Sunday, April 28, 2024
ADVT 
India

Nirmala Sitharaman, First Full-Time Woman Defence Minister, Takes Oath

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 May, 2019 07:35 PM

    Nirmala Sitharaman today took oath as a Union minister at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Ms Sitharaman was the first woman to be appointed full-time Defence Minister of India in September 2017.


    Sixty-year-old Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member, is the second woman to take charge of the crucial ministry after Indira Gandhi who, as the Prime Minister, also held the portfolio in the seventies.


    One of BJP's chief spokespersons before its ascent to power, Ms Sitharaman is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and London School of Economics.


    As the Defence Minister, Ms Sitharaman was credited for expediting the decision making process relating to defence procurement. She constituted a Defence Planning Committee to formulate an "action plan" to effectively deal with various security challenges facing the nation.


    However, her biggest moment came when India carried out air strikes on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot, seen as major policy shift in the country's efforts to deal with cross-border terrorism.


    She took on the opposition head on with her fiery defence of the Rafale fighter jet deal in Parliament.


    She has also focused on boosting domestic defence production besides taking steps to implement the ambitious "strategic partnership" model with several countries like the United States and Russia.


    Under the new model, select Indian private firms will be roped in to build military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with foreign defence majors.


    Ms Sitharaman was born on August 18, 1959 in the temple town of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. She did her schooling and her graduation in Economics, from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College in Tiruchirapalli.


    She went on to do her Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.


    Ms Sitharaman served as an assistant to Economist in the Agricultural Engineers Association in London. She subsequently worked as Senior Manager (Research and Analysis) with Price Waterhouse, London.


    During this time she also briefly worked with BBC World Service.


    On her return to India, she served as Deputy Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies at Hyderabad.


    Ms Sitharaman joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2008, and was made a member of the National Executive. She was nominated as party spokesperson in March 2010 and has been a full time party worker since then.


    She was inducted in the Union Cabinet on May 26, 2014 as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry.

     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Indian Writer Annie Zaidi Wins USD 100,000 Global Book Prize 'Nine Dots'

    Mumbai-based Annie Zaidi is a freelance writer whose work includes reportage, essays, short stories, poetry and plays.  

    Indian Writer Annie Zaidi Wins USD 100,000 Global Book Prize 'Nine Dots'

    To Break Taboo, Mural Installed In Guwahati On Menstrual Hygiene Day

    Menstrual Hygiene Day: The mural is blood red in colour with small white flowers. The slogan "Bleed with dignity" is written on one side of it.  

    To Break Taboo, Mural Installed In Guwahati On Menstrual Hygiene Day

    Three Persons Of A Punjab-Based Family Held For Duping 17 By Offering Fake Work Visa To UAE

    Delhi Police arrested three persons of a Punjab-based family for duping 17 people by providing them fake work visa for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a police officer said on Wednesday.

    Three Persons Of A Punjab-Based Family Held For Duping 17 By Offering Fake Work Visa To UAE

    From Rahul Dravid To Shah Rukh Khan, Who's Who Of India Invited For Modi's Swearing-In

    Industry bigwigs such as Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Ratan Tata have also been invited for the event, they said.    

    From Rahul Dravid To Shah Rukh Khan, Who's Who Of India Invited For Modi's Swearing-In

    Rahul Gandhi Ticks Off Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

    Rahul Gandhi Ticks Off Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
    It’s now learnt that Ashok Gehlot, P Chidambaram and Kamal Nath were not the only ones Gandhi confronted. He also ticked off sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on two occasions.

    Rahul Gandhi Ticks Off Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

    Furious Mamata Not To Attend PM Midi's Swearing-In Now

    The BJP, however, hit back at her, saying she was looking for "excuses" to avoid attending the event.

    Furious Mamata Not To Attend PM Midi's Swearing-In Now