Party Name : Bharatiya Janata Party
Constituency : Darjeeling
State : West Bengal
Member Experience : Elected to Loksabha 4 time
Last Loksabha Attended : 15
Father's Name : Late Shri Thakur Sardar Singhji
Mother's Name : Late Smt. Kunwar Baisa
Date of birth : 03 Jan 1938
Profession : Political and Social Worker
Positions held :
1980 Elected to Rajya Sabha1986 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (2nd term)1986-1989 Member, Public Accounts Committee, Rajya SabhaMember, Committee on Previleges, Rajya SabhaMember, Commitee on Public Undertakings, Rajya Sabha1987 Member, Consultative Committee constituted under the Punjab State1989-1991 Legislature (Delegation of Powers) Act, 19871990 Elected to 9th Lok Sabha1991-1996 Chairman, Estimate Committee1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (2nd term)Chairman, Committee on Environment and Forests1992 Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into Irregularities in Securities and Banking Transactions1993 Chairman, Committee on Energy1996-97 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (3rd term)May 1996 Union Cabinet Minister, Finance25 Mar. 1998-4 Feb. 1999 Deputy Chairman, Planning CommissionJul. 1998 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (3rd term)Dec. 1998-1 Jul. 2002 Union Cabinet Minister, External AffairsFeb-Oct. 1999 Union Cabinet Minister, Electronics (Simultaneous charge)6 Aug.-13 Oct. 1999 Union Cabinet Minister, Surface Transport (Simultaneous charge)15 Oct. 1999 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (4th term)18 March-15 Oct. 2001 Union Cabinet Minister, Defence (Simultaneous charges)1 Jul. 2002-9 Apr. 2003 Minister of Finance & Company Affairs, Govt. of India10 April 2002-21 May 2004 Union Cabinet Minister, Finance2004 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (5th term)Leader of Opposition, Rajya SabhaAug. 2004-Aug. 2006 Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and ForestsAug. 2004-May 2009 Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Installation of Portraits/Stautes of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House ComplexAug 2005 Member, General Purposes Committee2009 Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (4th term)6 Aug. 2009 - 31 Dec. 2009 Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts1 Jan. 2010 Member, Committee on Public Accounts10 Sep. 2009 Member, Committee on Budget
More Information :
Books Published
Has contributed widely to Indian and foreign magazines, newspapers and journals on international affairs, security and development issues, Has written the following books: (i) National Security- An outline of our Concerns; (ii) Shauryam Tejo (in Hindi); (iii) Defending India; (iv) District Diary; (v) Khankhanama - A biography of Bairam Khan( in Hindi); (vi) Defendre l`inde (in French); (vii) A call to Honour: In Service of Emergent India; (viii) Travels in Transoxiana; (ix) Victoria Cross- Till Memory Serves; (x) Conflict & Diplomacy; (xi) Ayodhya - Our Republic Post 6 December 1992: A Dialogue; (xii) Jinnah: India - Partition - Independence.
Social And Cultural Activities
Through his foundation, he provides ambulance service in the desert districts of Barmer and Jaislmer, his home districts. To promote and disseminate the literature of `Dingal`(an ancient local language) he has established another foundation. He is also a trustee on various charities engaged in running hospitals, museums and water conservation projects.
Special Interests
A lover of horses, and himself a skilled horseman;the patron-in-chief of the Indian Polo Association, having himself been a player.
Favourite Pastime and Recreation
Works with music,playing chess preferably against a computer and golf
Sports and Clubs
Member: (i) Indian Polo Association, (ii) Equestrian Federation of India,(iii) Defence Services Officers` Institue, (iv) Delhi golf Club (v) United Services Institute, (vi) India International Centre, (vii) International Institute of Strategic Studies, London; antiquarian, bibliophile, music, horses, equestrian sports, gold and chess
Countries Visited
Widely travelled
Other Information
Commissioned to the Central India Horse in 1957; resigned Commission to join politics; Chaired several Task Forces to recommend policy to the Government amongst others on (i) Telecommunications, (ii) Information Technology, and (iii) Energy; was member of Group of Ministries on (a) Reforming the National Security System (b) Hydrocarbon Vision 2025
