Pranab Mukherjee takes over as Defence Minister
Shri Pranab Mukherjee took over as the new Defence Minister in South Block today. Speaking to the press immediately after taking over, Shri Mukherjee termed his taking over as a tremendous responsibility. Citing his priorities, Shri Mukherjee said that he would endeavour to make the procurement process clean and transparent and that he would also look into the problems faced by ex-servicemen.
Born on 11th December 1935 in Kirnahar, Birbhum district of West Bengal, Shri Mukherjee has had a long and distinguished political career. Some of the major portfolios he has held in the Government of India are External Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Shipping and Transport, Industrial Development, Revenue and Banking and Steel and Mines. Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and was also on the Board of Governors of International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Shri Pranab Mukherjee had led Indian delegations to Singapore, Colombo, Marrakesh, Auckland, UN General Assembly Copenhagen, Bandung and Ghana.
Prior to his election to the 14th Lok Sabha from Jangipur constituency in West Bengal, Shri Mukherjee was elected to the Rajya Sabha five times earlier.
Shri Mukherjee has been conferred the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997. Shri Mukherjee has been an accomplished teacher, journalist and author. Some of his books are Midterm Poll, Beyond Survival: Emerging Dimensions of Indian Economy, Off the Track, Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice and Challenges Before the Nation.
Shri Mukherjee is widely traveled and takes keen interest in reading, gardening and music.