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Created page of Ravi Shankar Prasad

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = The Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad briefing the media on the importance of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS 2017), in New Delhi.jpg
| image_size = 250px
|alt = Ravi Shankar Prasad
|office = [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Minister of Communications]]
|primeminister = [[Narendra Modi]]
|term_start = 30 May 2019
|term_end =
|deputy = [[Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre]]
|predecessor = [[Manoj Sinha]]
|successor =
|office2 = [[Minister of Electronics and Information Technology]]
|president2 = [[Pranab Mukherjee]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
|primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]]
|deputy2 = [[Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre]]
|term_start2 = 5 July 2016
|term_end2 =
|predecessor2 = ''Ministry formed''
|successor2 =
|office3 = [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Minister of Law and Justice]]
|president3 = [[Pranab Mukherjee]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
|primeminister3 = [[Narendra Modi]]
|term_start3 = 5 July 2016
|term_end3 =
|predecessor3 = [[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]
|successor3 =
|primeminister4 = [[Narendra Modi]]
|term_start4 = 26 May 2014
|term_end4 = 9 November 2014
|predecessor4 = [[Kapil Sibal]]
|successor4 = [[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]
|office5 = [[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Minister of Communications and Information Technology]]
|primeminister5 = [[Narendra Modi]]
|term_start5 = 26 May 2014
|term_end5 = 5 July 2016
|predecessor5 = [[Kapil Sibal]]
|successor5 = ''bifurcated as Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology''
|office6 = [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]]
|primeminister6 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
|term_start6 = 29 January 2003
|term_end6 = 22 May 2004
|predecessor6 = [[Sushma Swaraj]]
|successor6 = [[Jaipal Reddy]]
| office7 = [[Minister of Law and Justice|Minister of state in the Ministry of Law and Justice]]
| primeminister7 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| minister7 = [[Jana Krishnamurthy]]
| predecessor7 = [[O. Rajagopal]]
| successor7 = [[P. C. Thomas]]
| term_start7 = 1 July 2002
| term_end7 = 29 January 2003
| office8 = [[Ministry of Coal|Minister of state in the Ministry of Coal]] [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Minister state in the Ministry of Mines]]
| primeminister8 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| minister8 =
| predecessor8 =
| successor8 =
| term_start8 = 1 September 2001
| term_end8 = 1 July 2002
| office10 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency10 = [[Patna Sahib (Lok Sabha constituency)|Patna Sahib]]
| term_start10 = 23 May 2019
| term_end10 =
| predecessor10 = [[Shatrughan Sinha]]
| successor10 =
| office11 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| constituency11= [[Bihar]]
| term_start11 = 3 April 2000
| term_end11 = 29 May 2019
|successor11 = [[Ram Vilas Paswan]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|8|30|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]
|party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|alma_mater = [[Patna University]] ([[B.A.|BA]], [[M.A.|MA]], [[LLB]])
|profession = [[Lawyer]]
|spouse = Maya
}}
'''Ravi Shankar Prasad''' (born 30 August 1954) is an Indian lawyer, politician and the current [[Union Minister]] holding the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law and Justice]], [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology|Electronics and Information Technology]] and [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Communications]] portfolios in the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Government of India, Ministry of Communications|url=https://dot.gov.in/minister/mocshri-ravi-shankar-prasad}}</ref> A member of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], Prasad represents the [[Patna Sahib (Lok Sabha constituency)|Patna Sahib]] constituency.<ref>[https://www.businesstoday.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019/news/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-ravi-shankar-prasad-wins-in-patna-sahid-defeats-congress-shatrughan-sinha/story/349623.html "Patna Sahib Election Results 2019: Ravi Shankar Prasad wins against Congress' Shatrughan Sinha"], businesstoday, Retrieved on 28 May 2019.</ref> During the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA Government]] under [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]'s prime ministership, Prasad was appointed Minister of Coal and Mines, Minister of Law and Justice, and Minister of Information and Broadcasting.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In 2018 according to ''The Economic Times'' he features among the top twenty influential world leaders in digital technology and e-government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ravi-shankar-prasad-among-top-twenty-most-influential-people-in-digital-government/articleshow/65340151.cms|title=Ravi Shankar Prasad among top twenty most influential people in Digital Government|date=2018-08-09|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-01-14}}</ref> Under his tenure, India significantly improved digital inclusion coverage in rural areas and his department's work on cybersecurity, data privacy, and several new e-governance activities have been considered as a cornerstone of creating a [[Digital India]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Early life and education==
He was born in a religious [[Chitraguptvanshi Kayastha]] family in [[Patna]], [[Bihar]].<ref name=Kayastha>{{cite news|last1=Vyas|first1=Hari Shankar|title=Brahmins in Congress on tenterhooks|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/foray/backbone/brahmins-in-congress-on-tenterhooks.html|access-date=1 June 2014|work=The Pioneer|date=7 April 2013}}</ref> His father [[Thakur Prasad]] was a senior advocate at the [[Patna High Court]] and one of the leading founders of the [[Jan Sangh]], the predecessor of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. His sister, Anuradha Prasad wife of Mr [[Rajeev Shukla]] is the owner of BAG Films and Media Ltd and former congress spokesperson.

Prasad earned BA Hons, MA ([[Political Science]]) and [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]] degrees from [[Patna University]] and has a son and a daughter.<ref name="First Post - appointment">{{cite web|title=Ravi Shankar Prasad: The new telecom minister may find his hands full|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/ravi-shankar-prasad-the-new-telecom-minister-may-find-his-hands-full-1543163.html|website=www.firstpost.in|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref>

== Law career ==
Prasad has been practising at the [[Patna High Court]] since 1980. He was designated senior advocate at the Patna High Court in 1999 and Senior Advocate at the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 2000.<ref name=TNIE />

Prasad appeared in the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] [[Ayodhya dispute]] representing '[[Ram Lalla]]', the deity, in the case. He has represented former [[Deputy Prime Minister of India|Deputy Prime Minister]] [[L. K. Advani]] and has appeared in several leading cases including ''Narmada Bachao Andolan'' Case, T. N. Thirumulpad environment cases, Bihar assembly dissolution case among others.<ref name="india today lawyer">{{cite news|title=Team Modi: Ravi Shankar Prasad – Lawyer of 'Ram Lalla'|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/team-modi-ravi-shankar-prasad---lawyer-of-ram-lalla/1/363774.html|access-date=1 June 2014|work=India Today|publisher=26 May 2014}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Prasad began his political career as a student leader in the 1970s organising protests against [[Indira Gandhi]]'s government and was also jailed when the [[The Emergency (India)|emergency]] was imposed by Gandhi's government in 1975. He worked in the student movement in Bihar under the leadership of [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] and was an active volunteer of [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP). He was associated with [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and ABVP for many years and held various posts in the organisations. During his college days he was Assistant General Secretary of the Patna University Students Union and member of the Senate, Finance Committee, Arts and Law Faculties of the University.<ref name="First Post - appointment" /> Prasad has held several national-level assignments in the youth wing and the main party organisation of the BJP. Since 1995 Prasad has been a member of BJP National Executive, the party's top policymaking body. Recently, he oversaw the party's efforts in the [[Uttarakhand]] Assembly Elections.

*August 1995: Became Member, National Executive Committee, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (B.J.P.)
*August 1996: The infamous [[Fodder Scam]] came into limelight in Bihar. Filed Public Interest Litigation in Patna High Court and demanded a probe by the CBI.
*April 2000: Elected to Rajya Sabha for the first time.
*June 2001: National Convener Legal Cell, BJP.
*September 2001: Minister of State in the Ministry of Coal and Mines.
*July 2002: Minister of State in the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]] (Additional charge).
*January 2003: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]]
*August 2005: Appointed as the National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
*March 2006: Elected to Rajya Sabha for the second time.
*August 2006: Member, Standing Committee on Information Technology
*September 2006: Member, Consultative Committee for [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]]
*October 2009: Member, Executive Council of the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies.
*August 2009: Member, Consultative Committee for the [[Ministry of Finance (India)]]
*April 2010: All India General Secretary & Chief National Spokesperson of BJP.
*March 2011: Became Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine matters relating to allocation and pricing of telecom licences and spectrum.
*April 2012: Elected to the Rajya Sabha for the third time.
*May 2012: Became Deputy Leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in [[Rajya Sabha]].
*May 2013: Became Member of the Committee on Privileges of Parliament of India.
*May 2014: Took oath as Union Minister for [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] and [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]], Government of India.
*April 2018: Elected to the Rajya Sabha for the fourth time.
*23 May 2019: Elected to the Loksabha.

In May 2019, he continued [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]] and [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]]. He was also given the charge of [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Communication Ministry]] in the Government of India.<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 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 3 February 1982, Prasad married Maya Shankar, who is a Historian and Professor of History at [[Patna University]].<ref name=TNIE>{{cite news|title=Prasad Returns to Union Cabinet with a Bag of Experience|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Prasad-Returns-to-Union-Cabinet-with-a-Bag-of-Experience/2014/05/26/article2246796.ece|access-date=1 June 2014|work=The New Indian Express|agency=PTI|date=26 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=sister>{{cite web|title=Interview: Anuradha Prasad, Managing Director, BAG films|url=http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2011/03/interview-anuradha-prasad-managing-director-bag-films/|website=www.bestmediainfo.com|publisher=Best Media Info|access-date=1 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706120252/http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2011/03/interview-anuradha-prasad-managing-director-bag-films/|archive-date=6 July 2014 }}</ref>

== Roles Upheld as Minister in Government of India ==

===Minister for Electronics and Information Technology (26 May 2014 – 23 May 2019)===
[[File:Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.jpg|thumb|Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.]]
[[File:Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Communications, in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.jpg|thumb|Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Minister for Communications]], in the presence of Union Minister of State for Communications, Shri [[Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre]] in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.]]
Ravi Shankar Prasad was appointed as Minister for Communications and IT at the time of formation of the Government under Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]. In July 2016, this Ministry of bifurcated into the [[Ministry of Communications]] and [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]]. The new Ministry of Electronics and IT remained with Ravi Shankar Prasad after this bifurcation. Key achievements of Ravi Shankar Prasad as Minister for Electronics and IT is given as under:

'''''Growth in Electronics Manufacturing ''''': As Minister in charge of Electronics and IT Ministry, Ravi Shankar Prasad encouraged [[electronics manufacturing]] in India. In the year 2014, when Narendra Modi government took office, there were only two mobile phone manufacturing units in India. In 2019, there were 268 mobile and ancillary manufacturing units in India. Under his leadership, India became the second largest mobile phone producers in the world in 2019 from just two mobile factories in 2014. [[Samsung]] started the world's largest mobile phone manufacturing unit in Noida in 2018. Production of other consumer electronics in India also doubled in these five years.<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mobile-factories-in-india-up-from-2-to-120-since-2014-pm-modi-at-samsung-noida-plant-launch-1281151-2018-07-09/ " Mobile factories in India up from 2 to 120 since 2014: PM Modi at Samsung Noida plant launch"], indiatoday, Retrieved on 3 June 2019.</ref>

'''''Common Service Centers:''''' Ravi Shankar Prasad took efforts to make [[Digital India]] an inclusive program to empower ordinary citizens of India. [[Common Service Centres]] or CSCs became a vehicle to achieve this objective. These Centers were developed as a digital service delivery kiosk in villages and one stop shop for all the digital services for people. Services like railway ticket booking, PAN application, [[Aadhaar]] enrollment, digital skilling, [[Ayushman Bharat]] Card, payment of utility bills, banking and insurance services etc. were offered through these kiosks. There were only 83,000 Common Service Centers in May, 2014. By March, 2019, 310,000 Centers were made functional across 200,000 Gram Panchayats or village clusters out of 250,000 Gram Panchayats of India. These centers created village level digital entrepreneurs, nearly 63,000 of those were women entrepreneurs. It is estimated that this also led to creation of nearly 1 million or 10 Lakh direct and indirect jobs.<ref>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/XUngWpSfQ1ZPkqApK1QvXO/India-is-changing-through-CSC-egovenance-centres-Narendra.html " India is changing through CSC e-govenance centres: Narendra Modi"], livemint, Retrieved on 3 June 2019.</ref>

'''''StreeSwabhiman Initiative''''': Leveraging the vast network of [[Common Service Centers]], Ravi Shankar Prasad encouraged manufacturing of low cost sanitary pads at these centers by rural women. More than 300 such micro sanitary pad units were started by rural entrepreneurs and it created employment for 8 to 10 rural women. Biggest impact of this initiative was in the form of spread of awareness among rural women about menstrual hygiene and the availability of low cost sanitary pads made locally. Women who manufactured these pads in their units also worked like advocacy groups in their villages and created awareness about using sanitary pads instead of other traditional methods during menstrual cycle.<ref>[https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/stree-swabhiman-initiative-launched-for-women-health-and-hygiene-1517199810-1 "Stree Swabhiman Initiative launched for Women Health and Hygiene"], jagranjosh, Retrieved on 3 June 2019.</ref>

'''''Digital Literacy''''': Pradhan Mantri Digital SakshartaAbhiyan was started as the biggest digital literacy mission to make at least one adult in every household digitally literate. More than 2 Crore or 20 million adults were made digitally literate through this programme.

'''''Efforts Made to Promote Emerging Technologies''''': Under the leadership of Ravi Shankar Prasad, India took strides to develop a domestic ecosystem in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Internet of Things, Virtual Reality etc. Ministry of Electronics and IT in collaboration with Indian IT industry set up Centers of Excellence in many of these areas in different parts of India.<ref>[https://www.analyticsinsight.net/india-makes-a-remarkable-growth-in-artificial-intelligence/ " INDIA MAKES A REMARKABLE GROWTH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE"], analytics insight, Retrieved on 3 June 2019.</ref>

'''''Promotion of Digital Services''''': Under the Digital India Mission, several digital services like eHospital, eVisa, National Scholarship Portal, [[eNAM]], [[Umang]] mobile app, [[Jeevan Pramaan]], [[Digi Locker]], [[eSign]], Swayam online learning platform, BHIM-UPI digital payment system, MyGov citizen engagement platform etc. were launched.

'''''BPOs in Small Towns''''': To develop BPO industry in small towns by India BPO Promotion Schemes and North East BPO Promotion Schemes were launched. These schemes offered financial incentives for setting up BPOs in small towns. More than 200 BPO units started function in small towns like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Krimnagar, Sangli, Breilly, Badgam, Srinagar, Jammu, Sopore, Vellor, Guntur, Sagar, Kohima, Guwahati, Imphal etc.<ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/prasad-launches-bpo-centre-in-bihar-117051101054_1.html " Prasad launches BPO centre in Bihar"], business-standard, Retrieved on 3 June 2019.</ref>

==Achievements==
Soon after taking over as a Minister for [[Ministry of Coal]] and [[Ministry of Mines (India)]], Ravi Shankar Prasad accelerated the reforms process in the mining and coal sectors. In July 2002, after taking charge of Ministry of Law and Justice (State), he prepared a bill to amend the Representation of People Act within a fortnight in 2002. In 2003, he became the information and broadcasting minister where he was responsible for introducing reforms in the radio, television, and animation which improved the quality and functioning of these sectors. He helped establish Goa as the location of the International Film Festival of India. He also led the Indian delegation to film festivals in Cannes, Venice, and London.

In April 2002, he led the Indian delegation to the [[Non-Aligned Movement]]'s ministerial meet in [[Durban]], South Africa. Later he met [[Yasser Arafat]] in [[Ramallah]] as a member of a Non-Aligned delegation to express solidarity with him. He led the Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Law Minister Summit in [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]. He has led the Indian delegation to film festivals in [[Cannes]], Venice and London.

Prasad filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Patna High Court against the Fodder Scam and demanded a probe by the CBI.

As Minister for Communication, he supported Public Sector Unit, BSNL, which he has hailed as a strategic asset, to compete with private sector Service Providers. He told the Parliament that the Government wants BSNL to flourish for the welfare of the poor and is serving even the remotest rural areas and is the first to provide services during disasters and emergencies.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/will-revive-bsnl-and-make-it-profitable-telecom-minister-ravi-shankar-prasad/articleshow/72144313.cms?from=mdr |title = Will revive BSNL and make it profitable: Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad|newspaper = The Economic Times|date = 20 November 2019}}</ref>

He has adopted the village of Alawalpur under Fatuha block of Patna district as a model village to be developed under the [[Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana]]. In 2021, Ravi Shankar Prasad became the first minister with 10 lakh followers on domestic Twitter "Koo".<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://gadgets.techly360.com/ravi-shankar-prasad-becomes-first-minister-with-10-lakh-followers-on-koo/ |title = Ravi Shankar Prasad becomes first minister with 10 lakh followers on domestic Twitter "Koo" |newspaper = Gadgets Techly360, Retrieved on 9 April 2021}}</ref> He later turned to Koo to protest the 'locking' of his Twitter account by the platform for an hour for allegedly having violated a copyright law, the event being all the more significant as it came amid tensions between the Government of India and Twitter over a set of social media intermediary and accountability guidelines his IT Ministry had inducted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=World|first=Republic|title=Twitter replies to Republic's queries on locking Law Min's account; cites copyright policy|url=https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/twitter-replies-to-republics-queries-on-locking-law-mins-account-cites-copyright-policy.html|access-date=2021-06-25|website=Republic World|language=en}}</ref>

=== Triple Talaq Ban ===
[[File:Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Law and Justice, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.jpg|thumb|Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Law and Justice, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.]]
[[File:Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister of Law & Justice, in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.jpg|thumb|Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Law and Justice, in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.]]
[[File:Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union Minister for Communications, in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.jpg|thumb|Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad taking charge as the Union [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Minister for Communications]], in the presence of Union Minister of State for Communications, Shri [[Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre]] in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.]]
The [[President of India]] gave his assent<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/president-gives-assent-to-triple-talaq-bill-1575893-2019-08-01"], President gives assent to triple talaq bill, indiatoday, Retrieved on 1 August 2019.</ref> to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Act, 2019 on 1 August 2019.<ref>[[The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019]]", wikipedia, Retrieved on 1 August 2019.</ref>

This Law seeks to criminalize the practice of 'instant divorce' (known as [[triple talaq]]) which occurs in some parts of the [[Muslim community]], whereby a husband can divorce his wife by a pronouncement of the word 'Talaq' three times. According to [[Islamic laws]] enforced by the [[All India Muslim Personal Law Board]] of India (AIMPLB), a non-governmental body that supervises the application of Muslim personal law, the practice of instant triple Talaq was going on in India even though it was not practiced in most Islamic nations.<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/triple-talaq-bill-passed-in-rajya-sabha-1575309-2019-07-30 "History made, triple talaq bill passed by Parliament"], indiatoday, Retrieved on 31st July2019.</ref> The AIMPLB has been criticised for being a patriarchal organisation that does not represent Muslim women.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37273958 "India anger over Muslim board's 'patriarchal' remark"], BBC</ref>

The government, led by [[Prime Minister Narendra Modi]] and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, made several attempts to bring a law to ban the practice of instant [[Triple Talaq]] in 2018 and 2019 but both the attempts failed as the government did not have majority in the upper house i.e. [[Rajya Sabha]] of the [[Indian Parliament]]. Opposition parties led by [[Indian National Congress]], [[All India Trinamool Congress]] etc. opposed the reforms. However, following a third attempt, the government managed to get this law passed in Parliament in July 2019.<ref>[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/rajya-sabha-passes-triple-talaq-bill/article28760822.ece "Triple Talaq Bill sails through in Rajya Sabha"], thehindubusinessline, Retrieved on 30 July 2019.</ref>

As the Law Minister of India, Ravi Shankar Prasad reintroduced the Bill in the [[Lok Sabha]] and after getting it passed from [[Lok Sabha]], it was moved into [[Rajya Sabha]] which also passed it by a majority of 99 to 84. Subsequently, the [[President of India]] gave his assent to this Bill and it became and Act.<ref>[https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/triple-talaq-bill-passed-by-rajya-sabha-massive-victory-for-narendra-modi-govt-4268231.html], Triple Talaq Bill passed by Rajya Sabha, massive victory for Narendra Modi govt, moneycontrol, Retrieved on 30 July 2019.</ref>

As per this Law, a Muslim woman who has been given instant triple Talaq can approach the Police station and lodge a criminal case against her husband. This was pitched by the government as a major social reform to empower Muslim women of India by bringing them out of the [[patriarchal]] atrocities practiced in their community.<ref>[https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/triple-talaq-bill-live-updates-triple-talaq-bill-in-parliament-muslim-women-protection-of-rights-on-marriage-ordinance-1564471401-1"], History created in Rajya Sabha, Triple Talaq bill passed, jagranjosh, Retrieved on 30 July 2019.</ref>

===Digital India programme===

[[File:The Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad addressing at the inauguration of the National Conference on Emerging Opportunities through CSC, in New Delhi (1).jpg|thumb|Ravi Shankar Prasad addressing at the inauguration of the National Conference on Emerging Opportunities through CSC]]

Ravi Shankar Prasad is spearheading the [[Digital India]] programme as Minister for Electronics and Information Technology since May 2014. Recently UK based think tank [[Apolitical]] adjudged him as one of the top twenty leaders in the list of 100 most influential people in Digital Government 2018. He is the only Indian to be featured in the top twenty. He was one of the first leaders in the world who had openly supported the cause of [[net-neutrality]] and as a Minister in charge of digital affairs in India declined Facebook the permission to operate Free Basics in India. He is also known to have taken a tough stand against misuse of social media for destabilising democracy and fomenting violence in society. Led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] sent legal notices to both Facebook and [[Cambridge Analytica]]. Unsatisfied with their responses, he ordered the criminal investigation in this data theft episode by India's apex crime investigation body, the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]]. When incidents of mob violence were reported in a few parts of India by viral circulation of fake messages on Whatsapp, he took a firm stand against Whatsapp and demanded technological solutions to curb the problem of fake messages leading to violence. While responding to a debate in the [[Indian Parliament]] he openly supported the role of social media in giving a means of expression to ordinary people that they are happily using to question the politicians and media editors, he warned the social media platforms against any misuse of the platform for encouraging violence and terror. Responding to the legal notice served by [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]], Whatsapp took several steps such as mentioning the word forwarded on every message that was forwarded by a user. Whatsapp has also restricted the number of forwarded messages to a maximum of five. Besides these stern regulatory measures that were taken under the leadership of Ravi Shankar Prasad, he is also known for promoting digital development in the rural areas of India by creating a network of 300,000 village level digital entrepreneurs who are operating digital service delivery kiosks known as the [[Common Service Centers]] across India. This has not only ensured the availability of digital services in rural areas but has also created job opportunities for 1.2 million rural youth.<ref>apolitical [https://apolitical.co/lists/digital-government-world100 "World’s 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government"], Retrieved on 9 August 2018.</ref><ref>net-neutrality [https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/net-neutrality-ravi-shankar-prasad-says-right-of-internet-access-is-non-negotiable/story-3HATMUGp5Qg4S0xq2sBagJ.html "Net neutrality: Ravi Shankar Prasad says right of internet access is ‘non-negotiable’"], Retrieved on 23 November 2017.</ref><ref>cambridgeanalytica [https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/cbi-to-probe-cambridge-analytica-data-breach-case-says-ravi-shankar-prasad-118072601139_1.html "CBI to probe Cambridge Analytica data breach case, says Ravi Shankar Prasad "], Retrieved on 26 July 2018.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=214 Profile on Rajya Sabha's website]

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Patna Sahib (Lok Sabha constituency)|Patna Sahib]] |years=2019 – Present}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sushma Swaraj]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]]|years=29 January 2003 - 13 May 2004 As Minister of State (Independent Charge)}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jaipal Reddy]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Kapil Sibal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Minister of Law and Justice]]|years=26 May 2014 – 9 November 2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Minister of Communications and Information Technology]]|years=26 May 2014 – 5 July 2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Ministry split into [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Communications]] and [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology|Information Technology]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=Ministry did not exist}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology|Minister of Electronics and Information Technology]]|years=5 July 2016 - Present}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=[[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Minister of Law and Justice]]|years=5 July 2016 - Present}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Manoj Sinha]] Minister of State (Independent Charge)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Communications (India)|Minister of Communication]]|years=30 May 2019 - Present}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
}}
{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet}}
{{Cabinet of Narendra Modi}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}
{{Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India)}}
{{Ministry of Communications (India)}}
{{Ministers of Information and Broadcasting}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prasad, Ravi}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Bihar]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Law Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ministers for Information and Broadcasting of India]]
[[Category:Patna University alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Patna]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Bihar]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:17th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:National Democratic Alliance candidates in the 2019 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Bihari politicians]]

Ravi Shankar Prasad - Revision history

Diazonium: added references

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Marvel: Created page of Ravi Shankar Prasad