Module 2: Chief Ministers of Bihar
Concept
Subtopic 2.1: Chief Ministers of Bihar
- Dr Sri Krishna Singh ('Shri Babu') was the first Chief Minister, serving until his death on 31 January 1961; Deep Narayan Singh followed for 17 days.
- Mahamaya Prasad Sinha (1967) headed the first non-Congress government. Satish Prasad Singh had the shortest term (28 Jan - 1 Feb 1968), followed by B. P. Mandal.
- Bhola Paswan Shastri (three times) and Dr Jagannath Mishra (three times) were CM repeatedly; Karpoori Thakur twice. Abdul Ghafoor (1973-75) was the first Muslim CM.
- Lalu Prasad (1990-97) was followed by Rabri Devi, Bihar's first woman Chief Minister (25 Jul 1997).
- Nitish Kumar was first CM for only 7 days (3-10 Mar 2000), then from 24 Nov 2005. Jitan Ram Manjhi was CM from 20 May 2014 to 22 Feb 2015, after which Nitish Kumar returned.
- Nitish Kumar took oath for a record 10th time on 20 November 2025 after the NDA won the 2025 election. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha and resigned on 14 April 2026, making him Bihar's longest-serving CM.
- Current CM (Oct 2026): Samrat Choudhary, sworn in on 15 April 2026: the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar. Deputy CMs: Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav (both JD(U)).
| # | Chief Minister | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr Sri Krishna Singh | 1946 - 31 Jan 1961 |
| 2 | Deep Narayan Singh | 1 - 18 Feb 1961 |
| 3 | Binodanand Jha | 18 Feb 1961 - 2 Oct 1963 |
| 4 | Krishna Ballabh Sahay | 2 Oct 1963 - 5 Mar 1967 |
| 5 | Mahamaya Prasad Sinha | 5 Mar 1967 - 28 Jan 1968 |
| 6 | Satish Prasad Singh | 28 Jan - 1 Feb 1968 |
| 7 | B. P. Mandal | 1 Feb - 22 Mar 1968 |
| 8 | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 22 Mar - 29 Jun 1968 |
| 9 | Sardar Harihar Singh | 26 Feb - 22 Jun 1969 |
| 10 | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 22 Jun - 4 Jul 1969 |
| 11 | Daroga Prasad Rai | 16 Feb - 22 Dec 1970 |
| 12 | Karpoori Thakur | 22 Dec 1970 - 2 Jun 1971 |
| 13 | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 2 Jun 1971 - 9 Jan 1972 |
| 14 | Kedar Pandey | 19 Mar 1972 - 2 Jul 1973 |
| 15 | Abdul Ghafoor | 2 Jul 1973 - 11 Apr 1975 |
| 16 | Dr Jagannath Mishra | 11 Apr 1975 - 30 Apr 1977 |
| 17 | Karpoori Thakur | 24 Jun 1977 - 21 Apr 1979 |
| 18 | Ram Sundar Das | 21 Apr 1979 - 17 Feb 1980 |
| 19 | Dr Jagannath Mishra | 8 Jun 1980 - 14 Aug 1983 |
| 20 | Chandrashekhar Singh | 14 Aug 1983 - 12 Mar 1985 |
| 21 | Bindeshwari Dubey | 12 Mar 1985 - 13 Feb 1988 |
| 22 | Bhagwat Jha Azad | 14 Feb 1988 - 10 Mar 1989 |
| 23 | Satyendra Narayan Singh | 11 Mar - 6 Dec 1989 |
| 24 | Dr Jagannath Mishra | 6 Dec 1989 - 10 Mar 1990 |
| 25 | Lalu Prasad | 10 Mar 1990 - 25 Jul 1997 (break 31 Mar - 4 Apr 1995) |
| 26 | Rabri Devi | 25 Jul 1997 - 1 Mar 2000 (break Feb - Mar 1999) |
| 27 | Nitish Kumar | 3 - 10 Mar 2000 |
| 28 | Rabri Devi | 11 Mar 2000 - 6 Mar 2005 |
| 29 | Nitish Kumar | 24 Nov 2005 - 20 May 2014 |
| 30 | Jitan Ram Manjhi | 20 May 2014 - 22 Feb 2015 |
| 31 | Nitish Kumar | 22 Feb 2015 - 14 Apr 2026 |
| 32 | Samrat Choudhary | 15 Apr 2026 - |
- Samrat Choudhary, 15 April 2026.
- A record 10th time.
- He moved to the Rajya Sabha; he resigned on 14 April 2026.
- Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav (JD(U)).
- Dr Sri Krishna Singh (Shri Babu).
- Rabri Devi (from 25 Jul 1997).
- Satish Prasad Singh (about 5 days).
- Mahamaya Prasad Sinha.
- Abdul Ghafoor (1973-75).
- 3 - 10 March 2000.
- Jitan Ram Manjhi.
- Bhola Paswan Shastri.
- Ram Sundar Das (21 Apr 1979 - 17 Feb 1980).
- Question: Who became the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar? Answer: Samrat Choudhary.
- Question: On 20 November 2025 Nitish Kumar took oath as CM for the: Answer: 10th time.
- Question: Why did Nitish Kumar resign as CM in April 2026? Answer: He was elected to the Rajya Sabha.
- Question: Who are the Deputy Chief Ministers in the Samrat Choudhary government? Answer: Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
- Question: Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar? Answer: Dr Sri Krishna Singh.
- Question: Who was the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar? Answer: Rabri Devi.
- Question: Who had the shortest tenure as CM of Bihar (28 Jan - 1 Feb 1968)? Answer: Satish Prasad Singh.
- Question: Who headed Bihar's first non-Congress government (1967)? Answer: Mahamaya Prasad Sinha.
- Question: Who was Bihar's first Muslim Chief Minister? Answer: Abdul Ghafoor.
- Question: Nitish Kumar's first term as CM (March 2000) lasted about: Answer: 7 days.
- Question: Who was CM of Bihar between May 2014 and February 2015? Answer: Jitan Ram Manjhi.
- Question: Who was CM three times between 1968 and 1972? Answer: Bhola Paswan Shastri.
- Question: Which CM's government was followed by President's Rule in 1980? Answer: Ram Sundar Das.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Who became the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar?
Question 2: On 20 November 2025 Nitish Kumar took oath as CM for the:
Question 3: Why did Nitish Kumar resign as CM in April 2026?
Question 4: Who are the Deputy Chief Ministers in the Samrat Choudhary government?
Question 5: Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar?
Question 6: Who was the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar?
Question 7: Who had the shortest tenure as CM of Bihar (28 Jan - 1 Feb 1968)?
Question 8: Who headed Bihar's first non-Congress government (1967)?
Question 9: Who was Bihar's first Muslim Chief Minister?
Question 10: Nitish Kumar's first term as CM (March 2000) lasted about:
Question 11: Who was CM of Bihar between May 2014 and February 2015?
Question 12: Who was CM three times between 1968 and 1972?
Question 13: Which CM's government was followed by President's Rule in 1980?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who became the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar?
Samrat Choudhary.On 20 November 2025 Nitish Kumar took oath as CM for the:
10th time.Why did Nitish Kumar resign as CM in April 2026?
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha.Who are the Deputy Chief Ministers in the Samrat Choudhary government?
Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar?
Dr Sri Krishna Singh.Who was the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar?
Rabri Devi.Who had the shortest tenure as CM of Bihar (28 Jan - 1 Feb 1968)?
Satish Prasad Singh.Who headed Bihar's first non-Congress government (1967)?
Mahamaya Prasad Sinha.Who was Bihar's first Muslim Chief Minister?
Abdul Ghafoor.Nitish Kumar's first term as CM (March 2000) lasted about:
7 days.Who was CM of Bihar between May 2014 and February 2015?
Jitan Ram Manjhi.Who was CM three times between 1968 and 1972?
Bhola Paswan Shastri.Which CM's government was followed by President's Rule in 1980?
Ram Sundar Das.