First in India (Men & Women) – Updated 2025 Static GK List
Have you ever wondered who was the first Indian to climb Mount Everest? Or who became India’s first woman Prime Minister? Questions like these are the bread and butter of competitive exams they show up everywhere, from UPSC Prelims to SSC CHSL, from Banking GK sections to State PSCs.
This updated 2025 “First in India – Men and Women” list covers pioneers who broke barriers, took the first steps, and left permanent footprints in Indian history. These names are not just facts to memorize they’re stories of determination, intellect, and courage.
So, grab a notebook or your favorite cup of chai, and let’s dive into the people who did it first.
List of First in India Men
The list of first in India men highlights the pionees who achieved remarkable milestones across politics, science, sports and defense. From Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President, to Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic gold, these first achievers shaped India’s history and remain essential for Static GK and competitive exams.
First Indians in Political Leadership & Administrative Roles
|
Category 16449_4e98b7-ed> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_7836b4-b6> |
|---|---|
|
First President of India 16449_e8731f-4e> |
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, 1950 16449_1d5c53-ae> |
|
First Vice President 16449_ef9a46-06> |
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, 1952 16449_d89239-d6> |
|
First Prime Minister 16449_81e067-6a> |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, 1947 16449_ea658e-73> |
|
First Indian Governor-General 16449_a102a7-6a> |
C. Rajagopalachari, 1948 16449_22d178-2b> |
|
First Chief Justice of India 16449_228de7-63> |
H. J. Kania 16449_2c9674-6f> |
|
First Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) 16449_d94e43-4c> |
General Bipin Rawat, 2020 16449_604219-13> |
|
First Indian Chief of Army Staff 16449_8d9671-9d> |
General K. M. Cariappa, 1949 16449_831322-42> |
|
First Indian Chief of Naval Staff 16449_66693c-2c> |
Vice Admiral R. D. Katari, 1958 16449_18b27b-35> |
|
First Indian Chief of Air Staff 16449_b83946-7e> |
Subroto Mukerjee, 1954 16449_44ef98-0b> |
|
First Indian to become Field Marshal 16449_e349a7-39> |
Sam Manekshaw, 1973 16449_12dc33-87> |
|
First Indian Judge at International Court of Justice 16449_2745c5-9f> |
Dr. Nagendra Singh 16449_cf0ef8-bb> |
First Indians to Win Nobel Prize & International Recognition
|
Category 16449_688794-4e> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_824432-51> |
|---|---|
|
First Indian to win Nobel Prize 16449_d295d6-59> |
Rabindranath Tagore, 1913 16449_4c639c-5b> |
|
First Indian to win Nobel Prize in Physics 16449_dd8fd6-d8> |
C. V. Raman, 1930 16449_ff7a58-03> |
|
First Indian to win Nobel Prize in Economics 16449_9aa177-9a> |
Amartya Sen 16449_fb9c52-ca> |
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First Indian to receive Nobel Peace Prize (Male) 16449_5c03a8-a7> |
Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 16449_787168-7d> |
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First Bharat Ratna recipients 16449_599388-60> |
C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, C. V. Raman, 1954 16449_fff510-a1> |
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First Indian to receive Magsaysay Award 16449_745f50-a4> |
Acharya Vinoba Bhave, 1958 16449_8c2986-1a> |
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First Indian to win Param Vir Chakra 16449_c3c753-b4> |
Major Somnath Sharma 16449_7fb742-e4> |
First Indians to Win Olympic Medals & Sports Championships
|
Category 16449_4a01ad-e9> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_db702a-d6> |
|---|---|
|
First Indian to win individual Olympic Gold 16449_cc7547-b7> |
Abhinav Bindra, 2008 (Shooting) 16449_9d8ad5-5e> |
|
First Indian to win Olympic Medal in Athletics 16449_9ac5f6-c0> |
Neeraj Chopra, 2021 16449_24a29a-c5> |
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First Indian to win Paralympic Gold 16449_f6df91-0c> |
Murlikant Petkar, 1972 16449_b2d0a6-57> |
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First Indian to win a Grand Slam (Tennis) 16449_b9eb8d-2b> |
Mahesh Bhupathi, 1997 16449_679b21-f3> |
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First Indian to win Chess World Championship 16449_53d579-f6> |
Viswanathan Anand, 2000 16449_6897b4-fe> |
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First Indian male shooter to win World Championship Gold 16449_91cb5b-ff> |
Rudrankksh Patil, 2023 16449_4ee468-55> |
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First Indian male to win Asin Games Gold in Archery 16449_b4087a-a8> |
Ojas Deotale, 2023 16449_e6b52f-47> |
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First Indian male swimmer to qualify for Olympics 16449_433df2-5d> |
Sajan Prakash, 2021 16449_ff0944-c0> |
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First Indian Cricketer to score triple |
Virender Sehwag 16449_3949e7-c1> |
|
First Indian to win ICC Cricketer of the |
Virat Kohli, 2017 & 2018 16449_757b1c-9b> |
Check Out: Daily Current Affairs Quiz – Stay Ahead in Your Exam Prep!
First Indians in Space, Arts, Entertainment & Cultural Excellence
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Category 16449_041267-88> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_de535f-c2> |
|---|---|
|
First Indian to go into space 16449_104f8b-91> |
Rakesh Sharma, 1984 16449_1fd7db-e3> |
|
First Indian to climb Mount Everest 16449_7b6640-05> |
Tenzing Norgay, 1953 (Note on citizenship) 16449_fe1be7-9a> |
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First Indian to cross English Channel 16449_d545bd-ef> |
Mihir Sen, 1958 16449_599402-e3> |
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First Indian to reach South Pole 16449_a44ee7-19> |
Col. J. K. Bajaj, 1989 16449_fdd538-53> |
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First Indian in Antarctica 16449_095040-bc> |
Lt. Ram Charan 16449_bd3ccc-83> |
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First Indian to win an Oscar 16449_c0e334-7d> |
Bhanu Athaiya, 1983 (Best Costume Design) 16449_6865cf-87> |
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First Indian to win Oscar (Male Category) 16449_e7aeb9-e5> |
A. R. Rahman, 2009 16449_420428-b9> |
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First Indian to win Booker Prize 16449_f786c8-1f> |
Arundhati Roy, 1997 16449_949e13-69> |
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First Indian to become UNGA President 16449_499f86-14> |
Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, 1953 16449_7d12f3-9b> |
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First Indian to orbit Mars (Mission Head) 16449_110249-9f> |
Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, 2014 (Mangalyaan Mission) 16449_692055-95> |
|
First Indian pilot 16449_6ea001-5e> |
J. R. D. Tata 16449_deec67-5e> |
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First Indian to pass ICS 16449_a1538f-70> |
Surendra Nath Banerjee 16449_7d920f-98> |
List of First in India Women
The List of First in India Women celebrates Indian women who broke barriers and led change — from Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister, to Avani Lekhara’s Paralympic gold. This updated 2025 list is vital for students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other Static GK exams.
First Women to Reach Leadership Positions in Indian Government & Administration
|
Category 16449_1a6d4e-d5> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_13134d-3a> |
|---|---|
|
First Woman President of India 16449_678c3f-22> |
Pratibha Patil, 2007 16449_8b6882-70> |
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First Woman Prime Minister 16449_12c3d9-03> |
Indira Gandhi, 1966 16449_81571d-72> |
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First Woman Governor of State 16449_cae9a2-83> |
Sarojini Naidu, 1947 (Uttar Pradesh) 16449_5529b2-aa> |
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First Woman Chief Minister 16449_65fda3-0e> |
Sucheta Kripalani, 1963 (Uttar Pradesh) 16449_135acb-7f> |
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First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha 16449_12ddd8-cd> |
Meira Kumar, 2009 16449_a19421-ae> |
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First Woman Judge of Supreme Court 16449_f6b4dd-c5> |
M. Fathima Beevi, 1989 16449_db01b0-4c> |
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First Woman Chief Justice of High Court 16449_83dc1a-72> |
Leila Seth, 1991 16449_3f7c21-62> |
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First Woman Defence Minister 16449_e2fdcf-e6> |
Nirmala Sitharaman, 2017 16449_6a193f-10> |
|
First Woman Finance Minister (Full-time) 16449_62c92e-38> |
Nirmala Sitharaman, 2019 16449_f5519d-32> |
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First Woman Foreign Secretary 16449_6856c0-93> |
Nirupama Rao, 2009 16449_f63ebd-b7> |
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First Woman Chief Secretary 16449_23e919-0e> |
S. P. Khullar, 2022 16449_0b8f27-82> |
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First Woman to become DGP 16449_784af0-2a> |
Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, 2004 16449_511cf7-25> |
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First Woman to become Air Marshal 16449_9e8f41-fa> |
Padma Bandopadhyay, 2002 16449_2e1467-7a> |
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First Woman to become Lieutenant Governor (UT) 16449_b42d50-41> |
Kiran Bedi, 2016 16449_bae6a7-0a> |
|
First Woman Chief Minister of a |
Syeda Anwara Taimur, 1980 (Assam) 16449_dc4dee-50> |
First Indian Women in Armed Forces, Space & Professional Fields
|
Category 16449_fadbf2-b4> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_c354d0-70> |
|---|---|
|
First Woman IPS Officer 16449_40034e-3d> |
Kiran Bedi, 1972 16449_35d98f-50> |
|
First Woman IAS Officer 16449_e780ca-4f> |
Anna Rajam Malhotra, 1951 16449_89e365-5e> |
|
First Indian Woman Astronaut 16449_b2cff7-11> |
Kalpana Chawla, 1997 16449_19d8cb-98> |
|
First Indian Woman to travel to space (2nd |
Sunita Williams, 2007 16449_17f6be-fb> |
|
First Woman to fly a fighter jet 16449_3d0d49-85> |
Avani Chaturvedi, 2018 16449_bbb4c6-c4> |
|
First Indian Woman Rafale Pilot 16449_e8d0ac-4e> |
Shivangi Singh, 2020 16449_c5193f-15> |
|
First Indian Woman Chief of Staff (Armed |
Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, 2021 16449_74e1b0-f1> |
|
First Indian Woman to command Navy |
Lieutenant Commander Prerna Deosthalee, 2023 16449_b78e6e-0d> |
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First female doctor of Indian origin 16449_e65321-a8> |
Anandi Gopal Joshi, 1886 16449_24a61a-8f> |
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First female engineer of India 16449_1ee01b-c0> |
Lalitha Ayyalasomayajula, 1943 16449_e9a0b8-9f> |
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First female lawyer 16449_52ff29-7a> |
Cornelia Sorabji 16449_e6b9f2-5b> |
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First female advocate at Bombay High |
Margaret Cousins 16449_bfb33c-fa> |
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First female neurosurgeon 16449_dbc408-a2> |
Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka 16449_b708cd-a8> |
First Indian Women to Win Olympic Medals & International Awards
|
Category 16449_7d0034-1e> |
First Achievement / Year 16449_8f534c-0b> |
|---|---|
|
First Woman to win Bharat Ratna 16449_12107d-84> |
Indira Gandhi, 1971 16449_6dbba4-e1> |
|
First Woman to receive Ashoka Chakra 16449_6ab861-77> |
Neerja Bhanot, 1987 16449_587782-ad> |
|
First Woman to win Nobel Prize 16449_af7c35-3d> |
Mother Teresa, 1979 16449_a11f2d-13> |
|
First Woman to climb Mount Everest 16449_4dbee0-b4> |
Bachendri Pal, 1984 16449_c8c940-35> |
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First Woman to win Olympic Medal 16449_c2825e-84> |
Karnam Malleswari, 2000 (Weightlifting) 16449_1d90b7-2e> |
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First Woman Boxer to win Olympic Medal 16449_9c4f1d-ce> |
Mary Kom, 2012 16449_f87cc8-dc> |
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First Indian Woman to win Olympic Silver 16449_14baf6-1d> |
P. V. Sindhu, 2016 16449_239e96-c9> |
|
First Indian Woman to win Paralympic |
Avani Lekhara, 2021 16449_1352a3-91> |
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First Indian Woman to win Grand Slam (Tennis) 16449_7f245f-1c> |
Sania Mirza, 2015 16449_d9a59e-ba> |
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First Indian Woman to win Miss Universe 16449_2a3699-9c> |
Sushmita Sen, 1994 16449_2d21e4-a7> |
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First Indian Woman to win Miss World 16449_1fe396-3b> |
Reita Faria, 1966 16449_3f423e-c2> |
|
First female musician to win Bharat Ratna 16449_ada880-69> |
M. S. Subbulakshmi 16449_8a9ba7-60> |
|
First female pilot in India 16449_b00975-ba> |
Sarla Thakral, 1936 16449_3323be-b0> |
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List of First in India (Men & Women) PDF Download
Download First in India (Male & Female) Quick Revision PDF. For quick revision before the important exams download this PDF and stay ahead in your exam preparation.
First In India Quiz
If you believe you have mastered the first list in India, we invite you to take our quiz and test your general knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who was the first Indian male to win Olympic gold in athletics?
Answer: Neeraj Chopra (2021 Tokyo Olympics).
-
Who is the first woman Rafale pilot in India?
Answer: Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh (2020).
-
Who was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)?
Answer: General Bipin Rawat (2020).
-
Who is the first Indian woman Paralympic gold medalist?
Answer: Avani Lekhara (Shooting, 2021).
-
Who is the first Indian woman to command a Navy ship?
Answer: Lt. Commander Prerna Deosthalee (2023).
Conclusion
These names are not just “firsts” they’re the beginnings of India’s story of progress.
Every name here represents courage, perseverance, and an idea that changed how India looked at itself.
If you’re preparing for competitive exams, save this page or download our “First in India PDF 2025” for quick revision. Because sometimes, remembering who did it first helps you be the next one to achieve something new.