Shri Anand Sharma, recognised as an Indian politician, is a member of Indian National Congress party. He is presently the Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Prior to this, Anand Sharma was the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs. He also took charge as Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting after the cardiac arrest of another political figure, Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

The early life of Anand Sharma was spent in Himachal Pradesh. He was born on January 5, 1953, in Shimla in the state of Himachal Pradesh. After completing his primary education in Shimla, in 1984, at the age of thirty one, he was elected to Parliament.

Mr. Sharma had been an important leader of the student and youth movement in India and was known as one of the founders of NSUI, the student section of the Indian National Congress. In addition to these, Mr. Sharma was former President of the Youth Congress at the time when NSUI took active participation in removing the apartheid in South Africa. Later he served as the President of the Indian Youth Congress since 1985. Before that he remained the state President for Himachal Pradesh and National General Secretary.

Being a common and important face in Indian politics, particularly in Indian National Congress, Mr. Anand Sharma chaired as Chief Spokesman of National Congress for six years. Anand Sharma was married to Dr. Zenobia Sharma and they have two children. Apart from being a political figure, he also indulged in hiking, cricket, travelling, listening to music, reading books on philosophy and history etc.

Being a lawyer by education, Anand Sharma was familiar with parliamentary and legislative procedures. Mr. Sharma has presided over sittings of the House as a member of the panel of chairpersons for Rajya Sabha. He was also involved in autism and disabilities related work.

After this, Mr. Sharma also expanded his ministerial duty in the field of international affairs. He remained as the prime organizer of a number of most important international conferences among which the First Non-Aligned Youth Conference in 1985 in New Delhi was of prime importance. Delegates from 82 countries attended this conference. As a Special emissary, he was selected and chosen by the Prime Minster of India for different sensitive assignments.

During his tenure of Presidentship of Indian Youth Congress, he played an active role in organizing an International Youth Conference against Apartheid in New Delhi. His aim was to venerate the 75th anniversary of the African National Congress. Apart from these, he was also involved in moderating the World Youth Action against Apartheid. In the year1994, the Commonwealth Secretary-General appointed him as an observer of the South African Transition Process and Elections.

Anand Sharma was also actively involved in organising the International Conference on the 100th anniversary of Satyagraha movement. This conference was held at New Delhi in January 2007. During this time Anand Sharma acted as the Secretary General at the conference. Leadership delegates from 91 countries and almost 122 organisations attended the Conference. It was at this conference that he proposed to observe 2nd October (birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) as International Day of Non-violence to the UN General Assembly. UNGA adopted the resolution.

During his political career, he also worked with late Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. Later in January 2006, Mr. Sharma was lifted to the Union Council of Ministers. During this time he was given the responsibility to look after Foreign Affairs. Recently, in October 2008, he was also given the charge of Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. Mr. Sharma won several awards in his political career. In November10, 2008, he was bestowed the top Ghanaian civilian award, “The Order of the Companion of Volta by President J A Koufour in respect of his commitment to South-South Cooperation. Later, on 14 January 2009, Mr. Sharma received the honour of “Commander of the National Order of Merit”. This was said to be the highest civilian award by the President of Ivory Coast.

On 29th May 2009, Mr. Anand Sharma was given the responsibility in the Union Cabinet of India as Minister for Commerce and Industry and, thus, Sharma presumed the charge as Minister.