Praful Patel

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Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born 17 February 1957) is an Indian politician. His father, Manoharbhai Patel, a Indian National Congress leader who was elected to represent Gondia Bhandara districts in Maharashtra. His political career began in 1991 and he was appointed as the Union Minister of Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) in 2004. His family runs the CEEJAY group, a large tobacco conglomerate in India.

Praful Patel
Praful Patel World Economic Forum 2013.jpg
Patel at the 2013 World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
05 July 2016 – 02 April 2022
ConstituencyMaharashtra
Member of FIFA Finance Committee
Assumed office
2017
Senior Vice President of AFC
Assumed office
2015
President of All India Football Federation
Assumed office
21 February 2014
Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
In office
19 January 2011 – 26 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded bySantosh Mohan Dev
Succeeded byAnant Geete
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation
In office
23 May 2004 – 18 January 2011
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byRajiv Pratap Rudy
Succeeded byVayalar Ravi
Personal details
Born (1957-02-17) 17 February 1957 (age 68)
Nadiad, Bombay State, India
Political partyNationalist Congress Party
Spouse(s)Varsha Patel
ChildrenAvni, Niyati, Poorna and Prajay
ResidenceMumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationSports administrator
Politician
Websitepraful-patel.com
As of 8 May, 2008

He is the president of India's association football governing body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) since 2012.[1][2] He became the Asian Football Confederation's vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain in 2015.[3] In December 2016 he was appointed as the Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation. In 2017, He became a member of a FIFA Finance Committee for a term of four years.[4][5]

Early life and education

Praful Patel attended Mumbai's Campion School, and then Sydenham College. His father, a member of the Maharashtra Assembly who represented Gondia constituency, died when he was 13.[6]

He is graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay and married Varsha Patel, a Gujarati businessman's daughter.

Political career

Patel followed in his father's footsteps in choosing a political career.[7] In 1985, he became the president of the Municipal Council, Gondia, (Maharashtra) and in 1991 was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha. In 1996 and 1998 he was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha and 12th Lok Sabha respectively.[8] Patel was a member of a number of committees within the Indian Government including, the Consultative Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forests (1991–1996), the Committee on Science and Technology (1994–1995), the Committee on Home Affairs (1995–1996), the Committee on Finance (1996–97), and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation before being elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2000.[9]

In 2004, Patels became the Minister of State for Civil Aviation. He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for his second term in 2006 and in 2009 he was re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a fourth term. On 19 January 2011, Patel became the Cabinet Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and relieved of Civil Aviation Portfolio.[10][11] He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2016.[12]

Career

 
Praful Patel assumes the charge of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on 24 May 2004

From 2004 to 2011, Patel was appointed Minister of Civil Aviation. In this role, the government increased the foreign direct investment cap in the domestic airlines sector from 40% to 49%.[13] He also stressed the importance of the aviation sector's cargo carriers and their importance to the Indian economy.[14] In January 2011, he completed his tenure as Civil Aviation Minister and was appointed as the Union Cabinet Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise.

On 9 January 2013, Patel launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020, which is a roadmap for the progressive introduction and expansion of efficient and environmentally friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country.[15][16][17]

As the Minister of the Heavy Industries, Patel launched a project to build the world's largest solar power plant near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.[18] The project will generate roughly 4000 MW of power, but following protest from environmental groups, the project site was moved to Kharaghoda in Surendranagar district of Gujarat.[19][20][21]

Patel placed a bid from India to host the FIFA World Club Championships.[22]

Under Patel, the AIFF introduced the Indian Super League run by the Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd., which aims to make Indian football more competitive at an international level. In April 2014, Patel announced of the eight franchise owners in the Indian Super League.

AIFF President

After a month of signing an agreement with the German Football Association (DFB), the AIFF President inked a tie up with the French Football Federation (FFF) in the city of Munich. Previously, an agreement with the Japan Football Association (JFA) was also signed by the Federation in February 2015.[23] As per the correspondence which has been signed, the two federations have taken the decision to support each other in terms of the mutual growth, promotion and continuous emphasis on the development of football in both the countries.[24]

Under the presidency of Praful Patel, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) brought back international friendlies to India by awarding Mumbai with its first official international match after 61 years.[25] Praful has said that India will host more friendly matches in the future.[26]

On 28 March 2016, Patel announced the commencement of a women's league later in 2016.[27][28] In a Special General Body Meeting of the AIFF held in New Delhi, a women's league was introduced in line with Patel's plans to place more emphasis on women's football. On 17 October 2016, the women's football league trial kicked off for the first time in India in the city of Cuttack.[29][30] On 24 January 2017 AIFF President Praful Patel launched the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League at New Delhi. The league will commence from 28 January with six teams participating in it.[31][32]

On 1 December 2016, Patel was appointed as the Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation.[33] India subsequently won the rights to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and hosted the AFC U-16 Championship in September 2016. The All India Football Federation has also won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award at the AFC's Annual Awards 2016 held in the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[34]

On 21 January 2016, Praful Patel was elected unopposed as the AIFF President for the consecutive terms.[35][36]

Awards

In 2005, Patel was awarded the CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) Aviation Minister of the year. The award was in recognition of Patel's contributions towards the progress of aviation in the Asia Pacific region.[37] In 2006, India Today ranked Praful Patel as the no. 1 minister. In addition, Patel was bestowed with the title of 'Reformer of the Year' by The Economic Times in 2007. Patel has also been awarded an honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution in making India a rapidly developing and economically strong nation in 2007.

Memberships and Chairman positions

Patel is Chairman of the Manoharbhai Patel Charitable Trust and President of the Gondia Education Society, Gondia, Maharashtra. This society manages more than 1,000,000 students who are studying in schools and colleges that come under it. The Manoharbhai Patel Charitable Trust holds regular aid and equipment distribution programs in Gondia and Bhandara[38] to improve the lives of the physically challenged.

Associated Sports and Clubs include the Gondwana Club, Nagpur Lions International Club, President of the All India Football Federation, Cricket Club Mumbai and Mumbai Cricket Association, Mumbai.[39]

References

  1. "Detailed Profile: Shri Praful Manoharbhai Patel". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. "The Risk Taker : Thinkworks". Thinkworks.in. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. "AIFF president Praful Patel elected as AFC vice-president".
  4. "Praful Patel appointed member of FIFA's finance committee". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  5. "FIFA appoints Praful Patel as member of its finance committee – The Economic Times". The Economic Times. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  6. "Praful The Jet-Minister". Upper Crust India.
  7. "Political Career". 164.100.47.132. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. "India Gov : Political Career". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  9. "Political Career". Parliamentofindia. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  10. "Praful Patel elected as President of AIFF". Goal. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  11. "India Cabinet : List of ministers of India & their departments (Year – 2014)". Worldsnap. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  12. "Suresh Prabhu, Piyush Goyal, P. Chidambaram elected to Rajya Sabha". Livemint. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  13. "Cabinet to consider hiking FDI in civil aviation to 49%". Business Line. 20 October 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  14. "Govt may allow FDI in domestic airlines". Rediff. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  15. "National Electric Mobility Mission Plan Launched Today" (Press release). Government of India Press Releases. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  16. "National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 unveiled". EnergyNext. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  17. "PM Manmohan Singh to launch National Electric Mobility Mission Plan in next few weeks: Praful Patel". The Economic Times. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  18. "Provide subsidy for BHEL's solar gear unit: Patel". Zeenews. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  19. "BHEL, 5 other PSUs to set up 4,000 MW solar plant in Rajasthan". Business Line. Press Trust of India. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  20. "India to build world's largest solar power plant in Rajasthan". Zeenews. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  21. Sinha, Shishir. "Rajasthan mega solar project likely to be shifted to Gujarat". @businessline. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  22. "India to bid for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup: AIFF". The Times of India. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  23. "AIFF enters into an agreement with French Football Federation | Business Standard News". Business Standard. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  24. "AIFF to Seek Expertise From French Football Federation – NDTV Sports". Sports.ndtv.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  25. "International football returns to Mumbai after 61 years". The Times of India. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  26. "India v Puerto Rico – Praful Patel – India will host more friendlies". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  27. "Women's football league to start in India this year: AIFF president Praful Patel". Ibtimes.co.in. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  28. "AIFF to Kick off Indian Women's Football League This Year". The Quint. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. "AIFF to introduce Women's Football League later this year – Sports Cafe | DailyHunt". M.dailyhunt.in. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  31. "AIFF launch inaugural edition of Indian Women's League to be held in New Delhi from 28 January". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  32. "AIFF launches six-team women's football league". India Today. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  33. "Praful Patel: Praful Patel appointed as AFC senior vice president". The Times of India. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  34. "Praful Patel appointed AFC Senior VP". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  35. "Praful Patel elected unopposed as AIFF president for third time". The Indian Express. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  36. "Praful Patel elected unopposed as AIFF president for third time | football". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  37. "Emirates named CAPA Airline of the Year for 2005 Indian Minister and Ray Webster honoured". Centreforaviation.com. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  38. "Social activities : Lok Sabha(India Govt.)". Fifteenth Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  39. "Association with Sports and Clubs : Archive(India Govt.)". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

External links

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