Who is India's First Woman President? Pratibha Patil made history as India’s first woman President, serving from 2007 to 2012. A seasoned politician, she held key ministerial roles and was... Pratibha Patil is an Indian politician who served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012. Get to know more about her journey right from personal to political and presidential to post-presidential. Pratibha Patil (born December 19, 1934, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian lawyer and politician who was the first woman to serve as president of India (2007–12). First Woman President of India Pratibha Patil made history as the first female to hold the esteemed position of President of India, serving from 2007-2012. Beyond her ground-breaking achievement as India’s first female president, Patil also holds the distinction of being the first Maharashtrian to ascend to the presidency.