Minister of Defence (India): Difference between revisions

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| 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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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 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.


==List of Defence Ministers==
== List of Defence Ministers<ref name="elections-in">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Defence, List of Defence Ministers of India|url=https://elections.in/government/ministry-of-defence.html|access-date=13 February 2019|agency=Elections.in}}</ref> ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
Line 61: Line 61:
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Political party<br />{{small|(Alliance)}}
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Political party<br />{{small|(Alliance)}}
! rowspan=2| Ministry
! rowspan=2| Ministry
! class="unsortable" rowspan=2| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|-
! Took office
! Took office
Line 69: Line 68:
| 1
| 1
| [[File:Sardar Baldev Singh on the Greeneries of Indian Parliament (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Sardar Baldev Singh on the Greeneries of Indian Parliament (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Baldev|2=[[Baldev Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1902–1961)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Baldev|2=[[Baldev Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1902–1961)}}
| 15 August 1947
| 15 August 1947
| 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|
| rowspan="13"| [[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="13"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=13|
| [[First Nehru ministry|Nehru I]]–[[Second Nehru ministry|II]]
| [[First Nehru ministry|Nehru I]]–[[Second Nehru ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 2
| 2
| [[File:Gopalaswamy Ayyangar.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Gopalaswamy Ayyangar.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ayyangar, N.|2=[[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]]}}<br />{{small|(1882–1953)}}
| {{sort|1=Ayyangar, N.|2=[[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]]}}<br />{{small|(1882–1953)}}
| 13 May 1952
| 13 May 1952
| 10 February 1953
| 10 February 1953
| {{ayd|13 May 1952|10 February 1953}}
| {{ayd|13 May 1952|10 February 1953}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| [[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
| 3
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 10 February 1953
| 10 February 1953
| 10 January 1955
| 10 January 1955
| {{ayd|10 February 1953|10 January 1955}}
| {{ayd|10 February 1953|10 January 1955}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 4
| 4
| [[File:Kailash Nath Katju.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Kailash Nath Katju.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Katju, Kailash|2=[[Kailash Nath Katju]]}}<br />{{small|(1887–1968)}}
| {{sort|1=Katju, Kailash|2=[[Kailash Nath Katju]]}}<br />{{small|(1887–1968)}}
| 10 January 1955
| 10 January 1955
| 30 January 1957
| 30 January 1957
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|30 January 1957}}
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|30 January 1957}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (3)
| (3)
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 30 January 1957
| 30 January 1957
| 17 April 1957
| 17 April 1957
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|17 April 1957}}
| {{ayd|10 January 1955|17 April 1957}}
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]–[[Third Nehru ministry|III]]
| [[Second Nehru ministry|Nehru II]]–[[Third Nehru ministry|III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 5
| 5
| [[File:Krishna Menon.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Krishna Menon.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Menon, V.|2=[[V. K. Krishna Menon]]}}<br />{{small|(1896–1974)}}
| {{sort|1=Menon, V.|2=[[V. K. Krishna Menon]]}}<br />{{small|(1896–1974)}}
| 17 April 1957
| 17 April 1957
| 31 October 1962
| 31 October 1962
| {{ayd|17 April 1957|31 October 1962}}
| {{ayd|17 April 1957|31 October 1962}}
| [[Third Nehru ministry|Nehru III]]–[[Fourth Nehru ministry|IV]]
| [[Third Nehru ministry|Nehru III]]–[[Fourth Nehru ministry|IV]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (3)
| (3)
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jnehru.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| {{sort|1=Nehru, Jawaharlal|2=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]}}<br />{{small|(1889–1964)}}
| 31 October 1962
| 31 October 1962
| 14 November 1962
| 14 November 1962
| {{ayd|31 October 1962|14 November 1962}}
| {{ayd|31 October 1962|14 November 1962}}
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]]
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 6
| 6
| [[File:Y B Chavan (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Y B Chavan (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Chavan, Yashwantrao|2=[[Yashwantrao Chavan]]}}<br />{{small|(1913–1984)}}
| {{sort|1=Chavan, Yashwantrao|2=[[Yashwantrao Chavan]]}}<br />{{small|(1913–1984)}}
| 14 November 1962
| 14 November 1962
| 13 November 1966
| 13 November 1966
| {{ayd|14 November 1962|13 November 1966}}
| {{ayd|14 November 1962|13 November 1966}}
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]]<br />[[First Nanda ministry|Nanda I]]<br />[[Shastri ministry|Shastri]]<br />[[Second Nanda ministry|Nanda II]]<br />[[First Indira Gandhi ministry|Gandhi I]]
| [[Fourth Nehru ministry|Nehru IV]]<br />[[First Nanda ministry|Nanda I]]<br />[[Shastri ministry|Shastri]]<br />[[Second Nanda ministry|Nanda II]]<br />[[First Indira Gandhi ministry|Gandhi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 7
| 7
|  
|  
! {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1907–1994)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1907–1994)}}
| 13 November 1966
| 13 November 1966
| 27 June 1970
| 27 June 1970
| {{ayd|13 November 1966|27 June 1970}}
| {{ayd|13 November 1966|27 June 1970}}
| [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi I]]
| [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 8
| 8
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}}<br />{{small|(1908–1986)}}
| {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}}<br />{{small|(1908–1986)}}
| 27 June 1970
| 27 June 1970
| 10 October 1974
| 10 October 1974
| {{ayd|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]]
| [[First Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi I]]–[[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (7)
| (7)
|  
|  
! {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1907–1994)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Swaran|2=[[Swaran Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1907–1994)}}
| 10 October 1974
| 10 October 1974
| 1 December 1975
| 1 December 1975
| {{ayd|10 October 1974|1 December 1975}}
| {{ayd|10 October 1974|1 December 1975}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 9
| 9
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1917–1984)}}
| {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1917–1984)}}
| 1 December 1975
| 1 December 1975
| 20 December 1975
| 20 December 1975
| {{ayd|1 December 1975|20 December 1975}}
| {{ayd|1 December 1975|20 December 1975}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 10
| 10
|  
|  
! {{sort|1=Lal, Bansi|2=[[Bansi Lal]]}}<br />{{small|(1927–2006)}}
| {{sort|1=Lal, Bansi|2=[[Bansi Lal]]}}<br />{{small|(1927–2006)}}
| 21 December 1975
| 21 December 1975
| 24 March 1977
| 24 March 1977
| {{ayd|20 December 1975|24 March 1977}}
| {{ayd|20 December 1975|24 March 1977}}
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (8)
| (8)
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jagjivan Ram stamp (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}}<br />{{small|(1908–1986)}}
| {{sort|1=Ram, Jagjivan|2=[[Jagjivan Ram]]}}<br />{{small|(1908–1986)}}
| 24 March 1977
| 24 March 1977
| 28 July 1979
| 28 July 1979
| {{ayd|24 March 1977|28 July 1979}}
| {{ayd|24 March 1977|28 July 1979}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Janata Party]]
| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Party/meta/color}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Janata Party]]
| [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Desai]]
| [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Desai]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 11
| 11
| [[File:Chidambaram Subramaniam.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Chidambaram Subramaniam.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Subramaniam, Chidambaram|2=[[Chidambaram Subramaniam]]}}<br />{{small|(1910–2000)}}
| {{sort|1=Subramaniam, Chidambaram|2=[[Chidambaram Subramaniam]]}}<br />{{small|(1910–2000)}}
| 28 July 1979
| 28 July 1979
| 14 January 1980
| 14 January 1980
| {{ayd|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}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress (Urs)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Indian National Congress (Urs)]]
| [[Charan Singh ministry|C. Singh]]
| [[Charan Singh ministry|C. Singh]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (9)
| (9)
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Indira Gandhi 1977.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1917–1984)}}
| {{sort|1=Gandhi, Indira|2=[[Indira Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1917–1984)}}
| 14 January 1980
| 14 January 1980
| 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|
| rowspan="7"| [[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="7"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=7|
| rowspan="2"| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 12
| 12
| [[File:R Venkataraman.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:R Venkataraman.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Venkataraman, Ramaswamy|2=[[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]}}<br />{{small|(1910–2009)}}
| {{sort|1=Venkataraman, Ramaswamy|2=[[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]}}<br />{{small|(1910–2009)}}
| 15 January 1982  
| 15 January 1982  
| 2 August 1984
| 2 August 1984
| {{ayd|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
| 13
| [[File:Shankarrao Chavan 2007 stamp of India (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Shankarrao Chavan 2007 stamp of India (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Chavan, Shankarrao|2=[[Shankarrao Chavan]]}}<br />{{small|(1920–2004)}}
| {{sort|1=Chavan, Shankarrao|2=[[Shankarrao Chavan]]}}<br />{{small|(1920–2004)}}
| 2 August 1984
| 2 August 1984
| 31 December 1984
| 31 December 1984
| {{ayd|2 August 1984|31 December 1984}}
| {{ayd|2 August 1984|31 December 1984}}
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]<br />[[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|I. Gandhi III]]<br />[[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 14
| 14
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:P. V. Narasimha Rao.JPG|83x83px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 1 January 1985
| 1 January 1985
| 25 September 1985
| 25 September 1985
| {{ayd|1 January 1985|25 September 1985}}
| {{ayd|1 January 1985|25 September 1985}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| rowspan="4" | [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 15
| 15
| [[File:Rajiv Gandhi (1987).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Rajiv Gandhi (1987).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Gandhi, Rajiv|2=[[Rajiv Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1944–1991)}}
| {{sort|1=Gandhi, Rajiv|2=[[Rajiv Gandhi]]}}<br />{{small|(1944–1991)}}
| 25 September 1985
| 25 September 1985
| 24 January 1987
| 24 January 1987
| {{ayd|30 December 1984|25 September 1985}}
| {{ayd|30 December 1984|25 September 1985}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 16
| 16
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2008)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2008)}}
| 24 January 1987
| 24 January 1987
| 12 April 1987
| 12 April 1987
| {{ayd|24 January 1987|12 April 1987}}
| {{ayd|24 January 1987|12 April 1987}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 17
| 17
| [[File:Shri K.C Pant (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Shri K.C Pant (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Pant, K.|2=[[K. C. Pant]]}}<br />{{small|(1931–2012)}}
| {{sort|1=Pant, K.|2=[[K. C. Pant]]}}<br />{{small|(1931–2012)}}
| 13 April 1987
| 13 April 1987
| 1 December 1989
| 1 December 1989
| {{ayd|13 April 1987|1 December 1989}}
| {{ayd|13 April 1987|1 December 1989}}
| [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|R. Gandhi]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (16)
| (16)
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:V. P. Singh (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2008)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Vishwanath|2=[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2008)}}
| 2 December 1989
| 2 December 1989
| 10 November 1990
| 10 November 1990
| {{ayd|2 December 1989|10 November 1990}}
| {{ayd|2 December 1989|10 November 1990}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Janata Dal]]<br />{{small|([[National Front (India)|National Front]])}}
| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal/meta/color}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Janata Dal]]<br />{{small|([[National Front (India)|National Front]])}}
| [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh ministry|V. Singh]]
| [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh ministry|V. Singh]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 18
| 18
| [[File:Chandra Shekhar Singh.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Chandra Shekhar Singh.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Shekhar, Chandra|2=[[Chandra Shekhar]]}}<br />{{small|(1927–2007)}}
| {{sort|1=Shekhar, Chandra|2=[[Chandra Shekhar]]}}<br />{{small|(1927–2007)}}
| 10 November 1990
| 10 November 1990
| 21 June 1991
| 21 June 1991
| {{ayd|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}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Samajwadi Janata Party]]
| [[Chandra Shekhar ministry|Shekhar]]
| [[Chandra Shekhar ministry|Shekhar]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (14)
| (14)
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:P. V. Narasimha Rao.JPG|83x83px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 21 June 1991
| 21 June 1991
| 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|
| rowspan="3"| [[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=3|
| rowspan="3"| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 19
| 19
| [[File:Sharad Pawar, Minister of AgricultureCrop.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Sharad Pawar, Minister of AgricultureCrop.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Pawar, Sharad|2=[[Sharad Pawar]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| {{sort|1=Pawar, Sharad|2=[[Sharad Pawar]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| 26 June 1991
| 26 June 1991
| 6 March 1993
| 6 March 1993
| {{ayd|26 June 1991|6 March 1993}}
| {{ayd|26 June 1991|6 March 1993}}
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (14)
| (14)
| [[File:Pumapaparti.N.rao.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:P. V. Narasimha Rao.JPG|83x83px]]
! {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| {{sort|1=Rao, P.|2=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}<br />{{small|(1921–2004)}}
| 6 March 1993
| 6 March 1993
| 16 May 1996
| 16 May 1996
| {{ayd|6 March 1993|16 May 1996}}
| {{ayd|6 March 1993|16 May 1996}}
| [[Rao ministry|Rao]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 20
| 20
| [[File:Pramod Mahajan.jpg|85x85px]]
|  
! {{sort|1=Mahajan, Pramod|2=[[Pramod Mahajan]]}}<br />{{small|(1949–2006)}}
| {{sort|1=Mahajan, Pramod|2=[[Pramod Mahajan]]}}<br />{{small|(1949–2006)}}
| 16 May 1996
| 16 May 1996
| 1 June 1996
| 1 June 1996
| {{ayd|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}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| [[First Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee I]]
| [[First Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 21
| 21
| [[File:Mulayam Singh Yadav (28993165375).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Mulayam Singh Yadav (28993165375).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Yadav, Mulayam |2=[[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1939)}}
| {{sort|1=Yadav, Mulayam |2=[[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1939)}}
| 1 June 1996
| 1 June 1996
| 19 March 1998
| 19 March 1998
| {{ayd|1 June 1996|19 March 1998}}
| {{ayd|1 June 1996|19 March 1998}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Samajwadi Party]]
| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Party/meta/color}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samajwadi Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Samajwadi Party]]
| [[Deve Gowda ministry|Gowda]]<br />[[Gujral ministry|Gujral]]
| [[Deve Gowda ministry|Gowda]]<br />[[Gujral ministry|Gujral]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 22
| 22
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2019)}}
| {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2019)}}
| 19 March 1998
| 19 March 1998
| 16 March 2001
| 16 March 2001
| {{ayd|19 March 1998|16 March 2001}}
| {{ayd|19 March 1998|16 March 2001}}
| rowspan="1"| [[Samata Party]]
| width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samata Party/meta/color}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Samata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Samata Party]]
| [[Second Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee II]]–[[Third Vajpayee ministry|III]]
| [[Second Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee II]]–[[Third Vajpayee ministry|III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 23
| 23
| [[File:Jaswant Singh.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Jaswant Singh.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Jaswant|2=[[Jaswant Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1938–2020)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Jaswant|2=[[Jaswant Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(1938–2020)}}
| 16 March 2001
| 16 March 2001
| 21 October 2001
| 21 October 2001
| {{ayd|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}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| [[Third Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee III]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Third Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (22)
| (22)
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:George Fernandes (cropped).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2019)}}
| {{sort|1=Fernandes, George|2=[[George Fernandes]]}}<br />{{small|(1930–2019)}}
| 21 October 2001
| 21 October 2001
| 22 May 2004
| 22 May 2004
| {{ayd|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}}"|
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Janata Dal (United)/meta/color}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Janata Dal (United)]]
| [[Third Vajpayee ministry|Vajpayee III]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 24
| 24
| [[File:Pranab Mukherjee-World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2009 crop(2).jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Pranab Mukherjee-World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2009 crop(2).jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Mukherjee, Pranab|2=[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}}<br />{{small|(1935–2020)}}
| {{sort|1=Mukherjee, Pranab|2=[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}}<br />{{small|(1935–2020)}}
| 22 May 2004
| 22 May 2004
| 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|
| rowspan="2"| [[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Indian National Congress]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Indian National Congress/meta/color}}" rowspan=2|
| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|M. Singh I]]
| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|M. Singh I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 25
| 25
| [[File:A. K. Antony.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:A. K. Antony.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Antony, A.|2=[[A. K. Antony]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| {{sort|1=Antony, A.|2=[[A. K. Antony]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| 26 October 2006
| 26 October 2006
| 26 May 2014
| 26 May 2014
| {{ayd|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]]
| [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|M. Singh I]]–[[Second Manmohan Singh ministry|II]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 26
| 26
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}}<br />{{small|(1952–2019)}}
| {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}}<br />{{small|(1952–2019)}}
| 26 May 2014
| 26 May 2014
| 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|
| rowspan="5"|  [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| rowspan="5"|  [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|width="4px" bgcolor="{{Bharatiya Janata Party/meta/color}}" rowspan=5|
| rowspan="4"| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 27
| 27
| [[File:The official photograph of the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:The official photograph of the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Parrikar, Manohar|2=[[Manohar Parrikar]]}}<br />{{small|(1955–2019)}}
| {{sort|1=Parrikar, Manohar|2=[[Manohar Parrikar]]}}<br />{{small|(1955–2019)}}
| 9 November 2014
| 9 November 2014
| 13 March 2017
| 13 March 2017
| {{ayd|9 November 2014|13 March 2017}}
| {{ayd|9 November 2014|13 March 2017}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| (26)
| (26)
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:The official photograph of the Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}}<br />{{small|(1952–2019)}}
| {{sort|1=Jaitley, Arun|2=[[Arun Jaitley]]}}<br />{{small|(1952–2019)}}
| 13 March 2017
| 13 March 2017
| 3 September 2017
| 3 September 2017
| {{ayd|13 March 2017|3 September 2017}}
| {{ayd|13 March 2017|3 September 2017}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 28
| 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]]
| [[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]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1959)}}
| {{sort|1=Sitharaman, Nirmala|2=[[Nirmala Sitharaman]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1959)}}
| 3 September 2017
| 3 September 2017
| 30 May 2019
| 30 May 2019
| {{ayd|3 September 2017|30 May 2019}}
| {{ayd|3 September 2017|30 May 2019}}
| [[First Modi ministry|Modi I]]
| <ref name=elections-in />
|-
|-
| 29
| 29
| [[File:Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in February 2020.jpg|75px]]
| [[File:Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in February 2020.jpg|75px]]
! {{sort|1=Singh, Rajnath|2=[[Rajnath Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1951)}}
| {{sort|1=Singh, Rajnath|2=[[Rajnath Singh]]}}<br />{{small|(born 1951)}}
| 30 May 2019
| 30 May 2019
| ''Incumbent''
| ''Incumbent''
| {{ayd|31 May 2019}}
| {{ayd|30 May 2019}}
| [[Second Modi ministry|Modi II]]
| [[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 ==
== List of Ministers of State ==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible style=" ;"sortable mw-collapsible"
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible style=" ;"sortable mw-collapsible"
|+Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism
|+Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
! [[Minister of state]]
! [[Minister of state]]
! Portrait
! Portrait
! colspan=2| Political party
! Political party
!
! colspan="2" | Term
! colspan="2" | Term
! Days
! Years
|-align=center
|-align=center
|[[Rao Inderjit Singh]]
|[[Rao Inderjit Singh]]
Line 462: Line 413:
|26 May 2014
|26 May 2014
|5 July 2016
|5 July 2016
|{{Age in days|2014|05|26|2016|07|5}} days
|{{Age in years and days|2014|05|26|2016|07|5}}
|-align=center
|-align=center
|[[Subhash Bhamre]]
|[[Subhash Bhamre]]
Line 468: Line 419:
|5 July 2016
|5 July 2016
|30 May 2019
|30 May 2019
|{{Age in days|2016|07|5|2019|05|30}} days
|{{Age in years and days|2016|07|5|2019|05|30}}
|-align=center
|-align=center
|[[Shripad Naik]]
|[[Shripad Naik]]
Line 474: Line 425:
|30 May 2019
|30 May 2019
|7 July 2021
|7 July 2021
|{{Age in days|2019|05|30}} days
|{{Age in years and days|2019|05|30}}
|-
|-align=center
|-align=center
|[[Ajay Bhatt (politician)|Ajay Bhatt]]
|[[Ajay Bhatt (politician)|Ajay Bhatt]]
|
|
|7 July 2021
|7 July 2021
|Incumbent  
|''Incumbent''
|{{Age in days|2021|07|07}} days
|{{Age in years and days|2021|07|07}}
|}
|}


Revision as of 02:16, 15 October 2021


Minister of Defence
Rakshā Mantri
Emblem of India
Flag of India
Incumbent
Rajnath Singh
since 31 May 2019
Ministry of Defence (India) Ministry of Defence
StyleThe Honourable
Member ofUnion Cabinet
Reports toPrime Minister
Parliament of India
AppointerPresident
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term length5 years
Formation15 August 1947
First holderBaldev Singh
Deputy Ajay Bhatt
Minister of State
Websitemod.gov.in
India
This article is part of a series on the
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The Minister of Defence (Rakshā Mantri) is the head of the 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 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[1]

No. Portrait Name
(born-died) 		Term of office Political party
(Alliance) 		Ministry
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Baldev Singh
(1902–1961) 		15 August 1947 13 May 1952 4 years, 272 days Indian National Congress Nehru I–II
2 N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
(1882–1953) 		13 May 1952 10 February 1953 273 days Nehru II
3 File:Jnehru.jpg Jawaharlal Nehru
(1889–1964) 		10 February 1953 10 January 1955 1 year, 334 days Nehru II
4 Kailash Nath Katju
(1887–1968) 		10 January 1955 30 January 1957 2 years, 20 days Nehru II
(3) File:Jnehru.jpg Jawaharlal Nehru
(1889–1964) 		30 January 1957 17 April 1957 2 years, 97 days Nehru II–III
5 V. K. Krishna Menon
(1896–1974) 		17 April 1957 31 October 1962 5 years, 197 days Nehru III–IV
(3) File:Jnehru.jpg Jawaharlal Nehru
(1889–1964) 		31 October 1962 14 November 1962 14 days Nehru IV
6 Yashwantrao Chavan
(1913–1984) 		14 November 1962 13 November 1966 3 years, 364 days Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Gandhi I
7 Swaran Singh
(1907–1994) 		13 November 1966 27 June 1970 3 years, 226 days I. Gandhi I
8 Jagjivan Ram
(1908–1986) 		27 June 1970 10 October 1974 4 years, 105 days I. Gandhi I–II
(7) Swaran Singh
(1907–1994) 		10 October 1974 1 December 1975 1 year, 52 days I. Gandhi II
9 Indira Gandhi
(1917–1984) 		1 December 1975 20 December 1975 19 days I. Gandhi II
10 Bansi Lal
(1927–2006) 		21 December 1975 24 March 1977 1 year, 94 days I. Gandhi II
(8) Jagjivan Ram
(1908–1986) 		24 March 1977 28 July 1979 2 years, 126 days Janata Party Desai
11 Chidambaram Subramaniam
(1910–2000) 		28 July 1979 14 January 1980 170 days Indian National Congress (Urs) C. Singh
(9) Indira Gandhi
(1917–1984) 		14 January 1980 15 January 1982 2 years, 1 day Indian National Congress I. Gandhi III
12 Ramaswamy Venkataraman
(1910–2009) 		15 January 1982 2 August 1984 2 years, 200 days
13 Shankarrao Chavan
(1920–2004) 		2 August 1984 31 December 1984 151 days I. Gandhi III
R. Gandhi
14 P. V. Narasimha Rao
(1921–2004) 		1 January 1985 25 September 1985 267 days R. Gandhi
15 Rajiv Gandhi
(1944–1991) 		25 September 1985 24 January 1987 269 days
16 Vishwanath Pratap Singh
(1930–2008) 		24 January 1987 12 April 1987 78 days
17 K. C. Pant
(1931–2012) 		13 April 1987 1 December 1989 2 years, 232 days
(16) Vishwanath Pratap Singh
(1930–2008) 		2 December 1989 10 November 1990 343 days Janata Dal
(National Front) 		V. Singh
18 Chandra Shekhar
(1927–2007) 		10 November 1990 21 June 1991 223 days Samajwadi Janata Party Shekhar
(14) P. V. Narasimha Rao
(1921–2004) 		21 June 1991 26 June 1991 5 days Indian National Congress Rao
19 Sharad Pawar
(born 1940) 		26 June 1991 6 March 1993 1 year, 253 days
(14) P. V. Narasimha Rao
(1921–2004) 		6 March 1993 16 May 1996 3 years, 71 days
20 Pramod Mahajan
(1949–2006) 		16 May 1996 1 June 1996 16 days Bharatiya Janata Party Vajpayee I
21 Mulayam Singh Yadav
(born 1939) 		1 June 1996 19 March 1998 1 year, 291 days Samajwadi Party Gowda
Gujral
22 George Fernandes
(1930–2019) 		19 March 1998 16 March 2001 2 years, 362 days Samata Party Vajpayee II–III
23 Jaswant Singh
(1938–2020) 		16 March 2001 21 October 2001 219 days Bharatiya Janata Party Vajpayee III
(22) George Fernandes
(1930–2019) 		21 October 2001 22 May 2004 2 years, 214 days Janata Dal (United)
24 Pranab Mukherjee
(1935–2020) 		22 May 2004 26 October 2006 2 years, 157 days Indian National Congress M. Singh I
25 A. K. Antony
(born 1940) 		26 October 2006 26 May 2014 7 years, 212 days M. Singh I–II
26 Arun Jaitley
(1952–2019) 		26 May 2014 9 November 2014 167 days Bharatiya Janata Party Modi I
27 Manohar Parrikar
(1955–2019) 		9 November 2014 13 March 2017 2 years, 124 days
(26) Arun Jaitley
(1952–2019) 		13 March 2017 3 September 2017 174 days
28 Nirmala Sitharaman
(born 1959) 		3 September 2017 30 May 2019 1 year, 269 days
29 Rajnath Singh
(born 1951) 		30 May 2019 Incumbent 7 years, 70 days Modi II

List of Ministers of State

Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
Minister of state Portrait Political party Term Years
Rao Inderjit Singh Bharatiya Janata Party 26 May 2014 5 July 2016 2 years, 40 days
Subhash Bhamre 5 July 2016 30 May 2019 2 years, 329 days
Shripad Naik 30 May 2019 7 July 2021 7 years, 70 days
Ajay Bhatt 7 July 2021 Incumbent 5 years, 32 days

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ministry of Defence, List of Defence Ministers of India". Elections.in. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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