru was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and is widely regarded as a founding figure of modern India. He was the longest-serving prime minister, holding the position for nearly 17 years. Nehru also served as the prime minister of the Interim Government of India before independence, starting in September 1946