Question

First foreign Minister of India.

• A. Gulzarilal Nanda
• B. Lal Bahadur Shastri
• C. Sardar Swaran Singh
• D. Jawaharlal Nehru

Hint:

Recall that Nehru kept the External Affairs portfolio with himself throughout his time as the first Prime Minister.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
The question asks who was the very first person to hold the External Affairs, or Foreign Minister, portfolio in independent India's government.

Step 2: Key Fact or Approach.
After independence in August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru formed the first Union Cabinet as Prime Minister. He chose to retain a few key ministries under his own charge rather than assign them out.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
External Affairs was one of the portfolios Nehru kept with himself, and he continued to hold it right up to his death in May 1964. This is why, alongside being independent India's first Prime Minister, he is also counted as its first Foreign Minister. Gulzarilal Nanda stepped in as caretaker Prime Minister after later deaths but did not hold External Affairs. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who succeeded Nehru as Prime Minister in 1964, had earlier held portfolios such as Railways and Home. Sardar Swaran Singh took charge of External Affairs only after Shastri became Prime Minister, so he came well after Nehru.

Step 4: Final Answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first Foreign Minister, which is option (d).