First in Tamil Nadu

'First' questions reward precision, first in Tamil Nadu, first in South India, or first in India are different answers. Each row states which.

Syllabus: Cross-unit staple (Units II and VI)
FirstHolderScope
First woman Chief MinisterV.N. Janaki Ramachandran (1988)Tamil Nadu
First woman legislatorDr. Muthulakshmi Reddy (1927, Madras Legislative Council)India
First biosphere reserveNilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986)India
First marine biosphere reserveGulf of Mannar (1989)India
Oldest bird sanctuaryVedanthangalIndia
First modern wildlife sanctuary (South India)Mudumalai (1940)South India
First tiger reserve of TNKalakkad-Mundanthurai (1988)Tamil Nadu
First Ramsar site of TNPoint Calimere (2002)Tamil Nadu
First GI-tagged temple prasadamPalani PanchamirthamIndia
First CM after independence (Madras)O.P. Ramaswamy ReddiyarMadras Presidency

Scope decides the mark: Janaki Ramachandran and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai are Tamil Nadu firsts, Mudumalai is a South India first, and Muthulakshmi Reddy, the Nilgiri and Gulf of Mannar reserves, Vedanthangal and Palani Panchamirtham are India-level answers.

Frequently asked questions

Who was India's first woman legislator?
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, appointed to the Madras Legislative Council in 1927, she is named in the TNPSC syllabus itself.
Who was the first Chief Minister of Madras after independence?
O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar, who headed the Madras Presidency government after independence.

Related lists

Compiled from official Tamil Nadu government sources and standard references. Time-sensitive counts carry an as-of note on the page. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.

Unlock the full app, every paper and an AI tutor.

Study, tests, all PYQ & current affairs · no auto-renew · starting at ₹199

See plans, from ₹199