The first Muslim President of India was:

Zakir Husain. Dr. Zakir Husain became the third President of India in May 1967 and was the first Muslim to hold the office.

Early life and education:

• He was born on 8 February 1897 in Hyderabad.
• He studied at the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh and later earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Berlin.

Role in education:

• He was one of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia in 1920, during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• He served as its Vice-Chancellor for many years and helped it grow into a major institution.
• He chaired the committee that framed Gandhi's scheme of basic education (Nai Talim) in 1937, called the Wardha Scheme.
• After independence, he was Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

Political career:

• He was a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• He served as Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962.
• He was elected Vice-President of India, and later President.

Honours:

• He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna while serving in a high constitutional office.

Legacy:

• He is remembered as an educationist who believed in secularism and national integration.
• Many educational institutions are named after him.
• His mausoleum is located on the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.

Election as President:

In the 1967 presidential election, he defeated K. Subba Rao, a former Chief Justice of India, who was the opposition candidate.

Other Muslim Presidents:

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam later also became Presidents.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed became President in the 1970s.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became President in 2002.

• Hidayatullah served as Vice-President but was never elected President.