<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 08/31/96
000 C000000 0000717819
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-3712
001 C000000 2122141250
002 A000000 199 WATER STREET
002 B000000 NEW YORK
002 C000000 NY
002 D010000 10292
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
008 B000001 S
008 C000001 801-22808
008 D010001 NEWARK
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 07101
008 A000002 PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
008 B000002 A
008 C000002 801-31104
008 D010002 NEW YORK
008 D020002 NY
008 D030002 10292
011 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
011 B000001 8-27154
011 C010001 NEW YORK
011 C020001 NY
011 C030001 10292
011 A000002 DELETE
012 A000001 PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, INC
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 B000001 84-4110019
012 C010001 NEW BRUNSWICK
012 C020001 NJ
012 C030001 08906
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 NEW YORK
013 B020001 NY
013 B030001 10281
014 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
014 B000001 8-27154
014 A000002 PRUCO SECURITIES CORP.
014 B000002 8-16402
014 A000003 PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
014 B000003 8-38739
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NORTH QUINCY
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02171
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO., LONDON BRANCH
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010002 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 STATE STREET LIMITED
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010003 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040003 X
015 A000004 THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM CEDEL
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 TRANSNATIONAL
015 D010004 TRANSNATIONAL
015 E040004 X
015 A000005 CEDEL
015 B000005 S
015 C010005 LUXEMBOURG
015 D010005 LUXEMBOURG
015 E040005 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 83
019 C000000 PRUDENTIAL
020 C000001 0
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 0
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO., INC.
022 B000001 135108805
022 C000001 2095428
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 BEAR, STEARNS & CO., INC.
022 B000002 133299429
022 C000002 2037384
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 SMITH BARNEY, INC.
022 B000003 131912900
022 C000003 1641847
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000004 135674085
022 C000004 823810
022 D000004 714512
022 A000005 CS FIRST BOSTON GROUP, INC.
022 B000005 135659485
022 C000005 920520
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 BANKERS TRUST CO.
022 B000006 134941247
022 C000006 358732
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 LEHMAN INC.
022 B000007 132518466
022 C000007 167575
022 D000007 61222
022 A000008 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000008 132655998
022 C000008 134415
022 D000008 51394
022 A000009 UBS SECURITIES LLC
022 B000009 133873456
022 C000009 163421
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 CHASE SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000010 133112953
022 C000010 144364
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 8941224
023 D000000 827849
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 22873
028 A020000 4657
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 45160
028 B010000 26124
028 B020000 5026
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 51749
028 C010000 11589
028 C020000 4450
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 34919
028 D010000 35819
028 D020000 5445
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 58608
028 E010000 14354
028 E020000 4613
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 33450
028 F010000 14176
028 F020000 4713
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 32598
028 G010000 124935
028 G020000 28904
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 256484
028 H000000 13307
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 108
030 B000000 4.00
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 3
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 105
<PAGE> PAGE 5
034 000000 Y
035 000000 621
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 3107
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 3000000
048 A020000 0.500
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 3000000
048 K020000 0.350
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 Y
053 B000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 6
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 Y
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 N
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 Y
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 0
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.6
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 32.7
062 N000000 63.3
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 2.7
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 9.0
064 A000000 N
064 B000000 N
066 A000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 Y
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 N
070 M010000 N
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 799866
071 B000000 827849
071 C000000 1484632
071 D000000 54
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 58059
072 C000000 0
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 3755
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 1185
072 J000000 252
072 K000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 L000000 324
072 M000000 24
072 N000000 71
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 35
072 S000000 20
072 T000000 3107
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 19
072 X000000 8792
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 49267
072AA000000 43189
072BB000000 30684
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 23825
072DD010000 30670
072DD020000 18062
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.3000
073 A020000 0.2700
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 15
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 8213
074 D000000 1397911
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 0
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 398
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 17455
074 M000000 45
074 N000000 1424037
074 O000000 0
074 P000000 1115
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 6995
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 1415927
074 U010000 99414
074 U020000 62810
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 V010000 8.99
074 V020000 8.63
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 125259
074 Y000000 259000
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 1490085
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 N
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 Y
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 Y
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 C000000 0
081 B000000 0
082 B000000 0
083 B000000 0
084 B000000 0
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE SUSAN C. COTE'
TITLE TREASURER
For the six months ended (a) 8/31/96
File number (c) 811-3712
SUB-ITEM 77I
Terms of New or Amended Securities
The Fund is authorized to issue 500 million
Class Z shares. Class Z shares are not subject to
either an initial or contingent deferred sales
charge nor are they subject to any Rule 12b-1
fees.
Class Z shares will be offered to a limited group
of eligible investors.
For the six months ended (a) August 31, 1996
File number (c) 811-3712
SUB-ITEM 77M
Merger
On September 20, 1996, the Registrant
acquired all the net assets of Income Fund, a
series of The Prudential Institutional Fund
(PIF), pursuant to a plan of reorganization
approved by Income Fund shareholders on September
6, 1996. The reorganization was approved by the
Directors of the Registrant on May 8, 1996 but
did not require the approval of the Registrant's
shareholders. The acquisition was accomplished on
September 20, 1996, by a tax-free exchange of
Class Z shares of the Registrant for the net
assets of Income Fund.
PIF continues to be a registered investment
company and has no current intention to cease to
be such a company. Income Fund, a series of PIF,
has ceased operations.
For the six months ended (a) 8/31/96
File number (c) 811-3712
SUB-ITEM 77Q1(a)
Amendment to By-Laws
At a meeting duly called and held on July 10,
1996 the Board
of Directors amended Article II, Section 1 of the
By-Laws to read
as follows:
Section 1. Number and Tenure of Office. The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors of
not less than three nor more than twelve
directors, as may be determined from time to time
by vote of a majority of Directors then in office,
provided that if there is no stock outstanding the
number of Directors may be less than three but not
less than one. Directors need not be
stockholders.
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000746382
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,430,317,780
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,406,124,105
<RECEIVABLES> 17,852,512
<ASSETS-OTHER> 60,378
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,719,951
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,389,559
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,572,103,507
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 164,101,062
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 175,773,428
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (132,351,255)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (23,824,767)
<NET-ASSETS> (339,874,490)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 58,058,531
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 8,791,941
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 49,266,590
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (12,505,121)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (57,705,189)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (20,943,720)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (49,266,590)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 124,934,746
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (256,483,789)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 28,904,321
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (172,855,032)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (119,846,134)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,755,101
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,791,941
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 891,599,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.04
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.11)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.30)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.91
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000746382
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND (CLASS B)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,430,317,780
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,406,124,105
<RECEIVABLES> 17,852,512
<ASSETS-OTHER> 60,378
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,719,951
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,389,559
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,572,103,507
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 164,101,062
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 175,773,428
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (132,351,255)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (23,824,767)
<NET-ASSETS> (339,874,490)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 58,058,531
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 8,791,941
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 49,266,590
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (12,505,121)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (57,705,189)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (20,943,720)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (49,266,590)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 124,934,746
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (256,483,789)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 28,904,321
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (172,855,032)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (119,846,134)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,755,101
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,791,941
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 582,865,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.04
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.14)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.27)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.58
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000746382
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,430,317,780
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,406,124,105
<RECEIVABLES> 17,852,512
<ASSETS-OTHER> 60,378
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,719,951
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,389,559
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,572,103,507
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 164,101,062
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 175,773,428
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (132,351,255)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (23,824,767)
<NET-ASSETS> (339,874,490)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 58,058,531
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 8,791,941
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 49,266,590
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (12,505,121)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (57,705,189)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (20,943,720)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (49,266,590)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 124,934,746
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (256,483,789)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 28,904,321
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (172,855,032)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (119,846,134)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,755,101
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,791,941
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,253,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.04
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.14)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.27)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
