Minister of Defence (India) - Revision history

N V Raghunath: Improved wording and formatting

2026-03-06T15:00:25Z

Improved wording and formatting

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WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup:

2023-07-22T07:51:55Z

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>PrimeBOT: Task 24: template update following a TFD

2021-12-08T11:17:14Z

Task 24: template update following a TFD

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 8 December 2021
Line 41:		Line 41:
	\| succession =		\| succession =
	\| unofficial_names =		\| unofficial_names =
	\| deputy = [[Ajay Bhatt (politician)\| Ajay Bhatt]] <br /> {{small\|[[Minister of State]]}}		\| deputy = [[Ajay Bhatt (politician)\|Ajay Bhatt]] <br /> {{small\|[[Minister of State]]}}
	\| salary =		\| salary =
	\| website = {{url\|https://mod.gov.in}}		\| website = {{url\|https://mod.gov.in}}
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	The '''Minister of Defence''' ('''''Rakshā Mantri''''') is the head of the [[Ministry of Defence (India)\|Ministry of Defence]] and a high ranking minister of the [[Government of India]]. The Defence Minister is one of the most senior offices in the [[Union Council of Ministers]] as well as being a high-level minister in the union cabinet. The defence minister additionally serves as President of the [[Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses]], and as Chancellor of the [[Defence Institute of Advanced Technology]] and of the [[Indian National Defence University\|National Defence University]].		The '''Minister of Defence''' ('''''Rakshā Mantri''''') is the head of the [[Ministry of Defence (India)\|Ministry of Defence]] and a high ranking minister of the [[Government of India]]. The Defence Minister is one of the most senior offices in the [[Union Council of Ministers]] as well as being a high-level minister in the union cabinet. The defence minister additionally serves as President of the [[Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses]], and as Chancellor of the [[Defence Institute of Advanced Technology]] and of the [[Indian National Defence University\|National Defence University]].

	They are often assisted by a '''Minister of State for Defence''' and less-commonly, the lower-ranked '''Deputy Minister of Defence'''.		They are often assisted by a '''Minister of State for Defence''' and less-commonly, the lower-ranked '''Deputy Minister of Defence'''.

	The first defence minister of independent India was [[Baldev Singh\|Baldev Singh Chokkar]], who served in Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s cabinet during 1947–52. [[Rajnath Singh]] is the current defence minister of India.		The first defence minister of independent India was [[Baldev Singh\|Baldev Singh Chokkar]], who served in Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s cabinet during 1947–52. [[Rajnath Singh]] is the current defence minister of India.
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	\| 13 May 1952		\| 13 May 1952
	\| {{ayd\|15 August 1947\|13 May 1952}}		\| {{ayd\|15 August 1947\|13 May 1952}}
	\|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress~~/meta/color~~}}" rowspan=13\|		\|width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=13\|
	\| rowspan="13"\| [[Indian National Congress]]		\| rowspan="13"\| [[Indian National Congress]]
	\| [[First Nehru ministry\|Nehru I]]–[[Second Nehru ministry\|II]]		\| [[First Nehru ministry\|Nehru I]]–[[Second Nehru ministry\|II]]
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	\| 28 July 1979		\| 28 July 1979
	\| {{ayd\|24 March 1977\|28 July 1979}}		\| {{ayd\|24 March 1977\|28 July 1979}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Party~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Janata Party}}"\|
	\| [[Janata Party]]		\| [[Janata Party]]
	\| [[Premiership of Morarji Desai\|Desai]]		\| [[Premiership of Morarji Desai\|Desai]]
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	\| 14 January 1980		\| 14 January 1980
	\| {{ayd\|28 July 1979\|14 January 1980}}		\| {{ayd\|28 July 1979\|14 January 1980}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress (Urs)~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Indian National Congress (Urs)}}"\|
	\| [[Indian National Congress (Urs)]]		\| [[Indian National Congress (Urs)]]
	\| [[Charan Singh ministry\|C. Singh]]		\| [[Charan Singh ministry\|C. Singh]]
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	\| 15 January 1982		\| 15 January 1982
	\| {{ayd\|14 January 1980\|15 January 1982}}		\| {{ayd\|14 January 1980\|15 January 1982}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress~~/meta/color~~}}" rowspan=7\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=7\|
	\| rowspan="7"\| [[Indian National Congress]]		\| rowspan="7"\| [[Indian National Congress]]
	\| rowspan="2"\| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry\|I. Gandhi III]]		\| rowspan="2"\| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry\|I. Gandhi III]]
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	\| 10 November 1990		\| 10 November 1990
	\| {{ayd\|2 December 1989\|10 November 1990}}		\| {{ayd\|2 December 1989\|10 November 1990}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Janata Dal}}"\|
	\| [[Janata Dal]]<br />{{small\|([[National Front (India)\|National Front]])}}		\| [[Janata Dal]]<br />{{small\|([[National Front (India)\|National Front]])}}
	\| [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh ministry\|V. Singh]]		\| [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh ministry\|V. Singh]]
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	\| 21 June 1991		\| 21 June 1991
	\| {{ayd\|10 November 1990\|21 June 1991}}		\| {{ayd\|10 November 1990\|21 June 1991}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)}}"\|
	\| [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)\|Samajwadi Janata Party]]		\| [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)\|Samajwadi Janata Party]]
	\| [[Chandra Shekhar ministry\|Shekhar]]		\| [[Chandra Shekhar ministry\|Shekhar]]
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	\| 26 June 1991		\| 26 June 1991
	\| {{ayd\|21 June 1991\|26 June 1991}}		\| {{ayd\|21 June 1991\|26 June 1991}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress~~/meta/color~~}}" rowspan=3\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=3\|
	\| rowspan="3"\| [[Indian National Congress]]		\| rowspan="3"\| [[Indian National Congress]]
	\| rowspan="3"\| [[Rao ministry\|Rao]]		\| rowspan="3"\| [[Rao ministry\|Rao]]
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	\| 1 June 1996		\| 1 June 1996
	\| {{ayd\|16 May 1996\|1 June 1996}}		\| {{ayd\|16 May 1996\|1 June 1996}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}}"\|
	\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]		\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
	\| [[First Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee I]]		\| [[First Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee I]]
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	\| 19 March 1998		\| 19 March 1998
	\| {{ayd\|1 June 1996\|19 March 1998}}		\| {{ayd\|1 June 1996\|19 March 1998}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Party~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Samajwadi Party}}"\|
	\| [[Samajwadi Party]]		\| [[Samajwadi Party]]
	\| [[Deve Gowda ministry\|Gowda]]<br />[[Gujral ministry\|Gujral]]		\| [[Deve Gowda ministry\|Gowda]]<br />[[Gujral ministry\|Gujral]]
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	\| 16 March 2001		\| 16 March 2001
	\| {{ayd\|19 March 1998\|16 March 2001}}		\| {{ayd\|19 March 1998\|16 March 2001}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samata Party~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Samata Party}}"\|
	\| [[Samata Party]]		\| [[Samata Party]]
	\| [[Second Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee II]]–[[Third Vajpayee ministry\|III]]		\| [[Second Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee II]]–[[Third Vajpayee ministry\|III]]
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	\| 21 October 2001		\| 21 October 2001
	\| {{ayd\|16 March 2001\|21 October 2001}}		\| {{ayd\|16 March 2001\|21 October 2001}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}}"\|
	\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]		\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
	\| rowspan="2"\| [[Third Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee III]]		\| rowspan="2"\| [[Third Vajpayee ministry\|Vajpayee III]]
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	\| 22 May 2004		\| 22 May 2004
	\| {{ayd\|21 October 2001\|22 May 2004}}		\| {{ayd\|21 October 2001\|22 May 2004}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal (United)~~/meta/color~~}}"\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Janata Dal (United)}}"\|
	\| [[Janata Dal (United)]]		\| [[Janata Dal (United)]]
	\|-		\|-
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	\| 26 October 2006		\| 26 October 2006
	\| {{ayd\|22 May 2004\|26 October 2006}}		\| {{ayd\|22 May 2004\|26 October 2006}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress~~/meta/color~~}}" rowspan=2\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=2\|
	\| rowspan="2"\| [[Indian National Congress]]		\| rowspan="2"\| [[Indian National Congress]]
	\| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry\|M. Singh I]]		\| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry\|M. Singh I]]
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	\| 9 November 2014		\| 9 November 2014
	\| {{ayd\|26 May 2014\|9 November 2014}}		\| {{ayd\|26 May 2014\|9 November 2014}}
	\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party~~/meta/color~~}}" rowspan=5\|		\| width="4px" bgcolor="{{party color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}}" rowspan=5\|
	\| rowspan="5"\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]		\| rowspan="5"\| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
	\| rowspan="4"\| [[First Modi ministry\|Modi I]]		\| rowspan="4"\| [[First Modi ministry\|Modi I]]

2409:4072:60C:C02E:18A6:65A0:1D18:44E1 at 20:46, 14 October 2021

2021-10-14T20:46:21Z

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Ajay Kumar: Created page with "{{short description|Minister of Defence in India}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox official..."

2021-07-12T18:10:21Z

Created page with "{{short description|Minister of Defence in India}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox official..."

New page

{{short description|Minister of Defence in India}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = {{big|Minister of Defence}} ''Rakshā Mantri''
| native_name =
| insignia = Emblem of India.svg
| insigniasize = 50px
| insigniacaption = [[Emblem of India]]
| flag = Flag of India.svg
| flagsize = 110px
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = [[Flag of India]]
| image = Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in February 2020.jpg
| imagesize = 220px
| alt =
| incumbent = [[Rajnath Singh]]
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 31 May 2019
| department = [[File:Flag of the Ministry of Defence of India.svg|25px|border|Ministry of Defence (India)]] [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
| style = [[The Honourable]]
| type =
| status =
| abbreviation =
| member_of = Union Cabinet
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Parliament of India]]
| residence =
| seat =
| nominator =
| appointer = [[President of India|President]]
| appointer_qualified = on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| termlength = 5 years
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = 15 August 1947
| first = [[Baldev Singh]]
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| unofficial_names =
| deputy = [[Ajay Bhatt(Politician)| Ajay Bhatt]] {{small|[[Minister of State]]}}
| salary =
| website = {{url|https://mod.gov.in}}
}}
{{Politics of India}}
The '''Minister of Defence''' ('''''Rakshā Mantri''''') is the head of the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] and a high ranking minister of the [[Government of India]]. The Defence Minister is one of the most senior offices in the [[Union Council of Ministers]] as well as being a high-level minister in the union cabinet. The defence minister additionally serves as President of the [[Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses]], and as Chancellor of the [[Defence Institute of Advanced Technology]] and of the [[Indian National Defence University|National Defence University]].

They are often assisted by a '''Minister of State for Defence''' and less-commonly, the lower-ranked '''Deputy Minister of Defence'''.

The first defence minister of independent India was Baldev Singh Chokkar, who served in Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s cabinet during 1947–52. Rajnath Singh is the current defence minister of India.

==List of Defence Ministers==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name {{small|(born-died)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Political party {{small|(Alliance)}}
! rowspan=2| Ministry
! class="unsortable" rowspan=2| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
| 1
| [[File:Sardar Baldev Singh on the Greeneries of Indian Parliament (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Baldev|2=[[Baldev Singh]]}} {{small|(1902–1961)}}
| 15 August 1947
| 13 May 1952
| {{ayd|15 August 1947|13 May 1952}}
| rowspan="13"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=13|
| [[First Nehru ministry|Nehru I]]–[[Second Nehru ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 2
| [[File:Gopalaswamy Ayyangar.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ayyangar, N.|2=[[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]]}} {{small|(1882–1953)}}
| 13 May 1952
| 10 February 1953
| {{ayd|13 May 1952|10 February 1953}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| <ref name=elections-in>{{cite web|url=https://elections.in/government/ministry-of-defence.html|title=Ministry of Defence, List of Defence Ministers of India|access-date=13 February 2019|agency=Elections.in}}</ref>
|-
| 3
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}} {{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 10 February 1953
| 10 January 1955
| {{ayd|10 February 1953|10 January 1955}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 4
| [[File:Kailash Nath Katju.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Katju, Kailash|2=[[Kailash Nath Katju]]}} {{small|(1887–1968)}}
| 10 January 1955
| 30 January 1957
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|30 January 1957}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (3)
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}} {{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 30 January 1957
| 17 April 1957
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|17 April 1957}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]–[[Third Nehru ministry|III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 5
| [[File:Krishna Menon.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Menon, V.|2=[[V. K. Krishna Menon]]}} {{small|(1896–1974)}}
| 17 April 1957
| 31 October 1962
| {{ayd|17 April 1957|31 October 1962}}
| [[Third Nehru ministry|Nehru III]]–[[Fourth Nehru ministry|IV]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (3)
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}} {{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 31 October 1962
| 14 November 1962
| {{ayd|31 October 1962|14 November 1962}}
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 6
| [[File:Y B Chavan (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Chavan, Yashwantrao|2=[[Yashwantrao Chavan]]}} {{small|(1913–1984)}}
| 14 November 1962
| 13 November 1966
| {{ayd|14 November 1962|13 November 1966}}
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]] [[First Nanda ministry|Nanda I]] [[Shastri ministry|Shastri]] [[Second Nanda ministry|Nanda II]] [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|Gandhi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 7
|
! {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}} {{small|(1907–1994)}}
| 13 November 1966
| 27 June 1970
| {{ayd|13 November 1966|27 June 1970}}
| [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 8
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}} {{small|(1908–1986)}}
| 27 June 1970
| 10 October 1974
| {{ayd|27 June 1970|10 October 1974}}
| [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi I]]–[[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (7)
|
! {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}} {{small|(1907–1994)}}
| 10 October 1974
| 1 December 1975
| {{ayd|10 October 1974|1 December 1975}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 9
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}} {{small|(1917–1984)}}
| 1 December 1975
| 20 December 1975
| {{ayd|1 December 1975|20 December 1975}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 10
|
! {{sort|1=Lal, Bansi|2=[[Bansi Lal]]}} {{small|(1927–2006)}}
| 21 December 1975
| 24 March 1977
| {{ayd|20 December 1975|24 March 1977}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (8)
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}} {{small|(1908–1986)}}
| 24 March 1977
| 28 July 1979
| {{ayd|24 March 1977|28 July 1979}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Desai]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 11
| [[File:Chidambaram Subramaniam.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Subramaniam, Chidambaram|2=[[Chidambaram Subramaniam]]}} {{small|(1910–2000)}}
| 28 July 1979
| 14 January 1980
| {{ayd|28 July 1979|14 January 1980}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Indian National Congress (Urs)]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress (Urs)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Charan Singh ministry|C. Singh]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (9)
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}} {{small|(1917–1984)}}
| 14 January 1980
| 15 January 1982
| {{ayd|14 January 1980|15 January 1982}}
| rowspan="7"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=7|
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 12
| [[File:R Venkataraman.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Venkataraman, Ramaswamy|2=[[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]}} {{small|(1910–2009)}}
| 15 January 1982
| 2 August 1984
| {{ayd|15 January 1982|2 August 1984}}
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 13
| [[File:Shankarrao Chavan 2007 stamp of India (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Chavan, Shankarrao|2=[[Shankarrao Chavan]]}} {{small|(1920–2004)}}
| 2 August 1984
| 31 December 1984
| {{ayd|2 August 1984|31 December 1984}}
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]] [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 14
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}} {{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 1 January 1985
| 25 September 1985
| {{ayd|1 January 1985|25 September 1985}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 15
| [[File:Rajiv Gandhi (1987).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Rajiv|2=[[Rajiv Gandhi]]}} {{small|(1944–1991)}}
| 25 September 1985
| 24 January 1987
| {{ayd|30 December 1984|25 September 1985}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 16
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}} {{small|(1930–2008)}}
| 24 January 1987
| 12 April 1987
| {{ayd|24 January 1987|12 April 1987}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 17
| [[File:Shri K.C Pant (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Pant, K.|2=[[K. C. Pant]]}} {{small|(1931–2012)}}
| 13 April 1987
| 1 December 1989
| {{ayd|13 April 1987|1 December 1989}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (16)
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}} {{small|(1930–2008)}}
| 2 December 1989
| 10 November 1990
| {{ayd|2 December 1989|10 November 1990}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Janata Dal]] {{small|([[National Front (India)|National Front]])}}
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh ministry|V. Singh]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 18
| [[File:Chandra Shekhar Singh.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Shekhar, Chandra|2=[[Chandra Shekhar]]}} {{small|(1927–2007)}}
| 10 November 1990
| 21 June 1991
| {{ayd|10 November 1990|21 June 1991}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Samajwadi Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Chandra Shekhar ministry|Shekhar]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (14)
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}} {{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 21 June 1991
| 26 June 1991
| {{ayd|21 June 1991|26 June 1991}}
| rowspan="3"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=3|
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 19
| [[File:Sharad Pawar, Minister of AgricultureCrop.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Pawar, Sharad|2=[[Sharad Pawar]]}} {{small|(born 1940)}}
| 26 June 1991
| 6 March 1993
| {{ayd|26 June 1991|6 March 1993}}
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (14)
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}} {{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 6 March 1993
| 16 May 1996
| {{ayd|6 March 1993|16 May 1996}}
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 20
| [[File:Pramod Mahajan.jpg|85x85px]]
! {{sort|1=Mahajan, Pramod|2=[[Pramod Mahajan]]}} {{small|(1949–2006)}}
| 16 May 1996
| 1 June 1996
| {{ayd|16 May 1996|1 June 1996}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[First Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 21
| [[File:Mulayam Singh Yadav (28993165375).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Yadav, Mulayam |2=[[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]}} {{small|(born 1939)}}
| 1 June 1996
| 19 March 1998
| {{ayd|1 June 1996|19 March 1998}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Samajwadi Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Deve Gowda ministry|Gowda]] [[Gujral ministry|Gujral]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 22
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}} {{small|(1930–2019)}}
| 19 March 1998
| 16 March 2001
| {{ayd|19 March 1998|16 March 2001}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Samata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Second Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee II]]–[[Third Vajpayee ministry|III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 23
| [[File:Jaswant Singh.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Jaswant|2=[[Jaswant Singh]]}} {{small|(1938–2020)}}
| 16 March 2001
| 21 October 2001
| {{ayd|16 March 2001|21 October 2001}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Third Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (22)
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}} {{small|(1930–2019)}}
| 21 October 2001
| 22 May 2004
| {{ayd|21 October 2001|22 May 2004}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Janata Dal (United)]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal (United)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Third Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 24
| [[File:Pranab Mukherjee-World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2009 crop(2).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Mukherjee, Pranab|2=[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}} {{small|(1935–2020)}}
| 22 May 2004
| 26 October 2006
| {{ayd|22 May 2004|26 October 2006}}
| rowspan="2"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=2|
| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|M. Singh I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 25
| [[File:A. K. Antony.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Antony, A.|2=[[A. K. Antony]]}} {{small|(born 1940)}}
| 26 October 2006
| 26 May 2014
| {{ayd|26 October 2006|26 May 2014}}
| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|M. Singh I]]–[[Second Manmohan Singh ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 26
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}} {{small|(1952–2019)}}
| 26 May 2014
| 9 November 2014
| {{ayd|26 May 2014|9 November 2014}}
| rowspan="5"| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=5|
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 27
| [[File:The official photograph of the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Parrikar, Manohar|2=[[Manohar Parrikar]]}} {{small|(1955–2019)}}
| 9 November 2014
| 13 March 2017
| {{ayd|9 November 2014|13 March 2017}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| (26)
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}} {{small|(1952–2019)}}
| 13 March 2017
| 3 September 2017
| {{ayd|13 March 2017|3 September 2017}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 28
| [[File:Nirmala Sitharaman addressing at the inauguration of the 2nd Edition of the Global Exhibition on Services-2016 (GES), at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Sitharaman, Nirmala|2=[[Nirmala Sitharaman]]}} {{small|(born 1959)}}
| 3 September 2017
| 30 May 2019
| {{ayd|3 September 2017|30 May 2019}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
| 29
| [[File:Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in February 2020.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Rajnath|2=[[Rajnath Singh]]}} {{small|(born 1951)}}
| 30 May 2019
| ''Incumbent''
| {{ayd|31 May 2019}}
| [[Second Modi ministry|Modi II]]
| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/rajnath-singh-to-be-the-new-defence-minister-of-india/articleshow/69593474.cms|title=Rajnath Singh to be the new Defence Minister, Naik to be MoS|date=31 May 2019|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>
|}

== List of Ministers of State ==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible style=" ;"sortable mw-collapsible"
|+Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism
! [[Minister of state]]
! Portrait
! colspan=2| Political party
! colspan="2" | Term
! Days
|-align=center
|[[Rao Inderjit Singh]]
|[[File:Rao Inderjit Singh addressing at the Meeting with the StatesUTs on the Implementation of “The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016”, in New Delhi.jpg|100px]]
|Rowspan=4|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|Rowspan=4 bgcolor=FF9933|
|26 May 2014
|5 July 2016
|{{Age in days|2014|05|26|2016|07|5}} days
|-align=center
|[[Subhash Bhamre]]
|[[File:The foundation stone for the construction of DRDO established IIT Bombay & IIT Madras bi-nodal ‘Centre of Propulsion Technology’ (CoPT) was laid at IIT Bombay premises by Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Bhamre.jpg|100px]]
|5 July 2016
|30 May 2019
|{{Age in days|2016|07|5|2019|05|30}} days
|-align=center
|[[Shripad Naik]]
|[[File:Shripad Yasso Naik - Kolkata 2014-10-12 7755.JPG|100px]]
|30 May 2019
|7 July 2021
|{{Age in days|2019|05|30}} days
|-
|-align=center
|[[Ajay Bhatt (politician)|Ajay Bhatt]]
|
|7 July 2021
|Incumbent
|{{Age in days|2021|07|07}} days
|}

==See also==
{{commons category|Ministers of Defence of India}}
*[[Ministry of Defence (India)]]
* [[Defence ministers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Defence Ministers of India}}
{{Heads of the Ministries of the Government of India}}
{{Military of India}}
{{Types of government minister}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Defence_(India) Minister_of_}}
[[Category:Defence Ministers of India| ]]
[[Category:Union ministers of India]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of India]]