Which political leader famously served as Chief Minister of a state for only one day?

Introduction / Context:
Indian political history includes several unique and interesting events, one of which is a Chief Minister who held office for only one day. Such facts are frequently asked in general knowledge and state polity examinations because they are memorable and help test detailed awareness of the political system. This question asks you to identify the leader associated with this very short tenure as Chief Minister.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question mentions a person who became Chief Minister of a state only for one day.
- Four well known names are provided: Zakir Hussain, Jagdambika Pal, Rajendra Prasad and Rajiv Gandhi.
- We assume the learner knows that some of these were Presidents or Prime Ministers, which helps in elimination.

Concept / Approach:
Jagdambika Pal is known in Indian political trivia for being the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for a single day due to a complex political situation and a change in government. The matter involved allegations regarding majority support and was subjected to judicial review, which led to his very brief tenure. The other names in the options are associated with different high offices at the national level, not with this one day state level Chief Ministership.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the roles of each person listed. Zakir Hussain served as President of India, Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, and Rajiv Gandhi was a Prime Minister of India. Step 2: Note that none of these three are primarily remembered as state Chief Ministers. Step 3: Recall that Jagdambika Pal has often been mentioned in quizzes and exam questions as the leader who was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for just one day. Step 4: Conclude that Jagdambika Pal is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by remembering that the story of Jagdambika Pal is linked to a no confidence situation and a Supreme Court order. Texts on Indian polity and many articles on political trivia highlight his one day Chief Minister term. In contrast, standard biographies of Zakir Hussain, Rajendra Prasad and Rajiv Gandhi focus on their roles at the national level, not on any one day stint as Chief Minister.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Zakir Hussain: Known mainly as a President of India and a scholar, not for serving as a Chief Minister for one day.
Rajendra Prasad: He was the first President of India and a leading figure in the freedom struggle, with no such brief Chief Minister role.
Rajiv Gandhi: He was the Prime Minister of India, and although he was active in politics at many levels, he is not associated with a one day Chief Ministership.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be tempted by the familiarity of big national names like Rajiv Gandhi or Rajendra Prasad, especially if they have not focused on the state level detail. Another pitfall is forgetting that the question is about duration of the tenure, not about overall importance of the leader. Memorising a few famous political records, such as the shortest tenure as Chief Minister, helps avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The leader who served as Chief Minister of a state only for one day is Jagdambika Pal.