Which Indian President won unopposed?
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option B —
N Sanjeeva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy is the only person to date to have been elected to the office of the President of India unopposed. He served as the sixth President of India from 1977 to 1982.Historical Context of the 1977 Election
Background: Following the death of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in office, a fresh election was required.
The Election: In the July 1977 presidential election, a total of 37 candidates filed their nominations. However, upon scrutiny, the returning officer rejected the nominations of the other 36 candidates as they did not fulfill the required formalities (such as having enough proposers and seconders from the electoral college).
Result: As a result, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the only validly nominated candidate and was declared elected unopposed on July 21, 1977.
Notable Facts about N. Sanjiva Reddy
Youngest President: At the time of his assumption of office, he was the youngest President of India (at age 64), a record later broken by President Droupadi Murmu.
Political Career: Before becoming President, he served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The 1969 Election: Interestingly, he had contested the presidential election earlier in 1969 as the official Congress candidate but lost to V.V. Giri, who ran as an independent candidate supported by Indira Gandhi.
Revision Tip:
While Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the interim President by the Constituent Assembly in 1950 without a contest, in the context of formal elections under the Constitution (Article 54), N. Sanjiva Reddy is the unique answer for being "elected unopposed."
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
More Polity questions
From across UPSC, JKPSC, and JKSSB papers — same subject, different years.
Which article empowers the Supreme Court of India to review any judgement pronounced or made by it earlier?
From which fund the salaries and other expenses of the Supreme Court are drawn?
Which of the following has the oldest Act of Freedom of the Press?
‘To protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India’, is established under which of the following sections of the Indian Constitution?
In which part of the constitution is the state enjoined to establish Panchayat Raj institutions?