List of longest-serving members of the Union Council of Ministers

Longer serving Indian Central Ministers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of the longest-serving ministers of the Union Council of Ministers of India, listing those individuals who served at least a decade in Union ministries. As of July 2026, 90 Union ministers have served for at least 10 years in office, including 20 who served for 15 years or more and five who served for at least 20 years. As ministers often hold multiple portfolios during their respective tenures, only their final portfolios and the periods they served in their ranks are displayed here. Party affiliations are those held during the tenure (s) in office of each respective officeholder. Since the first Union Council was established in 1947, its members have been categorised into the following five ranks (in descending order):[1]

Jagjivan Ram is India's longest serving Union Minister

Ministers in the first three ranks comprise the Union Cabinet, which is the supreme decision-making body of the nation per Article 75 of the Constitution. Regardless of rank, any member of the Union Council is a Union minister, per the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act 1952.[1]

When multiple Union ministers have been sworn into office from the same date, they are listed in the order they were administered their oaths of office and secrecy, beginning with the Prime Minister. Union ministers who have served in multiple Union Ministries are listed in order of seniority, i.e. a Cabinet Minister in one Union ministry who remains a Cabinet Minister in a subsequent Union ministry is listed before a Minister of State who was subsequently promoted to the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

List

Key
  • † Died in office
More information #, Minister ...
# MinisterPortraitFinal or current ministerial rank
(final/current portfolio held)		Ministries servedParty affiliationsRanksStart of tenureEnd of tenureTime in officeOverall tenure
1 Jagjivan Ram
(1908 – 1986)		 Deputy Prime Minister
(Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Indira I
Indira II
Desai		   INC (1947–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  CFD (1977)
  JP (1977–1979)		 Cabinet Minister 15 August 1947 31 August 1963 16 years and 16 days 29 years, 4 months and 5 days[a]
24 January 1966 2 February 1977 11 years and 9 days
28 March 1977 24 January 1979 1 year, 9 months and 27 days
Deputy Prime Minister 24 January 1979 28 July 1979 5 months and 13 days
2 Swaran Singh
(1907 – 1994)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Defence)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1952–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1975)		 Cabinet Minister 13 May 1952 1 December 1975 23 years, 6 months and 18 days
3 Satya Narayan Sinha
(1900 – 1983)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Communications)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I		   INC (1948–1969)
  INC (O) (1969–1971)		 Deputy Minister 1 October 1948 26 February 1949 4 months and 25 days 22 years, 3 months and 20 days
Minister of State 26 February 1949 25 January 1950 10 months and 30 days
31 January 1950 6 May 1950 3 months and 6 days
13 May 1950 10 April 1962 11 years, 9 months and 23 days
Cabinet Minister 10 April 1962 8 March 1971 8 years, 10 months and 26 days
4 Raj Bahadur
(1912 – 1990)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1951–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1976)		 Deputy Minister 29 May 1951 13 May 1952 11 months and 14 days 21 years, 5 months and 25 days
4 June 1952 14 February 1956 3 years, 8 months and 10 days
Minister of State[b] 14 February 1956 13 March 1967 11 years and 27 days
Cabinet Minister 18 March 1971 8 November 1973 2 years, 7 months and 21 days
9 November 1973 22 December 1976 3 years, 1 month and 13 days
5 Pranab Mukherjee
(1935 – 2020)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Finance)		 Indira III
Indira IV
Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (R) (1973–1977)
  INC (1980–1984, 1993–1996, 2004–2012)
 Deputy Minister 5 February 1973 10 October 1974 1 year, 8 months and 5 days 20 years, 3 months and 18 days
Minister of State 10 October 1974 24 March 1977 2 years, 5 months and 14 days
Cabinet Minister 14 January 1980 31 December 1984 4 years, 11 months and 17 days
17 January 1993 9 July 1993 5 months and 22 days
31 August 1993 16 May 1996 2 years, 8 months and 16 days
22 May 2004 26 June 2012 8 years, 1 month and 4 days
6 Kotha Raghuramaiah
(1912 – 1979)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs)		 Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1957–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Deputy Minister 21 May 1957 10 April 1962 4 years, 10 months and 20 days 19 years, 9 months and 26 days
Minister of State 16 April 1962 27 June 1970 8 years, 2 months and 11 days
Cabinet Minister 27 June 1970[2] 24 March 1977 6 years, 8 months and 25 days
7 B. Shankaranand
(1925 – 2009)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Health and Family Welfare)		 Indira II
Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (R) (1971–1977)
  INC (1980–1987, 1988–1989, 1991–1994)		 Deputy Minister 2 May 1971 24 March 1977 5 years, 10 months and 22 days 18 years, 5 months and 5 days
Cabinet Minister 14 January 1980 31 October 1984 4 years, 9 months and 17 days
4 November 1984 22 August 1987 2 years, 9 months and 18 days
25 June 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 5 months and 7 days
21 June 1991 22 December 1994 3 years, 6 months and 1 day
8 P. Chidambaram
(b. 1945)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Finance)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Gujral
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1985–1996, 2004–2014)
  TMC(M) (1996–2001)
  CJP (2001–2004)		 Deputy Minister 25 September 1985 20 January 1986 3 months and 26 days 18 years, 2 months and 2 days
Minister of State[c] 20 January 1986 2 December 1989 3 years, 10 months and 12 days
21 June 1991 9 July 1992 1 year and 18 days
10 February 1995 3 April 1996 1 year, 1 month and 24 days
Cabinet Minister 1 June 1996 21 April 1997 10 months and 20 days
1 May 1997 19 March 1998 10 months and 18 days
22 May 2004 26 May 2014 10 years and 4 days
9 Indira Gandhi
(1917–1984)		 Prime Minister Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II
Indira III		   INC (1947–1969, 1977–1984)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Cabinet Minister 2 July 1964 24 January 1966 1 year, 6 months and 22 days 17 years, 6 months and 9 days
Prime Minister 24 January 1966 24 March 1977 11 years and 2 months
14 January 1980 31 October 1984† 4 years, 9 months and 17 days
10 Rao Inderjit Singh
(b. 1951)		 Minister of State
(Statistics, Programme Implementation, Planning and Culture)[3]		 Manmohan I
Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   INC

(2004–2009)
  BJP (2014–present)

 Minister of State 22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years 17 years and 2 months[d]
Minister of State[e] 26 May 2014 present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
11 Jaisukhlal Hathi
(1909–1982)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I		   INC (1952–1969) Deputy Minister 12 September 1952 10 April 1962 9 years, 6 months and 29 days 17 years, 1 month and 26 days
Minister of State 16 April 1962 13 March 1967 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
Cabinet Minister 13 March 1967 15 November 1969 2 years, 8 months and 2 days
12 Jawaharlal Nehru
(1889–1964)		 Prime Minister Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV		   INC (1947–1964) Prime Minister 15 August 1947 27 May 1964† 16 years, 9 months and 12 days
13 Vidya Charan Shukla
(1927 – 2013)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs)		 Indira I
Indira II
Indira III
Indira IV
Chandra Shekhar
Rao		   INC (1966–1969, 1980–1981, 1990–1991, 1991–1996)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Deputy Minister 24 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 17 days 16 years, 9 months and 6 days
Minister of State 13 March 1967 24 March 1977 10 years and 11 days
Cabinet Minister 8 June 1980 19 March 1981 9 months and 11 days
21 November 1990 20 February 1991 2 months and 30 days
21 June 1991 17 January 1996 4 years, 6 months and 27 days
14 Ram Vilas Paswan
(1946 – 2020)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution)		 Vishwanath
Deve Gowda
Gujral
Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi II		   JD (1989–1990, 1996–1998)
  JD (U) (1999–2000)
    LJP (2000–2002, 2004–2020)		 Cabinet Minister 6 December 1989 10 November 1990 11 months and 4 days 16 years, 7 months and 19 days
1 June 1996 19 March 1998 1 year, 9 months and 18 days
13 October 1999 29 April 2002 2 years, 6 months and 16 days
22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
26 May 2014 8 October 2020† 6 years, 4 months and 12 days
15 Shah Nawaz Khan
(1914–1983)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1952–1967)
  INC (R) (1971–1977)		 Deputy Minister 20 September 1956 9 June 1964 7 years, 8 months and 20 days 16 years, 4 months and 8 days
15 June 1964 13 March 1967 2 years, 8 months and 26 days
Minister of State 2 May 1971 24 March 1977 5 years, 10 months and 22 days
16 Gulzarilal Nanda
(1898–1998)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Railways)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1951–1966)
  INC (R) (1970–1971)		 Cabinet Minister 24 September 1951 27 May 1964 12 years, 8 months and 3 days 16 years, 2 months and 17 days
Acting Prime Minister 27 May 1964 9 June 1964 13 days
Cabinet Minister 9 June 1964 11 January 1966 1 year, 7 months and 2 days
Acting Prime Minister 11 January 1966 24 January 1966 13 days
Cabinet Minister 24 January 1966 9 November 1966 9 months and 16 days
18 February 1970 18 March 1971 1 year and 1 month
17 Bali Ram Bhagat
(1922–2011)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of External Affairs)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Rajiv II		   INC (1956–1969, 1985–1986)
  INC (R) (1969–1971)		 Deputy Minister 4 January 1956 10 April 1962 6 years, 3 months and 6 days 15 years, 9 months and 26 days
16 April 1962 21 September 1963 1 year, 5 months and 5 days
Minister of State 21 September 1963 14 February 1969 5 years, 4 months and 24 days
Cabinet Minister 14 February 1969 18 March 1971 2 years, 1 month and 4 days
25 September 1985 12 May 1986 7 months and 17 days
18 Shripad Naik
(b. 1952)		 Minister of State
(Power and New Renewable Energy)		 Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2000–2004, 2014–present) Minister of State 30 September 2000 14 May 2002 1 year, 7 months and 14 days 15 years, 8 months and 5 days[d]
1 July 2002 22 May 2004 1 year, 10 months and 21 days
26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
19 Prakash Chandra Sethi
(1919–1996)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Planning and Irrigation)		 Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II
Indira III		   INC (1962–1969, 1980–1984)
  INC (R) (1969–1972, 1975–1977)		 Deputy Minister 8 June 1962 9 June 1964 2 years and 1 day 15 years, 7 months and 27 days
15 June 1964 13 March 1967 2 years, 8 months and 26 days
Minister of State 13 March 1967 2 May 1971 4 years, 1 month and 19 days
Cabinet Minister 2 May 1971 29 January 1972 8 months and 27 days
25 December 1975 24 March 1977 1 year, 2 months and 27 days
14 January 1980 31 October 1984 4 years, 9 months and 17 days
20 K. C. Pant
(1931–2012)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Defence)		 Indira I
Indira II
Charan
Rajiv II		   INC (1967–1969, 1984–1989)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  INC (U) (1979–1980)		 Minister of State 13 March 1967 9 November 1973 6 years, 7 months and 27 days 15 years, 4 months and 29 days
Cabinet Minister 9 November 1973 24 March 1977 3 years, 4 months and 15 days
30 July 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 15 days
31 December 1984 2 December 1989 4 years, 11 months and 2 days
21 Manmohan Singh
(1932–2024)		 Prime Minister Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1991–1996, 2004–2014) Cabinet Minister 21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days 14 years, 10 months and 29 days
Prime Minister 22 May 2004 26 May 2014 10 years and 4 days
22 Kamal Nath
(b. 1946)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs)		 Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1991–1996, 2004–2014) Minister of State 21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days 14 years, 10 months and 29 days
Cabinet Minister 22 May 2004 26 May 2014 10 years and 4 days
23 Hansraj Bhardwaj
(1937–2020)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Law and Justice)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Manmohan I		   INC (1984–1989, 1991–1996, 2004–2009) Minister of State 31 December 1984 2 December 1989 4 years, 11 months and 2 days 14 years, 9 months and 27 days
21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
Cabinet Minister 22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
24 Yashwantrao Chavan
(1913–1984)		 Deputy Prime Minister
(Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs)		 Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II
Charan		   INC (1962–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  INC (U) (1979–1980)		 Cabinet Minister 21 November 1962 24 March 1977 14 years, 4 months and 3 days 14 years, 9 months and 20 days
Deputy Prime Minister 28 July 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 17 days
25 P. V. Narasimha Rao
(1921–2004)		 Prime Minister Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1980–1989, 1991–1996) Cabinet Minister 14 January 1980 2 December 1989 9 years, 10 months and 18 days 14 years, 9 months and 13 days
Prime Minister 21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
26 Rajnath Singh
(b. 1951)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Defence)		 Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (1999–2000, 2003–2004, 2014–present) Cabinet Minister 22 November 1999 25 November 2000 1 year and 3 days 14 years, 2 months and 1 day[d]
24 May 2003 22 May 2004 11 months and 28 days
26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
27 Keshav Dev Malviya
(1904–1981)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Indira II		   INC (1952–1963)
  INC (R) (1974–1977)		 Deputy Minister 12 August 1952 7 December 1954 2 years, 3 months and 25 days 14 years and 27 days
Minister of State[f] 7 December 1954 10 April 1962 7 years, 4 months and 3 days
Cabinet Minister 10 April 1962 26 June 1963 1 year, 2 months and 16 days
11 January 1974 24 March 1977 3 years, 2 months and 13 days
28 Ghulam Nabi Azad
(b. 1949)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Water Resources)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1984–1987, 1991–1996, 2004–2005, 2009–2014) Minister of State 31 December 1984 7 September 1987 2 years, 8 months and 7 days 14 years and 16 days
Cabinet Minister 21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
22 May 2004 1 November 2005 1 year, 5 months and 10 days
22 May 2009 26 May 2014 5 years and 4 days
29 Ziaur Rahman Ansari
(1925–1992)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Environment and Forests)		 Indira II
Indira III
Rajiv II		   INC (1980–1989)
  INC (R) (1973–1977)		 Deputy Minister 6 February 1973 24 March 1977 4 years, 1 month and 18 days 13 years, 10 months and 14 days
Minister of State 3 March 1980 31 October 1984 4 years, 7 months and 28 days
4 November 1984 25 June 1988 3 years, 7 months and 21 days
Cabinet Minister 25 June 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 5 months and 7 days
30 Shivraj Patil
(1935–2025)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Home Affairs)		 Indira III
Rajiv II
Manmohan I		   INC (1980–1989, 2004–2008) Minister of State[g] 19 October 1980 31 October 1984 4 years and 12 days 13 years, 7 months and 18 days
4 November 1984 2 December 1989 5 years and 28 days
Cabinet Minister 22 May 2004 30 November 2008 4 years, 6 months and 8 days
31 Ram Niwas Mirdha
(1924–2010)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Textiles, Health and Family Welfare)		 Indira I
Indira II
Indira III
Rajiv II		   INC (1983–1989)
  INC (R) (1970–1977)		 Minister of State[h] 26 June 1970 24 March 1977 6 years, 8 months and 26 days 13 years, 6 months and 26 days
29 January 1983 31 October 1984 1 year, 9 months and 2 days
4 November 1984 15 February 1988 3 years, 3 months and 11 days
Cabinet Minister 15 February 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 9 months and 17 days
32 Selja Kumari
(b. 1962)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Housing, Urban Poverty Alleviation and Social Justice and Empowerment)		 Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1992–1996, 2004–2014) Deputy Minister 2 July 1992 15 September 1995 3 years, 2 months and 13 days 13 years, 6 months and 14 days
Minister of State[i] 15 September 1995 16 May 1996 8 months and 1 day
22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
Cabinet Minister 28 May 2009 28 January 2014 4 years and 8 months
33 Dinesh Singh
(1925–1995)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister without portfolio)		 Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1962–1964, 1964–1969, 1988–1989, 1993–1995)
  INC (R) (1969–1971)		 Deputy Minister 8 May 1962 9 June 1964 2 years, 1 month and 1 day 13 years and 6 months
15 June 1964 24 January 1966 1 year, 7 months and 9 days
Minister of State 24 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 17 days
Cabinet Minister 13 March 1967 18 March 1971 4 years and 5 days
14 February 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 9 months and 18 days
18 January 1993 30 November 1995† 2 years, 10 months and 12 days
34 B. V. Keskar
(1903 – 1984)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Information and Broadcasting)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III		   INC (1948–1962) Deputy Minister 7 December 1948 26 January 1950 1 year, 1 month and 19 days 13 years, 3 months and 29 days
31 January 1950 13 May 1952 2 years, 3 months and 13 days
Minister of State 13 May 1952 9 April 1962 9 years, 10 months and 27 days
35 Santosh Gangwar
(b. 1948)		 Minister of State
(Labour and Employment)		 Vajpayee II
Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi II		   BJP (1998–2004, 2014–2021) Minister of State 19 March 1998 22 May 2004 6 years, 2 months and 3 days 13 years, 3 months and 14 days
26 May 2014 7 July 2021 7 years, 1 month and 11 days
36 Buta Singh
(1934–2021)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Communications)		 Indira II
Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao
Gujral		   INC (R) (1974–1977)
  INC (1980–1989, 1995–1996)
  Independent (1998)		 Deputy Minister 10 October 1974 24 March 1977 2 years, 5 months and 14 days 13 years and 19 days
Minister of State[j] 8 June 1980 29 January 1983 2 years, 7 months and 21 days
Cabinet Minister 29 January 1983 2 December 1989 6 years, 10 months and 3 days
10 February 1995 20 February 1996 1 year and 10 days
19 March 1998 20 April 1998 1 month and 1 day
37 Lal Bahadur Shastri
(1904–1966)		 Prime Minister Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri		   INC (1952–1956, 1957–1963, 1964–1966) Cabinet Minister 13 May 1952 7 December 1956 4 years, 6 months and 24 days 12 years, 10 months and 27 days
17 April 1957 1 September 1963 6 years, 4 months and 15 days
24 January 1964 9 June 1964 4 months and 16 days
Prime Minister 9 June 1964 11 January 1966† 1 year, 7 months and 2 days
38 Lalit Narayan Mishra
(1923–1975)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Railways)		 Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1960–1962, 1964–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1975)		 Deputy Minister 22 August 1960 10 April 1962 1 year, 7 months and 19 days 12 years, 5 months and 20 days
26 February 1964 9 June 1964 3 months and 14 days
15 June 1964 13 March 1967 2 years, 8 months and 26 days
Minister of State 13 March 1967 27 June 1970 3 years, 3 months and 14 days
Cabinet Minister 27 June 1970 3 January 1975† 4 years, 6 months and 7 days
39 Mehr Chand Khanna
(1897 – 1970)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II		   INC (1954–1967) Minister of State
(with Cabinet rank)		 7 December 1954 13 March 1967 12 years, 3 months and 6 days
40 Narendra Modi
(b. 1950)		 Prime Minister Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Prime Minister 26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
41 Nitin Gadkari
(b. 1957)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Road Transport and Highways)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Cabinet Minister 26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
42 Piyush Goyal
(b. 1964)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Commerce and Industry)[3]		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State[k] 26 May 2014[4] 3 September 2017 3 years, 3 months and 8 days 12 years and 2 months[d]
Cabinet Minister 3 September 2017[5] present 8 years, 11 months and 7 days
43 Nirmala Sitharaman
(b. 1959)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State[k] 26 May 2014 3 September 2017 3 years, 3 months and 8 days 12 years and 2 months[d]
Cabinet Minister 3 September 2017[5] present 8 years, 11 months and 7 days
44 Kiren Rijiju
(b. 1971)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs)[3]		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State[l] 26 May 2014[4] 7 July 2021 7 years, 1 month and 11 days 12 years and 2 months[d]
Cabinet Minister 7 July 2021[6] present 5 years, 1 month and 3 days
45 Jitendra Singh
(b. 1956)		 Minister of State
(Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State[m] 26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
46 Krishan Pal Gurjar
(b. 1957)		 Minister of State
(Cooperation)[3]		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State 26 May 2014[4] present 12 years, 2 months and 15 days
47 Dharmendra Pradhan
(b. 1969)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Education)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–2026) Minister of State[k] 26 May 2014[4] 3 September 2017[5] 3 years, 3 months and 8 days 12 years, 1 month and 29 days
Cabinet Minister 3 September 2017[5] 25 July 2026 8 years, 10 months and 23 days
48 P. A. Sangma
(1947–2016)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Information and Broadcasting)		 Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1980–1988, 1991–1996) Deputy Minister 31 October 1980 31 October 1984 4 years 12 years, 1 month and 28 days
4 November 1984 31 December 1984 1 month and 27 days
Minister of State[n] 1 January 1985 6 February 1988 3 years, 1 month and 5 days
21 June 1991 10 February 1995 3 years, 7 months and 20 days
Cabinet Minister 10 February 1995 16 May 1996 1 year, 3 months and 6 days
49 Bayya Suryanarayana Murthy
(1906–1979)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Health, Family Planning, Works, Housing and Urban Development)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I		   INC (1959–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1971)		 Deputy Minister 6 March 1959 10 April 1962 3 years, 1 month and 4 days 11 years, 11 months and 17 days
16 April 1962 16 February 1963 10 months
16 February 1963 9 June 1964 1 year, 3 months and 24 days
15 June 1964 13 March 1967 2 years, 8 months and 26 days
18 March 1967 18 February 1969 1 year and 11 months
Minister of State 18 February 1969 13 March 1971 2 years and 23 days
50 Inder Kumar Gujral
(1919–2012)		 Prime Minister Indira I
Indira II
Vishwanath
Deve Gowda
Gujral		   INC (1967–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1976)
  JD (1989–1990, 1996–1998)		 Minister of State 18 March 1967 12 May 1976 9 years, 1 month and 24 days 11 years, 10 months and 14 days
Cabinet Minister 6 December 1989 10 November 1990 11 months and 4 days
1 June 1996 21 April 1997 10 months and 20 days
Prime Minister 21 April 1997 19 March 1998 10 months and 26 days
51 Jual Oram
(b. 1961)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Tribal AffAirs)		 Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi III		   BJP (1999–2004, 2014–2019, 2024–present) Cabinet Minister 13 October 1999 22 May 2004 4 years, 7 months and 9 days 11 years and 9 months[d]
26 May 2014 30 May 2019 5 years and 4 days
9 June 2024 present 2 years, 2 months and 1 day
52 Shankarrao Chavan
(1920–2004)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Home Affairs)		 Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1980–1989, 1991–1996) Cabinet Minister 19 October 1980 31 October 1984 4 years and 12 days 11 years, 8 months and 21 days
4 November 1984 11 March 1986 1 year, 4 months and 7 days
25 June 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 5 months and 7 days
21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
53 Giriraj Singh
(b. 1952)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Textiles)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2014–present) Minister of State 9 Nov 2014 30 May 2019 4 years, 6 months and 21 days 11 years, 8 months and 17 days[d]
Cabinet Minister 30 May 2019 present 7 years, 2 months and 11 days
54 Sharad Pawar
(b. 1940)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries)		 Rao
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   INC (1991–1993, 2004–2014) Cabinet Minister 26 June 1991 5 March 1993 1 year, 8 months and 7 days 11 years, 8 months and 11 days
22 May 2004 26 May 2014 10 years and 4 days
55 D. P. Karmarkar
(1902–1991)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Health)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III		   INC (1950–1962) Deputy Minister 14 August 1950 12 August 1952 1 year, 11 months and 29 days 11 years, 7 months and 27 days
Minister of State[o] 12 August 1952 9 April 1962 9 years, 7 months and 28 days
56 Ashoke Kumar Sen
(1913–1996)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Steel and Mines)		 Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Rajiv II
Chandra Shekhar		   INC (1957–1966, 1984–1987)
 SJP (R) (1990–1991)		 Minister of State 17 April 1957 10 April 1962 4 years, 11 months and 24 days 11 years, 7 months and 8 days
Cabinet Minister 10 April 1962 24 January 1966 3 years, 9 months and 14 days
31 December 1984 31 March 1987 2 years and 3 months
21 November 1990 21 June 1991 7 months
57 Mohammad Shafi Qureshi
(1928–2019)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation)		 Indira I
Indira II
Indira III
Charan		   INC (1966–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  JP (S) (1979–1980)		 Deputy Minister 29 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 13 days 11 years, 7 months and 4 days
18 March 1967 10 October 1974 7 years, 6 months and 22 days
Minister of State 10 October 1974 24 March 1977 2 years, 5 months and 14 days
Cabinet Minister 30 July 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 15 days
58 Morarji Desai
(1896–1995)		 Prime Minister Nehru III
Nehru IV
Indira I
Desai		   INC (1956–1963, 1967–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  JP (1977–1979)		 Cabinet Minister 14 November 1956 31 August 1963 6 years, 9 months and 17 days 11 years, 5 months and 27 days
Deputy Prime Minister[p] 13 March 1967 19 July 1969 2 years, 4 months and 6 days
Prime Minister 24 March 1977 28 July 1979 2 years, 4 months and 4 days
59 Chidambaram Subramaniam
(1910–2000)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Defence)		 Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II
Charan		   INC (1962–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  INC (U) (1979–1980)		 Cabinet Minister 10 April 1962 13 March 1967 4 years, 11 months and 3 days 11 years, 3 months and 18 days
Cabinet Minister 24 April 1971 24 March 1977 5 years and 11 months
30 July 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 15 days
60 K. Chengalaraya Reddy
(1902–1976)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Commerce and Industry)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV		   INC (1952–1963) Cabinet Minister 15 May 1952 19 July 1963 11 years, 2 months and 4 days
61 C. K. Jaffer Sharief
(1933–2018)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister without Portfolio)		 Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1980–1984, 1988–1989, 1991–1995) Minister of State[q] 14 January 1980 31 October 1984 4 years, 9 months and 17 days 11 years, 2 months and 3 days
4 November 1984 31 December 1984 1 month and 27 days
14 February 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 9 months and 18 days
Cabinet Minister 21 June 1991 22 November 1995 4 years, 5 months and 1 day
62 Jyotiraditya Scindia
(b. 1971)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Communications)		 Manmohan I
Manmohan II
Modi II
Modi III		   INC (2008–2014)
  BJP (2021–present)		 Minister of State 6 April 2008 22 May 2009 1 year, 1 month and 16 days 11 years, 2 months and 3 days[d]
28 May 2009 26 May 2014 4 years, 11 months and 28 days
Cabinet Minister 7 July 2021 present 5 years, 1 month and 3 days
63 Annasaheb Shinde
(1922–1993)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation)		 Indira I
Indira II
Indira III		   INC (1966–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Deputy Minister 24 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 17 days 11 years, 1 month and 28 days
Minister of State 13 March 1967 24 March 1977 10 years and 11 days
64 Dajisaheb Chavan
(1916–1973)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs)		 Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1962–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1973)		 Deputy Minister 8 May 1962 9 June 1964 2 years, 1 month and 1 day 11 years, 1 month and 18 days
15 June 1964 13 March 1967 2 years, 8 months and 26 days
18 March 1967 14 February 1969 1 year, 10 months and 27 days
Minister of State 14 February 1969 8 July 1973† 4 years, 4 months and 24 days
65 Jaipal Reddy
(1942–2019)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Science and Technology)		 Gujral
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		   JD (1997–1998)
  INC (2004–2014)		 Cabinet Minister 1 May 1997 19 March 1998 10 months and 18 days 10 years, 10 months and 22 days
22 May 2004 26 May 2014 10 years and 4 days
66 T. R. Baalu
(b. 1941)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways)		 Deve Gowda
Gujral
Vajpayee III
Manmohan I		    DMK (1996–1998, 1999–2003, 2004–2009) Minister of State 6 July 1996 19 March 1998 1 year, 8 months and 13 days 10 years, 10 months and 21 days
Cabinet Minister 13 October 1999 21 December 2003 4 years, 2 months and 8 days
22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
67 Nityanand Kanungo
(1900–1988)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Civil Aviation)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri		   INC (1954–1965) Deputy Minister 28 September 1954 10 August 1955 10 months and 13 days 10 years, 10 months and 4 days
Minister of State[r] 10 August 1955 31 July 1965 9 years, 11 months and 21 days
68 Manubhai Shah
(1915–2000)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Commerce)		 Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I		   INC (1956–1967) Minister of State[s] 1 May 1956 16 April 1957 11 months and 15 days 10 years, 10 months and 4 days
17 April 1957 10 April 1962 4 years, 11 months and 24 days
16 April 1962 24 January 1966 3 years, 9 months and 8 days
Cabinet Minister 24 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 17 days
69 Maneka Gandhi
(b. 1956)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Women and Child Development)		 Vishwanath
Chandra Shekhar
Vajpayee II
Vajpayee III
Modi I		   JD (1989–1991)
  BJP (1998–2002, 2014–2019)		 Minister of State[t] 6 December 1989 21 June 1991 1 year, 6 months and 15 days 10 years, 10 months and 1 day
19 March 1998 1 July 2002 4 years, 3 months and 12 days
Cabinet Minister 26 May 2014[4] 30 May 2019 5 years and 4 days
70 Faggan Singh Kulaste
(b. 1959)		 Minister of State
(Minister of Steel and Rural Development[u])		 Vajpayee III
Modi I
Modi II		   BJP (1999–2004, 2016–2017, 2019–2024) Minister of State 13 October 1999 22 May 2004 4 years, 7 months and 9 days 10 years, 9 months and 18 days
5 July 2016[7] 3 September 2017 1 year, 1 month and 29 days
30 May 2019[8] 9 June 2024 5 years and 10 days
71 M. Arunachalam
(1944–2004)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Deve Gowda
Gujral		   INC (1985–1996)
  TMC (1996–1998)		 Minister of State 25 September 1985 2 December 1989 4 years, 2 months and 7 days 10 years, 8 months and 28 days
21 June 1991 3 April 1996 4 years, 9 months and 13 days
Cabinet Minister 1 June 1996 21 April 1997 10 months and 20 days
1 May 1997 19 March 1998 10 months and 18 days
72 A. Raja
(b. 1963)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Communications and Information Technology)		 Vajpayee III
Manmohan I
Manmohan II		    DMK (1999–2003, 2004–2010) Minister of State 13 October 1999 21 December 2003 4 years, 2 months and 8 days 10 years, 7 months and 26 days
Cabinet Minister 22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
28 May 2009 15 November 2010 1 year, 5 months and 18 days
73 Maulana Azad
(1888–1958)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Education and Scientific Research)		 Nehru I
Nehru II
Nehru III		   INC (1947–1958) Cabinet Minister 15 August 1947 22 February 1958† 10 years, 6 months and 7 days
74 B. N. Datar
(1894–1963)		 Minister of State
(Home Affairs)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV		   INC (1952–1963) Deputy Minister 12 August 1952 14 February 1956 3 years, 6 months and 2 days 10 years, 5 months and 27 days
Minister of State[v] 14 February 1956 10 April 1962 6 years, 1 month and 27 days
16 April 1962 13 February 1963† 9 months and 28 days
75 Karan Singh
(b. 1931)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Education and Culture)		 Indira I
Indira II
Charan Singh		   INC (1967–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  INC (U) (1979–1980)		 Cabinet Minister 16 March 1967 24 March 1977 10 years and 8 days 10 years, 5 months and 23 days
30 July 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 15 days
76 Dalbir Singh
(1926–1987)		 Minister of State
(Energy-Coal)		 Indira II
Indira III
Rajiv II		   INC (R) (1971–1977)
  INC (1980–1984)		 Deputy Minister 2 May 1971 24 March 1977 5 years, 10 months and 16 days 10 years, 5 months and 6 days
Minister of State 8 June 1980 31 October 1984 4 years, 4 months and 23 days
4 November 1984 31 December 1984 1 month and 27 days
77 S. K. Dey
(1906–1989)		 Minister of State
(Minister of State for Mines and Metals)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Nanda II
Indira I		   INC (1956–1967) Minister of State 20 September 1956 17 January 1967 10 years, 3 months and 28 days
78 Jagdish Tytler
(b. 1944)		 Minister of State
(Overseas Indian Affairs)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Manmohan I		   INC (1985–1989, 1991–1996, 2004–2005) Minister of State[k] 25 September 1985 2 December 1989 4 years, 2 months and 7 days 10 years, 3 months and 21 days
21 June 1991 16 May 1996 4 years, 10 months and 25 days
22 May 2004 10 August 2005 1 year, 2 months and 19 days
79 Kanuri Lakshmana Rao
(1902–1986)		 Minister of State
(Minister of State for Irrigation and Power)		 Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1963–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1973)		 Minister of State 19 July 1963 11 January 1966 2 years, 5 months and 23 days 10 years, 3 months and 9 days
24 January 1966 9 November 1973 7 years, 9 months and 16 days
80 Maragatham Chandrasekar
(1917–2001)		 Minister of State
(Minister of State for Women and Social Welfare)		 Nehru II
Nehru IV
Nanda I
Shastri
Indira I
Rajiv II		   INC (1952–1957, 1962–1967, 1984–1985) Deputy Minister 12 August 1952 16 April 1957 4 years, 8 months and 4 days 10 years, 2 months and 14 days
8 May 1962 9 June 1964 2 years, 1 month and 1 day
15 June 1964 11 January 1966 1 year, 6 months and 27 days
24 January 1966 13 March 1967 1 year, 1 month and 17 days
Minister of State[k] 31 December 1984 25 September 1985 8 months and 25 days
81 Giridhar Gamang
(b. 1943)		 Minister of State
(Minister of State for Mines)		 Indira III
Rajiv II
Rao		   INC (1982–1996) Deputy Minister 15 January 1982 29 January 1983 1 year and 14 days 10 years, 1 month and 6 days
27 September 1985 15 February 1988 2 years, 4 months and 19 days
Minister of State[k] 15 February 1988 2 December 1989 1 year, 9 months and 17 days
21 June 1991 5 September 1995 4 years, 2 months and 15 days
15 September 1995 16 May 1996 8 months and 1 day
82 Mansukh L. Mandaviya
(b. 1972)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports)[3]		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2016–present) Minister of State 5 July 2016 7 July 2021 5 years and 2 days 10 years and 21 days[d]
Cabinet Minister 7 July 2021[9] present 5 years, 1 month and 3 days
83 Ramdas Athawale
(b. 1959)		 Minister of State
(Social Justice and Empowerment)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2016–present) Minister of State 5 July 2016[10] present 10 years, 1 month and 5 days
84 Arjun Ram Meghwal
(b. 1953)		 Minister of State
(Law and Jusice)		 Modi I
Modi II
Modi III		   BJP (2016–present) Minister of State 5 July 2016[10] present 10 years, 1 month and 5 days
85 Smriti Irani
(b. 1976)		 Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs)		 Modi I
Modi II		   BJP (2014–2024) Cabinet Minister 26 May 2014[4] 9 June 2024 10 years and 14 days
86 V. K. Singh
(b. 1951)		 Minister of State
(Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation)		 Modi I
Modi II		   BJP (2014–2024) Minister of State 26 May 2014[4] 9 June 2024 10 years and 14 days
87 M. V. Krishnappa
(1918–1980)		 Minister of State
(Agriculture and Irrigation)		 Nehru II
Nehru III
Charan Singh		   INC (1952–1962)
  INC (U) (1979–1980)		 Deputy Minister 12 August 1952 14 March 1962 9 years, 7 months and 2 days 10 years and 12 days
Minister of State 4 August 1979 14 January 1980 5 months and 10 days
88 K. V. Raghunatha Reddy
(1924–2002)		 Minister of State
(Labour)		 Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1967–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Minister of State 13 March 1967 24 March 1977 10 years and 11 days
89 Surendra Pal Singh
(1917–2009)		 Minister of State
(Railways)		 Indira I
Indira II		   INC (1967–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		 Deputy Minister 18 March 1967 5 February 1973 5 years, 10 months and 18 days 10 years and 7 days
Minister of State 5 February 1973 24 March 1977 4 years, 1 month and 19 days
90 Arjun Singh
(1930–2011)
Cabinet Minister
(Minister of Human Resource Development)		 Rajiv II
Rao
Manmohan I		   INC (1985–1988, 1991–1994, 2004–2009) Cabinet Minister 15 November 1985 20 January 1986 2 months and 5 days 10 years and 1 day
22 October 1986 14 February 1988 1 year, 3 months and 23 days
21 June 1991 24 December 1994 3 years, 6 months and 3 days
22 May 2004 22 May 2009 5 years
Close


See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Not including service as cabinet minister during the Interim Government of India from 2 September 1946 – 15 August 1947 (11 months and 13 days).
  2. [b]
    With Cabinet rank from 14 February 1956 – 17 April 1957.
  3. [c]
    With Independent charge from 21 June 1991 – 7 July 1992.
  4. [d]
    As of 26 July 2026.
  5. [e]
    With Independent charge from 26 May 2014.
  6. [f]
    With Cabinet rank from 7 December 1954 – 17 April 1957.
  7. [g]
    With Independent charge from 15 January 1982 – 29 January 1983, and from 25 June 1988 – 2 December 1989.
  8. [h]
    With Independent charge from 29 January 1983 – 31 October 1984, and from 4 November 1984 – 15 February 1988.
  9. [i]
    With Independent charge from 23 May 2004.
  10. [j]
    With Independent charge from 15 January 1982.
  11. [k]
    With Independent charge.
  12. [l]
    With Independent charge from 30 May 2019
  13. [m]
    With Independent charge until 18 May 2023.
  14. [n]
    With Independent charge from 20 January 1986 – 6 February 1988, and from 21 June 1991 – 10 February 1995.
  15. [o]
    With Cabinet rank from 12 August 1952 – 13 June 1956.
  16. [p]
    and Minister of Finance from 13 March 1967 – 16 July 1969.
  17. [q]
    With Independent charge 4 November–31 December 1984.
  18. [r]
    With Cabinet rank 17–25 April 1957.
  19. [s]
    With Cabinet rank 13 June 1956 – 16 April 1957, and from 25 April 1957 – 10 April 1962.
  20. [t]
    With Independent charge from 21 November 1990 – 21 June 1991, and from 19 March 1998 – 1 July 2002.
  21. [u]
    With additional charge of Rural Development from 7 July 2021.
  22. [v]
    With Cabinet rank 14 February 1956 – 17 April 1957.

References

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