Shri M M Pallam Raju takes over as Minister of State for Defence
Shri M Mangapati Pallam Raju took over as the new Minister of State for Defence in South Block, today. On his arrival at South Block he was received by the sernior officials of the Ministry of Defence. Later the Defence Secretary Shri Shekhar Dutt and other senior officials briefed him about the various policies and activities of the Ministry.
Born on August 31, 1962 at Pitampuram, in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Raju has had a long and distinguished political career. A graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he earned his masters degree in Business Administration in the United States in International Business and Management Information System (MIS). Shri Raju was first elected to the Ninth Lok Sabha in 1989 from Kakinada Lok Sabha Constituency and re-elected in 2004. As a member of Lok Sabha, he remained a member in the Committee on Science and Technology and Member, Consultative Committee on Food Processing Industries in 90s. Besides working as General Secretary in Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), he was also Chairman of Science and Technology Cell APCC from 2000 onwards. From 1994 to 1997, he served on the Board of Directors of Air India and Indian Airlines. He is also serving as the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT since 2004.
He traveled to various countries as Member of the Official Delegation to Austria, Germany, Norway, Singapore, UK and USA. An avid lover of soccer, Shri Raju is the son of Dr. MS Sanjeevi Rao who served as a Minister in Government of India from 1982 to 1984 and was also the Founder Chairman of Electronics Commission (1985-88). Married to Mrs Mamatha, Shri Raju has two children.
SKS/DM/RAJ
(Release ID :15275)