Kiren Rijiju | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Union Cabinet Minister | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Ministry & Departments | |
| Preceded by | |
| Union Minister of Food Processing Industries | |
| In office 20 March 2024 (2024-03-20) – 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Pashupati Kumar Paras |
| Succeeded by | Chirag Paswan |
| Union Minister of Earth Sciences | |
| In office 18 May 2023 (2023-05-18) – 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Jitendra Singh |
| Succeeded by | Jitendra Singh |
| 34thUnion Minister of Law and Justice | |
| In office 7 July 2021 (2021-07-07) – 18 May 2023 (2023-05-18) | |
| President | Ramnath Kovind Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Ravi Shankar Prasad |
| Succeeded by | Arjun Ram Meghwal |
| Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore |
| Succeeded by | Anurag Thakur |
| Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | |
| Minister | Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi |
| Preceded by | Virendra Kumar |
| Succeeded by | John Barla |
| Union Minister of State for Home Affairs | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 30 May 2019 Serving with H. P. Chaudhary (2014–2016) andH. G. Ahir (2016–2019) | |
| Minister | Rajnath Singh |
| Preceded by | R. P. N. Singh |
| Succeeded by | |
| Member of Parliament,Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) | |
| Preceded by | Takam Sanjoy |
| Constituency | West Arunachal Pradesh |
| In office 22 May 2004 (2004-05-22) – 17 May 2009 (2009-05-17) | |
| Preceded by | Jarbom Gamlin |
| Succeeded by | Takam Sanjoy |
| Constituency | West Arunachal Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-11-19)19 November 1971 (age 54)[1] Nafra,Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | |
| Residence | 9, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi |
| Education | B.A., LL.B[2] |
| Alma mater | Delhi University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | sites |
Kiren Rijiju (born 19 November 1971) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 28thMinister of Parliamentary Affairs and 7thMinister of Minority Affairs since 2024. He was theCabinet Minister of Earth Sciences andFood Processing Industries in theGovernment of India from 2023 to June 2024 and aMember of Parliament in theLok Sabha fromArunachal West since 2014 and from 2004 to 2009. Earlier, he served as theMinister of State for Home Affairs from 2014 to 2019, Minister of State for Minority Affairs from 2019 to 2021, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2019 to 2021 and theLaw minister from 2021 to 2023.[3]
Rijiju was born on 19 November 1971 to aBuddhist family in the Nakhu village near the Nafra town in theWest Kameng district ofArunachal Pradesh. His father's name is Rinchin Kharu and his mother's name is Chirai Rijiju. His father was the first pro-tempore speaker of the firstArunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[4]
Rijiju did his graduation degree (B.A.) fromHansraj College,University of Delhi.[5] Further, in 1998, he did his graduate degree in law (LL.B) fromCampus Law Centre,Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.[6][7]
Kiren Rijiju is a four time MP inLok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh (2004, 2014, 2019and 2024). He has served as minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) youth affairs and sports, MoS minority affairs, MoS home affairs, andMinister of Law and Justice. His tenure as Law Minister was marked by controversies. On 18 May 2023, he was assigned the portfolio ofMinistry of Earth Sciences.[8] On 10 June 2024, he was appointed the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in theGovernment of India. He is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the18th Lok Sabha.[9]
In 2022, Kiren called the collegium system of appointment of judges in Indian judicial system as "opaque", implying that appointments are done on personal associations rather than merit. He also advocated for government's role in the appointment of judges, writing to theChief Justice of IndiaDY Chandrachud. His comments on judiciary and collegium system were widely criticised by the legal community and theSupreme Court.[8][10]
In March 2023, Kiren accused some retired judges to be a part of an "Anti-India gang".[11] A group of former civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group responded by claiming Rijiju's comments a sign of "authoritarianism".[12]
He married Joram Rina Rijiju in 2004.[13] She is a graduate fromLady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi and is a gold medalist fromArunachal University. She is an Associate Professor teaching history at Dera Natung Government College,Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.[14]
| Lok Sabha | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forArunachal West 22 May 2004 – 17 May 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Takam Sanjoy | Member of Parliament for Arunachal West 16 May 2014 – Present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Home Affairs 26 May 2014 – 30 May 2019 With:Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary 9 November 2014 – 5 July 2016 Hansraj Gangaram Ahir 5 July 2016 – 30 May 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Minority Affairs 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Minister of State (Independent Charge) | Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister of State (Independent Charge) 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Law and Justice 7 July 2021 – 18 May 2023 | Succeeded by Arjun Ram Meghwal Minister of State (Independent Charge) |
| Preceded by Jitendra Singh Minister of State (Independent Charge) | Minister of Earth Sciences 18 May 2023 – 10 June 2024 | Succeeded by Jitendra Singh Minister of State (Independent Charge) |
| Preceded by | Minister of Food Processing Industries 20 March 2024 – 10 June 2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Parliamentary Affairs 10 June 2024 – Present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Minister of Minority Affairs 10 June 2024 – Present | Incumbent |
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