Nirmala Sitharaman - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 17:12, 30 January 2022
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← Older revision		Revision as of 20:13, 8 December 2021
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	{{short description\|Finance Minister of India}}		{{short description\|28th Finance Minister of India}}
			{{pp-pc1}}
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	\| width = 300px		\| width = 300px
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| office = [[~~Union Council~~ of ~~Ministers~~\|~~Union Cabinet~~ Minister~~]], [[Government~~ of ~~India~~]]		\| office = [[Minister of Finance (India)\|Minister of Finance]]
	\| term_start = 30 May 2019		\| term_start = 30 May 2019
	\| ~~suboffice~~ = [[~~Minister of Finance (India)~~\|~~Minister of Finance~~]]		\| term_end =
	\| ~~subterm~~ = ~~30 May 2019 -incumbent~~		\| primeminister = [[Narendra Modi]]
	\| ~~suboffice1~~ = [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs\|Minister of Corporate Affairs]]		\| predecessor = [[Arun Jaitley]]
	\| ~~subterm1~~ = 30 May 2019-		\| successor =
	\| ~~suboffice2~~ = [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Minister of Defence]]		\| office1 = [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs\|Minister of Corporate Affairs]]
	\| ~~subterm2~~ = 3 September 2017-30 May 2019		\| primeminister1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
	\| ~~suboffice3~~ = [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)\|Minister of Commerce and Industry]]		\| term_start1 = 30 May 2019
	\| ~~subterm3~~ = 26 May 2014-3 September 2017		\| term_end1 =
			\| predecessor1 = [[Arun Jaitley]]
			\| successor1 =
			\| office2 = [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Minister of Defence]]
			\| primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]]
			\| predecessor2 = [[Arun Jaitley]]
			\| successor2 = [[Rajnath Singh]]
			\| term_start2 = 3 September 2017
			\| term_end2 = 30 May 2019
			\| office3 = [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)\|Minister of Commerce and Industry]]<br>as Minister of State (Independent Charge)
			\| predecessor3 = [[Anand Sharma]]
			\| successor3= [[Suresh Prabhu]]
			\| primeminister3 = [[Narendra Modi]]
			\| term_start3 = 26 May 2014
			\| term_end3 = 3 September 2017
	\| office5 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]		\| office5 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
	\| term_start5 = 1 July 2016		\| term_start5 = 1 July 2016
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	}}		}}

	'''Nirmala Sitharaman''' (born 18 August 1959) is an Indian politician serving as the current [[Minister of Finance (India)\|Minister of Finance]] and [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs\|Corporate Affairs]] of [[India]]. She is a [[Member of Parliament (India)\|member]] of the [[Rajya Sabha]], upper house of the [[Parliament of India\|Indian Parliament]], since 2014. Sitharaman formerly served as the [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Defence Minister of India]], thereby becoming India's second female defence minister and also the second female finance minister after [[Indira Gandhi]] and first full-time female Finance Minister. She has served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs under the [[Ministry of Finance (India)\|Ministry of Finance]] and the Minister for Commerce and Industry with independent charge. Prior to that, she served as a national spokesperson for the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat\|title=Deccan Chronicle: BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman gets NJR Rajya Sabha seat\|date=4 June 2014\|access-date=3 September 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904030305/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat\|archive-date=4 September 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref>		'''Nirmala Sitharaman''' (born 18 August 1959) is an Indian economist and politician serving as the current [[Minister of Finance (India)\|Minister of Finance]] and [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs\|Corporate Affairs]] of [[India]]. She is a [[Member of Parliament (India)\|member]] of the [[Rajya Sabha]], upper house of the [[Parliament of India\|Indian Parliament]], since 2014. Sitharaman formerly served as the [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Defence Minister of India]], thereby becoming India's second female defence minister and also the second female finance minister after [[Indira Gandhi]] and first full-time female Finance Minister. She has served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs under the [[Ministry of Finance (India)\|Ministry of Finance]] and the Minister for Commerce and Industry with independent charge. Prior to that, she served as a national spokesperson for the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat\|title=Deccan Chronicle: BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman gets NJR Rajya Sabha seat\|date=4 June 2014\|access-date=3 September 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904030305/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat\|archive-date=4 September 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref>

	Sitharaman featured in the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women\|Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women]] and ranked the 41st in the world.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=\|first=\|last2=\|last3=\|first3=\|date=2020-12-08\|title=Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women - Times of India\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-in-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women/articleshow/79629358.cms\|access-date=2021-02-12\|website=The Times of India\|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=\|first=\|last2=\|first2=\|last3=\|first3=\|date=2020-12-09\|title=Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 41 on Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women-1747880-2020-12-09\|access-date=2021-02-12\|website=India Today\|language=en}}</ref>		Sitharaman featured in the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women\|Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women]] and ranked the 41st in the world.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=\|first=\|last2=\|last3=\|first3=\|date=2020-12-08\|title=Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women - Times of India\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-in-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women/articleshow/79629358.cms\|access-date=2021-02-12\|website=The Times of India\|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=\|first=\|last2=\|first2=\|last3=\|first3=\|date=2020-12-09\|title=Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 41 on Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women-1747880-2020-12-09\|access-date=2021-02-12\|website=India Today\|language=en}}</ref>
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	In May 2016, she was one of the 12 candidates nominated by the [[BJP]] to contest the [[Rajya Sabha]] elections due on 11 June 2016. She successfully contested her seat from [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news\|title=Naidu, Naqvi, Goyal among 12 in BJP's RS list\|url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440\|access-date=30 May 2016\|publisher=ABP Live\|date=29 May 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530152104/http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440\|archive-date=30 May 2016\|url-status=live}}</ref>		In May 2016, she was one of the 12 candidates nominated by the [[BJP]] to contest the [[Rajya Sabha]] elections due on 11 June 2016. She successfully contested her seat from [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news\|title=Naidu, Naqvi, Goyal among 12 in BJP's RS list\|url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440\|access-date=30 May 2016\|publisher=ABP Live\|date=29 May 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530152104/http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440\|archive-date=30 May 2016\|url-status=live}}</ref>

	In February 2020, Sitharaman gave a controversial statement during her second Budget speech that [[Indus script]] -[[hieroglyph]]s have been deciphered and guilds of Saraswati-Sindhu civilisation and the Harappan seals are remarkable, which belong to 3300 BCE.<ref>{{cite ~~web~~\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/finance-ministers-harappan-reference-puzzles-historians/article30737587.ece\|title=Finance ~~Minister’s~~ Harappan reference puzzles historians}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/03/deciphered-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-stands-by-her-remark-on-harappan-script-2098182.html\|title=Deciphered: FM Nirmala Sitharaman stands by her remark on Harappan script}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/twitter-wonders-how-nirmala-sitharaman-can-read-indus-seal-despite-harappan-script-being-undeciphered-2483299.html\|title=Twitter Asks How Nirmala Sitharaman Can Read Indus Seal When Harappan Script is Still Undeciphered}}</ref>		In February 2020, Sitharaman gave a controversial statement during her second Budget speech that [[Indus script]] -[[hieroglyph]]s have been deciphered and guilds of Saraswati-Sindhu civilisation and the Harappan seals are remarkable, which belong to 3300 BCE.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/finance-ministers-harappan-reference-puzzles-historians/article30737587.ece\|title=Finance Minister's Harappan reference puzzles historians\|newspaper=The Hindu\|date=5 February 2020\|last1=Nanisetti\|first1=Serish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/03/deciphered-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-stands-by-her-remark-on-harappan-script-2098182.html\|title=Deciphered: FM Nirmala Sitharaman stands by her remark on Harappan script}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/twitter-wonders-how-nirmala-sitharaman-can-read-indus-seal-despite-harappan-script-being-undeciphered-2483299.html\|title=Twitter Asks How Nirmala Sitharaman Can Read Indus Seal When Harappan Script is Still Undeciphered\|date=2 February 2020}}</ref>

	==Union Cabinet Minister==		==Union Cabinet Minister==
			[[File:Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman taking charge as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.jpg\|thumb]]

	===Union Defence Minister===		===Union Defence Minister===
	[[File:Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister for Defence, in New Delhi on September 07, 2017.jpg\|thumb\|Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister of Defence in New Delhi, 7 September 2017]]		[[File:Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister for Defence, in New Delhi on September 07, 2017.jpg\|thumb\|Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister of Defence in New Delhi, 7 September 2017]]
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	==Personal life==		==Personal life==
	Sitharaman met her husband [[Parakala Prabhakar]] who is from [[Narsapuram]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], while studying at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]. While Nirmala leaned towards the [[Bharatiya Janata Party\|BJP]], her husband was from a Congress family.<ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/BJP-spokesperson-finds-her-new-role-challenging/article16013690.ece \|title=BJP spokesperson finds her new role challenging \|~~publisher~~=The Hindu \|date=3 April 2010 \|access-date=29 June 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054657/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040362060700.htm \|archive-date=21 September 2013 \|url-status=live }}</ref> They married in 1986, and have a daughter. Prabhakar served as a communications advisor to the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322\|title=AP govt advisor and Nirmala Sitharaman's husband Parakala Prabhakar quits, blames Jagan\|access-date=22 June 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120092942/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322\|archive-date=20 November 2018\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post India">{{Cite news\|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/\|title=In Nirmala Sitharaman, India Gets Its Second Woman Defence Minister After Indira Gandhi\|date=3 September 2017\|work=Huffington Post India\|access-date=13 September 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183454/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/\|archive-date=13 September 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=12 Unknown Facts About Nirmala Sitharaman: The Sales Girl Bit Will Surprise You \|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/business/12-unknown-facts-about-nirmala-sitharaman-the-sales-girl-bit-will-surprise-you-626023 \|agency=The Hans India}}</ref>		Sitharaman met her husband [[Parakala Prabhakar]] who is from [[Narsapuram]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], while studying at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]. While Nirmala leaned towards the [[Bharatiya Janata Party\|BJP]], her husband was from a Congress family.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/BJP-spokesperson-finds-her-new-role-challenging/article16013690.ece \|title=BJP spokesperson finds her new role challenging \|work=The Hindu \|date=3 April 2010 \|access-date=29 June 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054657/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040362060700.htm \|archive-date=21 September 2013 \|url-status=live }}</ref> They married in 1986, and have a daughter. Prabhakar served as a communications advisor to the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322\|title=AP govt advisor and Nirmala Sitharaman's husband Parakala Prabhakar quits, blames Jagan\|date=19 June 2018\|access-date=22 June 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120092942/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322\|archive-date=20 November 2018\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post India">{{Cite news\|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/\|title=In Nirmala Sitharaman, India Gets Its Second Woman Defence Minister After Indira Gandhi\|date=3 September 2017\|work=Huffington Post India\|access-date=13 September 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183454/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/\|archive-date=13 September 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=12 Unknown Facts About Nirmala Sitharaman: The Sales Girl Bit Will Surprise You \|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/business/12-unknown-facts-about-nirmala-sitharaman-the-sales-girl-bit-will-surprise-you-626023 \|agency=The Hans India}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

Ajay Kumar: Created page with "{{short description|Finance Minister of India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name =..."

2021-07-12T18:20:06Z

Created page with "{{short description|Finance Minister of India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name =..."

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{{short description|Finance Minister of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nirmala Sitharaman
| image = Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing a press conference on June 28, 2021, in New Delhi (cropped).jpg
| width = 300px
| caption =
| office = [[Union Council of Ministers|Union Cabinet Minister]], [[Government of India]]
| term_start = 30 May 2019
| suboffice = [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]]
| subterm = 30 May 2019 -incumbent
| suboffice1 = [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs|Minister of Corporate Affairs]]
| subterm1 = 30 May 2019-
| suboffice2 = [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]
| subterm2 = 3 September 2017-30 May 2019
| suboffice3 = [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce and Industry]]
| subterm3 = 26 May 2014-3 September 2017
| office5 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start5 = 1 July 2016
| term_end5 =
| predecessor5 = [[M. Venkaiah Naidu]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| successor5 =
| constituency5 = [[Karnataka]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congress-wins-3-rajya-sabha-seats-from-karnataka-bjp-gets-1-1418017|title=Nirmala Sitharaman Wins Rajya Sabha Seat From Karnataka, Congress Gets 3|access-date=12 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611214036/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congress-wins-3-rajya-sabha-seats-from-karnataka-bjp-gets-1-1418017|archive-date=11 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| term_start6 = 26 June 2014
| term_end6 = 21 June 2016
| predecessor6 = [[N. Janardhana Reddy]], [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| successor6 = [[Suresh Prabhu]], [[BJP]]
| constituency6 = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|08|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Madurai]], [[Madras State]], [[India]]<br>(present-day [[Tamil Nadu]])
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Parakala Prabhakar]]|12th September 1986}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://doe.gov.in/minister/meet-union-finance-minister|title=Meet the Union Finance Minister/DEPARTMENT OF Expenditure | MoF |GoI|website=doe.gov.in|access-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812120051/https://doe.gov.in/minister/meet-union-finance-minister|archive-date=12 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| children = 1
| residence = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]<ref name=address>{{Cite web|url=http://ap.bjp.org/organisation/national-leader-ap|title=National Leadership from Andhra Pradesh – Official BJP site of Andhra Pradesh Nirmala sitharaman's address and contact information|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020155258/http://ap.bjp.org/organisation/national-leader-ap|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjp.org/organisation/office-bearers|title=Official BJP National website|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022002728/http://www.bjp.org/organisation/office-bearers|archive-date=22 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College]] ([[B.A.|BA]])<br>[[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] ([[M.A.|MA]], [[MPhil]])
}}

'''Nirmala Sitharaman''' (born 18 August 1959) is an Indian politician serving as the current [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]] and [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs|Corporate Affairs]] of [[India]]. She is a [[Member of Parliament (India)|member]] of the [[Rajya Sabha]], upper house of the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]], since 2014. Sitharaman formerly served as the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence Minister of India]], thereby becoming India's second female defence minister and also the second female finance minister after [[Indira Gandhi]] and first full-time female Finance Minister. She has served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs under the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]] and the Minister for Commerce and Industry with independent charge. Prior to that, she served as a national spokesperson for the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat|title=Deccan Chronicle: BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman gets NJR Rajya Sabha seat|date=4 June 2014|access-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904030305/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140604/nation-politics/article/bjp-leader-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-njr-rajya-sabha-seat|archive-date=4 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sitharaman featured in the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women]] and ranked the 41st in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|date=2020-12-08|title=Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-in-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women/articleshow/79629358.cms|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|date=2020-12-09|title=Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 41 on Forbes 2020 list of 100 most powerful women|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-forbes-2020-list-of-100-most-powerful-women-1747880-2020-12-09|access-date=2021-02-12|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Nirmala Sitharaman was born in a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] family<ref>{{cite news|title=A power couple whom AP looks up to|url=https://www.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/A-power-couple-whom-AP-looks-up-to/articleshow/38766320.cms|publisher=Times of India|access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> in [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], to Savitri and Narayanan Sitharaman. She had her schooling from [[Madras]] and [[Tiruchirappalli]].<ref name=bst>{{cite news|last1=Phadnis|first1=Aditi|title=The rise and rise of Nirmala Sitharaman: From spokesperson to defence minister|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=4 September 2017|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906121736/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html|archive-date=6 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in economics at the [[Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College]], Tiruchirapalli in 1980, [[Master of Arts]] degree in economics and [[Master of Philosophy|M.Phil.]] from [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi]] in 1984.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/nirmala-sitharaman-the-pride-of-tiruchi/article19618658.ece|title=Nirmala Sitharaman, the pride of Tiruchi|last=Krishnamoorthy|first=R.|date=4 September 2017|work=The Hindu|access-date=2 June 2019|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202124119/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/nirmala-sitharaman-the-pride-of-tiruchi/article19618658.ece|archive-date=2 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://docs.myneta.info/affidavits/rajsab09aff/631/Nirmala%20Sitharaman.pdf|title=Rajya Sabha Affidavits|last=Sitharaman|first=Nirmala|date=30 May 2016|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nirmala Sitharaman appointed Finance Minister in Modi govt 2.0 as Arun Jaitley retreats |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/nirmala-sitharaman-appointed-finance-minister-in-modi-govt-2-0-as-arun-jaitley-retreats/1594251/ |work=The Financial Express |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=1 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601011218/https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/nirmala-sitharaman-appointed-finance-minister-in-modi-govt-2-0-as-arun-jaitley-retreats/1594251/ |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She then enrolled for a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] program in Economics with a focus on Indo-Europe trade; but later left this program and moved to London (when her husband secured a scholarship in [[London School of Economics]]) because of which she was unable to complete her degree.<ref name ="bs-sep2017">{{cite news |last1=Phadnis |first1=Aditi |title=The rise and rise of Nirmala Sitharaman: From spokesperson to defence minister |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=4 September 2017 |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209220341/https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html |archive-date=9 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Political career==
Sitharaman joined the BJP in 2006 and was appointed as a spokesperson for the party in 2010. In 2014, she was inducted into [[Narendra Modi]]'s cabinet as a [[Minister (government)|junior minister]] and in June 2014, she was elected as a Rajya Sabha Member from Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nirmala-elected-to-rajya-sabha/article6152636.ece|title=Nirmala elected to Rajya Sabha|date=27 June 2014|work=The Hindu|access-date=7 January 2019|others=Special Correspondent|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In May 2016, she was one of the 12 candidates nominated by the [[BJP]] to contest the [[Rajya Sabha]] elections due on 11 June 2016. She successfully contested her seat from [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Naidu, Naqvi, Goyal among 12 in BJP's RS list|url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440|access-date=30 May 2016|publisher=ABP Live|date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530152104/http://www.abplive.in/india-news/naidu-naqvi-goyal-among-12-in-bjps-rs-list-352440|archive-date=30 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2020, Sitharaman gave a controversial statement during her second Budget speech that [[Indus script]] -[[hieroglyph]]s have been deciphered and guilds of Saraswati-Sindhu civilisation and the Harappan seals are remarkable, which belong to 3300 BCE.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/finance-ministers-harappan-reference-puzzles-historians/article30737587.ece|title=Finance Minister’s Harappan reference puzzles historians}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/03/deciphered-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-stands-by-her-remark-on-harappan-script-2098182.html|title=Deciphered: FM Nirmala Sitharaman stands by her remark on Harappan script}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/twitter-wonders-how-nirmala-sitharaman-can-read-indus-seal-despite-harappan-script-being-undeciphered-2483299.html|title=Twitter Asks How Nirmala Sitharaman Can Read Indus Seal When Harappan Script is Still Undeciphered}}</ref>

==Union Cabinet Minister==
===Union Defence Minister===
[[File:Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister for Defence, in New Delhi on September 07, 2017.jpg|thumb|Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister of Defence in New Delhi, 7 September 2017]]
[[File:Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presides over India’s display of Naval might (6).jpg |thumb|Sitharaman presiding over India's display of Naval might, January 2018]]

On 3 September 2017, she was appointed as [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]], being only the second woman after [[Indira Gandhi]] to hold the post, but the first full-time female defence minister.<ref name="ns">{{Cite news |url=http://www.news18.com/news/politics/nirmala-sitharaman-joins-cabinet-gst-and-start-up-success-pays-dividend-1508087.html |title=Nirmala Sitharaman Joins Cabinet: GST and Start-Up Success Pays Dividend |work=News18 |access-date=3 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903121046/http://www.news18.com/news/politics/nirmala-sitharaman-joins-cabinet-gst-and-start-up-success-pays-dividend-1508087.html |archive-date=3 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Full list of new council of ministers |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/india/modi-cabinet-reshuffle-full-list-of-pm-modis-council-of-ministers/articleshow/60348346.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=3 September 2017 |access-date=3 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904071843/http://m.timesofindia.com/india/modi-cabinet-reshuffle-full-list-of-pm-modis-council-of-ministers/articleshow/60348346.cms |archive-date=4 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Union Finance Minister===
[[File:Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman taking charge as the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, in New Delhi on May 31, 2019.jpg|thumb|Sitharaman taking charge as Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs in New Delhi, 31 May 2019]]

On 31 May 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the [[Minister of Finance (India)|finance]] and [[corporate affairs minister]].<ref>{{citation |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602015648/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She is India's first full-time female finance minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Narendra Modi Cabinet: Amit Shah gets Home and Nirmala Sitharaman is India's first full-time woman Finance Minister |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/narendra-modi-cabinet-ministers-and-portfolios/article27375561.ece |work=The Hindu |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531093401/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/narendra-modi-cabinet-ministers-and-portfolios/article27375561.ece |archive-date=31 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She presented her maiden budget in the Indian parliament on 5 July 2019.<ref>{{cite news|title=Key Highlights of Union Budget 2019–20|url=http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1577423|access-date=5 July 2019|work=PIB|date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133516/http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx%3FPRID%3D1577423|archive-date=5 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2020–21 on 1 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197837|title=Summary of Union Budget 2020-21|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] she was made in-charge of the [[COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/coronavirus-impact-fm-led-economic-task-force-takes-stock-of-key-ministries/story/398804.html|title=Coronavirus in India: Economic task force yet to be formed; no decision on relief package|date=20 March 2020|website=Business Today|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/government-forms-covid-19-economic-response-task-force-pm-modi/articleshow/74716284.cms|title=Covid 19 Economic Task Force: Government forms Covid-19 economic response task force, says PM Modi|date=19 March 2020|website=The Times of India|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

==Non-political career==
[[File:The MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skill, U.K., Mr. Sajid Javid meeting the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (Independent Charge), Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in New Delhi on July 08, 2016.jpg|thumb|Sitharaman meeting [[Sajid Javid]] in New Delhi, 8 July 2016]]
Nirmala Sitharaman worked as a salesperson at Habitat, a home decor store in London's [[Regent Street]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html|title=The rise and rise of Nirmala Sitharaman: From spokesperson to defence minister|last=Phadnis|first=Aditi|date=4 September 2017|work=Business Standard India|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209220341/https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rise-of-nirmala-sitharaman-from-spokesperson-to-defence-minister-117090400030_1.html|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She has served as an assistant to Economist in the [[Agricultural Engineers Association]] in the UK. During her stay in the UK, she has also served as a Senior Manager ([[Research and development|R&D]])<ref name="Huffington Post India"/> for [[PricewaterhouseCoopers|PWC]] and briefly at the [[BBC World Service]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |author=Mohua Chatterjee, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-21/india/28136255_1_nirmala-sitharaman-bjp-spokesperson-nitin-gadkari |title=BJP gets a JNU product as its woman spokesperson |date=21 March 2010 |access-date=29 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055312/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-21/india/28136255_1_nirmala-sitharaman-bjp-spokesperson-nitin-gadkari |archive-date=21 September 2013 |website=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>

She has also served as a member of [[National Commission for Women]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Who is Nirmala Sitharaman, India's first full-time woman Defence Minister|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-is-nirmala-sitharaman-indias-first-full-time-woman-defence-minister/839028/|work=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]]|date=3 September 2017|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920091304/http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-is-nirmala-sitharaman-indias-first-full-time-woman-defence-minister/839028/|archive-date=20 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, she was one of the founding directors of Pranava in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pranavatheschool.org/about/management/ |title=Management | Pranava |publisher=Pranavatheschool.org |access-date=29 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719054722/http://pranavatheschool.org/about/management/ |archive-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
The Jawaharlal Nehru University conferred her the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sitharaman-and-jaishankar-to-get-jnus-distinguished-alumni-award/article27891307.ece|title=Nirmala Sitharaman, Jaishankar to get JNU's Distinguished Alumni Award|author=Staff Reporter|date=12 June 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=13 December 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Forbes Magazine has ranked her 34th among the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|100 most powerful women in the world]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/nirmala-sitharaman/|title=Nirmala Sitharaman|website=Forbes|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213113350/https://www.forbes.com/profile/nirmala-sitharaman/|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sitharaman met her husband [[Parakala Prabhakar]] who is from [[Narsapuram]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], while studying at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]. While Nirmala leaned towards the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], her husband was from a Congress family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/BJP-spokesperson-finds-her-new-role-challenging/article16013690.ece |title=BJP spokesperson finds her new role challenging |publisher=The Hindu |date=3 April 2010 |access-date=29 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054657/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040362060700.htm |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> They married in 1986, and have a daughter. Prabhakar served as a communications advisor to the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322|title=AP govt advisor and Nirmala Sitharaman's husband Parakala Prabhakar quits, blames Jagan|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120092942/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ap-govt-advisor-and-nirmala-sitharaman-s-husband-parakala-prabhakar-quits-blames-jagan-83322|archive-date=20 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post India">{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/|title=In Nirmala Sitharaman, India Gets Its Second Woman Defence Minister After Indira Gandhi|date=3 September 2017|work=Huffington Post India|access-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183454/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/03/in-nirmala-sitharaman-india-gets-its-second-woman-defence-minis_a_23195198/|archive-date=13 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=12 Unknown Facts About Nirmala Sitharaman: The Sales Girl Bit Will Surprise You |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/business/12-unknown-facts-about-nirmala-sitharaman-the-sales-girl-bit-will-surprise-you-626023 |agency=The Hans India}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of female defence ministers]]
*[[List of female finance ministers]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/nirmala-sitharaman.html Elections.in – Nirmala Sitharaman Biography]
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{{commons category|Nirmala Sitharaman}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitharaman, Nirmala}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Madurai]]
[[Category:Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Women in Andhra Pradesh politics]]
[[Category:PricewaterhouseCoopers people]]
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Union ministers of state of India with independent charge]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Women in Karnataka politics]]
[[Category:Indian women economists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian economists]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Women union ministers of state of India]]
[[Category:Women members of the Rajya Sabha]]
[[Category:Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Female defence ministers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian economists]]
[[Category:Women scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Women members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:Finance Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Defence Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Commerce and Industry Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Ministers for Corporate Affairs]]
[[Category:Female finance ministers]]