Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices include several significant offices in the Indian government over her political career, rising from junior ministerial roles to prominent cabinet positions.
Minister of State in 2014
Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices began as a Minister of State in 2014, serving simultaneously in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs from May to November 2014. Concurrently, from May 2014 to September 2017, she was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, where she worked on enhancing India’s trade relations and promoting initiatives like “Make in India.”
India’s 28th Defence Minister
In September 2017, Sitharaman made history by becoming India’s 28th Defence Minister and the first full-time female to hold this office. She was only the second woman, after Indira Gandhi, to serve as Defence Minister. During her tenure, the Indian Army conducted the notable Balakot airstrike in 2019.
Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs
On May 31, 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices included the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs, becoming India’s first full-time female Finance Minister and the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold the finance portfolio. She has presented the Union Budget multiple times, including a record of eight consecutive budgets as of 2025. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the economic response task force and has overseen considerable growth in India’s GDP, propelling the nation to the status of the fifth-largest economy globally.
Member of the Rajya Sabha
Sitharaman has also been an active member of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament), initially representing Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2016 and subsequently representing Karnataka since 2016.
Before her cabinet-level roles, she was a member of the National Commission for Women (2003-2005), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008 as a national spokesperson, and served in the BJP National Executive from 2008 onwards.
In summary, Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices include:
- Member, National Commission for Women (2003-2005)
- BJP National Spokesperson (2010-2014)
- Minister of State in the Ministries of Finance and Corporate Affairs (May-Nov 2014)
- Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2014-2017)
- Union Defence Minister (Sept 2017 – May 2019)
- Union Finance Minister and Minister of Corporate Affairs (May 2019 – present)
- Rajya Sabha Member representing Andhra Pradesh (2014-2016) and Karnataka (2016-present)
She is notable for breaking gender barriers by being the first full-time female in both Defence and Finance minister roles in India.
List of Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices with time & position
| Year(s) | Location | Position | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 – 2005 | India (National) | Member, National Commission for Women | Served on India’s statutory body dedicated to women’s rights and welfare |
| 2008 – 2010 | India (National) | National Executive Member, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | Part of BJP’s top decision-making body at national level |
| 2010 – 2014 | India (National) | National Spokesperson, BJP | Official spokesperson representing BJP on media and public platforms |
| 2014 (May-Nov) | India (National) | Minister of State, Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Corporate Affairs | Junior minister assisting in financial and corporate regulatory matters |
| 2014 – 2017 | India (National) | Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Commerce and Industry | Headed commerce and industry portfolio as independent minister |
| 2017 – 2019 | India (National) | Minister of Defence | First full-time female Defence Minister of India; oversaw key defense operations including Balakot strike |
| 2019 – Present | India (National) | Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs | India’s first full-time female Finance Minister; presented union budgets since 2019 |
| 2014 – Present | India (Rajya Sabha) | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | Represented Andhra Pradesh (2014-2016), then Karnataka (since 2016) in the Upper House |
This overview presents Nirmala Sitharaman Previous Offices evolution from a party spokesperson to major ministerial portfolios in finance, defence, and commerce at the national level in India.
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