Nirmala Sitharaman Biography: Nirmala Sitharaman is an Indian politician and the current Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs in the Government of India. She is the first woman to hold the position of Finance Minister in India. Sitharaman has had a long and illustrious career in politics, and her rise to the top is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to public service. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the life and career of Nirmala Sitharaman.
Nirmala Sitharaman Wiki Details
Full Name | Smt Nirmala Sitharaman |
Nickname | Not Known |
Date of Birth | 18 August 1959 |
College | Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Tiruchirapalli |
Profession | Economist, Political and Social Worker |
Category | Biography |
Physical Appearance
Height | 5 Feet 4 Inch |
Weight | 62 KG |
Eye Color | Black |
Hair Color | Black |
Exercise | Not Known |

Nirmala Sitharaman Biodata
Birth | 18 August 1959 |
Age | 62 years |
Family | Narayanan Sitaraman (Father)Savitri (Mother) |
Education | Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Tiruchirapalli (B. A. Economics)Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (M.A. and M.Phil. in Economics) |
Profession | Politician (Bharatiya Janata Party) |
Husband | Parakala Prabhakar |
Children | Parakala Vangmayi (daughter) |
@nsitharaman |
Early Life and Education
Nirmala Sitharaman was born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to a middle-class family. Her father, Narayanan Sitaraman, worked as a railway employee, and her mother, Savitri Sitaraman, was a homemaker. Nirmala Sitharaman has two younger sisters.
Sitharaman completed her schooling from Madras and Tiruchirapalli. She then pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.
After completing her studies, Nirmala Sitharaman worked as a Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London, where she was responsible for the firm’s international advisory services division. She also served as a member of the National Commission for Women from 2003 to 2005.
Career
Political Career of Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman’s political career began when she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2006. She quickly rose through the ranks of the party, thanks to her dedication, hard work, and leadership skills.
Sitharaman was appointed as the spokesperson of the BJP in 2010. She was then elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, from Karnataka in 2014. She was also appointed as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sitharaman’s performance as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry was highly appreciated, and she was credited with successfully implementing several key policy initiatives to promote trade and commerce in the country. She was also instrumental in launching the ‘Make in India’ campaign, which aimed to promote India as a global manufacturing hub.
In 2017, Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the Minister of Defence, becoming the first woman to hold the position in India. Her appointment was a landmark moment in Indian politics and a testament to her ability to lead from the front.
As the Defence Minister, Sitharaman made significant contributions to modernizing India’s armed forces, strengthening defence ties with other countries, and enhancing the country’s defence capabilities. She also played a key role in promoting gender diversity in the Indian armed forces and empowering women in the defence sector.
In 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, making her the first woman to hold the position of Finance Minister in India. She took charge of the Finance Ministry at a time when the Indian economy was facing several challenges, including a slowdown in growth, rising inflation, and a high fiscal deficit.
As the Finance Minister, Sitharaman has taken several bold measures to revive the Indian economy, including announcing a series of stimulus packages, introducing reforms to improve the ease of doing business, and implementing measures to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
Non-Political Career of Nirmala Sitharaman
Before entering politics, Nirmala Sitharaman had a successful career in the corporate sector, spanning over two decades. She worked with various multinational corporations and financial institutions in the United Kingdom and India, gaining valuable experience in international trade, finance, and investments.
Sitharaman started her career as a salesgirl with Habitat, a home furnishing store in London. She then went on to work with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service as a program producer, where she produced programs on India and South Asia.
After completing her MBA from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, Sitharaman joined Price Waterhouse in the UK as a Senior Manager. She worked with the company for nine years, managing large-scale outsourcing projects and advising clients on international trade and investments.
In 2001, Sitharaman returned to India and joined the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as a Senior Manager. At CII, she worked on various policy initiatives and advocated for the liberalization of the Indian economy. She also worked as a consultant with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), advising the government on economic reforms.
In 2008, Sitharaman founded her own company, Pranava, which provided advisory services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on trade and investments. She also served as a member of the National Commission for Women, where she worked towards the empowerment of women and the protection of their rights.
Sitharaman’s non-political career is a testament to her strong work ethic, analytical skills, and expertise in the fields of finance and international trade. Her experience in the corporate sector gave her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses, especially SMEs, and informed her approach towards policy-making and governance.

Personal Life and Hobbies of Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman is known for her dedication and hard work in public service. Despite her busy schedule, she makes sure to take time out for her personal life and hobbies.
Sitharaman is married to Parakala Prabhakar, an economist and former spokesperson of the Telugu Desam Party. The couple has a daughter, who is a graduate of Harvard University.
In her free time, Nirmala Sitharaman enjoys reading books on politics, history, and economics. She is also a keen observer of the stock market and has a deep interest in finance and economics.
Sitharaman is also an avid traveler and loves to explore new places. She believes that travel broadens one’s horizons and provides a unique perspective on the world. She has traveled extensively across India and abroad and has a particular fondness for hill stations.
Apart from these hobbies, Nirmala Sitharaman is also known for her passion for music. She is a trained classical dancer and has also learned to play the veena, a traditional Indian stringed instrument. In her youth, she was an active participant in cultural events and won several prizes for her performances.
Sitharaman is also actively involved in social work and is associated with several NGOs that work towards the upliftment of women and children. She is a strong advocate of gender equality and has spoken out on various occasions about the need to empower women and provide them with equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
In conclusion, Nirmala Sitharaman’s personal life and hobbies reflect her multifaceted personality and her deep passion for knowledge, travel, and the arts. Despite her busy schedule, she makes sure to take time out for her family, friends, and interests, which serves as a source of inspiration for many.
Some interesting things related to Nirmala Sitharaman
Here are some interesting facts about Nirmala Sitharaman:
- She is the first woman to hold the position of Finance Minister of India, and the second woman to hold the position of Defence Minister.
- Nirmala Sitharaman is fluent in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada.
- She was listed as one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2019.
- Sitharaman is a black belt holder in karate and has also trained in classical dance and music.
- She is known for her simple and austere lifestyle and is often seen wearing a traditional saree and minimal jewelry.
- In 2018, Sitharaman became the first woman to lead the Indian delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, a high-level security forum in Singapore.
- She is a strong advocate for the empowerment of women and has launched several initiatives to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
- Sitharaman is known for her excellent communication skills and has been praised for her ability to explain complex economic concepts in simple language.
- She is a vegetarian and is known for her love of South Indian cuisine.
- In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sitharaman announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief package to help those affected by the pandemic, which included cash transfers, free foodgrains, and insurance cover for healthcare workers.
Honors and Awards to Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman has been recognized for her contributions in various fields and has received several honors and awards. Here are some of the notable awards and recognitions received by her:
- Global Leadership Award by the US India Business Council (2019)
- Tamil Ratna Award by the Tamil Chamber of Commerce (2019)
- Outstanding Parliamentarian Award by the Indian Parliamentary Group (2018)
- Honorary Doctorate from the Pondicherry University (2018)
- Best Parliamentarian Award by the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards (2018)
- FICCI’s “Economic Visionary of the Year” award (2018)
- “Chief Minister of the Year” award by the CNBC-TV18 (2010)
Sitharaman’s contributions as a finance and defence minister have been widely acknowledged, and she has been credited with bringing in reforms in the Indian economy and modernizing the defence sector. Her efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment have also been appreciated by various organizations.
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