Nirmala Sitharaman (Minister of Finance of India) Biography

The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the Union Budget of India 2023 on 1st February 2023 for the fifth consecutive year. Nirmala Sitharaman made history when she delivered the 2021 Union Budget of India as it was the longest Budget Speech 2 hours and 40 Minutes made by any Finance Minister in India while presenting the Budget. Let us find out more about the Current Finance Minister.

Nirmala Sitharam was born in Madurai, Madras State  (now Tamil Nadu) in a Tamil Iyenger Family to Savitri and Narayanan Sitharaman. She is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University where she completed her M.A. and M.Phil in 1984. She is a member of the Rajya Sabha and the Finance Minister of India.

The Birth Date of Nirmala Sitharam is 18th August 1959. She completed her schooling in Madras and Tiruchirapalli. She went to Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchirapalli to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Economics. Now she is 63 years old.

Nirmala Sitharaman Personal Info

Nirmala Sitharaman Family

Nirmala Sitharaman belongs to a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin Family. Her father, Narayanan Sitaraman, was an Indian Railways Employee and mother, K. Savitri, is a homemaker. She has one sister.

Nirmala met Parakala Prabhakar, political commentator and Communications advisor, in while she was studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The duo tied the knot in 1986. The couple has a daughter, Vangamayi.

Nirmala Sitharaman Education

Nirmala Sitharaman, born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is the daughter of Savitri and Narayanan Sitharaman, belonging to the Tamil Iyengar community. Growing up in Madras and Thiruchirapalli, she had the opportunity to immerse herself in Tamil culture and language due to her Tamil heritage and the cities she resided in.

Nirmala Sitharaman Physical Status

Nirmala Sitharaman Net Worth

Nirmala Sitharaman, a prominent politician in India, is estimated to have a net worth between $100K and $1M in 2024. Serving as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India, Sitharaman has played a significant role in shaping the country’s economic policies. Her expertise in finance and her strategic decision-making skills have garnered her widespread recognition. As an influential figure in Indian politics, her net worth is reflective of her enduring commitment to public service and her accomplishments in the field.

Nirmala Sitharaman Favourites

Nirmala Sitharaman Social Accounts

Nirmala Sitharaman Career

Nirmala started her career as an assistant to an Economist in the Agricultural Engineers Association in London. Next, she worked as a Senior Manager in the Research department of PricewaterhouseCoopers, London. She, then, worked in the BBC World Service for a while. In 1991, Sitharaman returned to India. Here, she served as a Dy. Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in Hyderabad.

During the NDA regime (1998-2004), Nirmala got nominated to the National Commission for Women (NCW) but her term immediately ended when the UPA came in the centre in 2004. While she joined the NCW, Nirmala came in touch with Sushma Swaraj, who after being impressed by her work recommended her to the party (BJP). Sitaraman joined the BJP in 2008 and was appointed as the spokesperson of the party in 2010.

She moved from Hyderabad to Delhi. In 2014, Sitaraman became the Commerce Minister with independent charge in the Narendra Modi‘s cabinet. After a reshuffle in the Cabinet, she was promoted and given the ministry of finance and corporate affairs. On 3 September 2017, Nirmala succeeded Arun Jaitley and became the first full-time woman Defense Minister of India.

She became the second woman from the country to hold this post after Indira Gandhi, who once held the charge for 20 days. On 30 May 2019, Nirmala became the first full-time Woman Finance Minister of India.

COVID-19 pandemic

• After the COVID-19 crisis, Sitharaman became the in-charge of the COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force.
• She unveiled ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan‘ 20 lakh crore relief package via a press conference at the National Media Centre.  The Rs 20 lakh crore relief package includes the previous packages announced by the GOI and the central bank i.e. RBI to deal with the coronavirus distress.

• On Tuesday, PM Modi in his fifth address to the nation, since the countrywide lockdown, announced this package to make India self-reliant and urged the people to become vocal for local products, i.e., use of swadeshi. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted, “This shall not be just a financial package, but a reform stimulus, a mindset overhaul, and a thrust in governance.”
• Both Prime Minister and Finance Minister indicated that this huge package will revive the Indian economy and will support people from all walks of life amidst the pandemic. 

Nirmala Sitharaman: Recognitions

•  Nirmala Sitharaman was conferred with the  Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019 by JNU. 
• She was also ranked as the 34th most powerful woman in the world in 2019 by Forbes Magazine. 
• Nirmala Sitharaman is one of the most powerful women that India has witnessed. From the first full-time female Finance Minister to holding several positions in the Union Cabinet, Sitharaman is an inspiration to all the females of the country. 

Political Timeline of Nirmala Sitharaman

2022

• BJP candidate Nirmala Sitharaman was elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

2019

• She was Inducted into Modi’s cabinet as Minister of Finance.

2017

• Appointed as Minister of Defense.

2016

• Elected to Rajya Sabha for a second term from Karnataka.

2014

• Elected to Rajya Sabha (resigned on 17 June 2016).

2014

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2014

• Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

2008

• She joined BJP.

2003

• Member, National Commission for Women.

Awards and Recognition of Nirmala Sitharaman

• Nirmala Sitharaman was conferred with the  Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019 by JNU.
• She was also ranked as the 34th most powerful woman in the world in 2019 by Forbes Magazine

Nirmala Sitharman Husband

Sitharaman met her husband Parakala Prabhakar who is from Narsapuram, Andhra Pradesh while studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. While Nirmala leaned towards the BJP, her husband was from a Congress family. They married in 1986, and have a daughter. Prabhakar served as a communications advisor to the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Nirmala Sitharaman Some Lesser-Known Facts

• On her return to India in 1991, she served as Dy. Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in Hyderabad.
• She was an educationist and was also one of the founding members of ‘Pranava’, a reputed school in Hyderabad.
• She is an avid reader and writes the press releases on her own.
• She is a devotee of ‘Lord Krishna’ and has a huge collection of his bhajans.
• She is a devotee of ‘Lord Krishna’ and has a huge collection of his bhajans.
• She was nominated to the National Commission for Women (NCW) during the NDA regime (1998-2004) under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but her term was immediately ended when the UPA came at the centre in 2004.
• She is a perfect blend of her father’s disciplinary nature and her mother’s love for books.
• Her favourite subject in her college days was globalisation and its impact on developing countries.
• In 2008, she joined the BJP while her husband joined Telugu film star Chiranjeevi‘s political party, Praja Rajyam.
• When BJP came into power in 2014, she was inducted in the Narendra Modi cabinet as the MoS Commerce Ministry with independent charge. After a Cabinet reshuffle, she was promoted and was given the ministry of finance and corporate affairs.
• On 3 September 2017, she succeeded Arun Jaitley as the Defence Minister of India.
• She is a devotee of ‘Lord Krishna’ and has a huge collection of his bhajans

Nirmala Sitharaman Other Facts

• Her hobbies include reading, writing, listening to classical music, and cooking.
• Nirmala resides at Plot No.M-6, Green Lands, Manchirevula Vill., Rajendra Nagar Mandal, Ranga Reddy Dist., Telangana.
• Nirmala has got her disciplinary nature from her father and her love for books from her mother.
• Globalisation and its impact on developing countries was her favourite subject in her college days.
• Nirmala was married into a ‘Congress oriented’ family. Her father-in-law was a minister in the Andhra Pradesh Congress Govt. in the 1970s and her mother-in-law was a Congress MLA in Andhra Pradesh.
• When Sitaraman was working as a salesgirl at Habitat, London, she won a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne for making a record at the Christmas sales.
• Nirmala was a co-founder of “Pranava,” a reputed school in Hyderabad.
• She is an enthusiastic reader and prefers writing the press releases on her own.
• She is an ardent follower of Lord Krishna and has a huge collection of his hymns.
• Nirmala is fond of Sarees. She has a great collection of vintage silk and cotton Kanjeevarams.
• Surprisingly, when Sitharaman joined the “BJP,” her husband joined the Telugu film star Chiranjeevi’s political party, “Praja Rajyam.”
• Sitharaman was an active participant in debates, discussions, quiz competitions in her college days.

Health Condition of Nirmala Sitharaman

On 26 November 2022, Nirmala Sitharaman was admitted to the AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi. She was reportedly dealing with dehydration and congestion problems. There were multiple speculations leading to Covid since she allegedly developed fever. However, those reports were never confirmed from any source pertaining to Sitharaman. Her health condition showed substantial recovery at the hospital. She has been discharged by the doctors as of Thursday.

Nirmala Daughter Marriage

In a simple ceremony, Nirmala Sitharaman’s daughter Parakala Vangamayi got married in her home in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Wednesday. According to media reports, the wedding was attended by close friends and relatives, and no political leaders were invited.

Vangamayi’s wedding to Prateek, who is from Gujarat, took place as per Brahmin traditions and seers from Udupi Adamaru Mutt were present to bless the bride and groom. The wedding was carried out in the Vedic order of Adamaru Mutt.

Nirmala Sitharaman Latest Update

Budget 2024 LIVE Centre convenes all-party meeting. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the budget for Financial Year 2024-25 on February 1. This will be the final annual financial statement of the BJP-led PM Narendra Modi government’s second term. Last week, the traditional pre-budget ‘halwa’ ceremony was held- beginning a ‘lock-in’ period for officials involved in budget preparation to maintain confidentiality until the document’s tabling in the Lok Sabha.