Indira Gandhi was the first female to serve as the Prime Minister of India. She held the office, with her first term starting in 1966, and became a pivotal figure in Indian politics. Gandhi implemented several significant policies, including the Green Revolution, which aimed to boost agricultural production, thereby addressing food shortages in the country. Her leadership style was often described as authoritarian, particularly during the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977, where civil liberties were curtailed. Despite controversies, Gandhi remains a central figure in India's modern political history, symbolizing both progress and struggle.