Foreign Ministers of India, List from 1946 to 2025, Tenure

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is headed by the Minister of External Affairs, who is also a member of the Union Cabinet. While the minister sets the direction, the day-to-day administration is overseen by the Foreign Secretary, a senior officer from the Indian Foreign Service. The MEA manages India’s representation in the United Nations and other international bodies, oversees embassies and commissions around the world, and advises other ministries and state governments on matters related to foreign affairs.

Foreign Ministers of India

The Foreign Minister of India holds one of the most important portfolios in the Union Cabinet. This role is central to shaping India’s foreign policy and maintaining diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. The position is usually allocated to a senior or highly experienced member of the cabinet.

The Foreign Minister represents India on the global stage, attending international summits, negotiating treaties, and fostering bilateral ties. So far, 29 individuals have held this post. Notably, Indira Gandhi was the First Woman Foreign Minister of India, from 6 September 1967 to 13 February 1969.

Foreign Ministers of India History

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was originally known as the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations when it was established in 1948. First Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, personally handled this portfolio until his death in 1964.

Over time, the Ministry’s responsibilities expanded beyond diplomatic relations. It took charge of the Protection of Pilgrims Act, 1887, the Indian Pilgrim Shipping Rules 1933, and the Mohammedan Pilgrims Act, 1896. It was also responsible for the administration of Naga Hill’s Tuensang Area.

Today, the Ministry of External Affairs remains the central authority for managing India’s foreign relations and diplomatic missions worldwide.

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List of Foreign Ministers of India

Here’s the List of Foreign Ministers of India from 1964 to the present.

First Foreign Minister of India

• Jawaharlal Nehru served as First Foreign Minister of India from 1947 to 1964, while also being the First Prime Minister of India.
• He was a central figure in India’s independence movement and deeply committed to non-alignment and peaceful diplomacy.
• Born in 1889 in Allahabad, he studied in England at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, before returning to India in 1912.
• Nehru joined the Indian National Congress and quickly rose to prominence, facing multiple imprisonments during the struggle for freedom.
• After independence, he led the formation of modern India’s foreign policy and laid the foundation for its global diplomatic presence.