Home > Indian History > Indian Administration > Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Mukherjee is the current President of India. He is a member of Indian National Congress.

Share this Article:

Pranab MukherjeePranab Mukherjee is the current President of India. He was amongst the senior members of the Cabinet Committees on Political Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Economic Affairs, Security, Infrastructure, World Trade Organisation etc until he resigned from his political office for the Presidential election. Mukherjee also led the assembly of Ministers that probes the assumed corruption of the earlier National Democratic Alliance government. Being a member of the Indian National Congress, Pranab Mukherjee was a part of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). He was bestowed with the title of "Finance Minister of the Year for Asia" by the daily newspaper, Emerging Markets. He was also awarded as the Finance Minister of the Year, in 2010, by The Banker.

Early Life of Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Kumar Mukherjee was born on 11th December 1935, in Mirati village near Kirnahar town, District Birbhum, West Bengal. Pranab Mukherjee was born to father Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee, and Indian National Congress Party activist from 1920, a member of AICC and West Bengal Legislative Council (1952-64) and to mother Rajlakshmi Mukherjee. Pranab Mukherjee attended the Suri Vidyasagar College, Suri (Birbhum), affiliated to the University of Calcutta. He obtained Masters Degree in both History and Political Science, and an honorary D. Litt as well. From the University of Calcutta, Mukherjee obtained a Degree in Law and has been an Advocate and College Teacher at some time. He also worked as a journalist for the Bengali publication named Desher Dak.

Political Career of Pranab Mukherjee
His association with politics started at very early age hand in hand with his father. In 1969, Pranab Mukherjee first became a Rajya Sabha member from the Congress Party and continued re-electing in 1975, 1981, 1993 and 1999. In 1985, he was also the president of West Bengal state unit of Congress. He joined the cabinet in 1973, as Union Deputy Minister, Industrial Development. Mukherjee has rose through a series of cabinet positions and finally reached to an outmost designation, the Finance Minister of India between 1982 and 1984.

Pranab Mukherjee greets his United States counterpart Donald Rumsfeld Pranab Mukherjee departed from the Congress Party for a brief period. But in 1989, he re-entered. His political career again revived with the P.V. Narashima Rao Government and he was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and conversantly as a Union Cabinet Minister. For the first time from 1995 to 1996, he served as Foreign Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao cabinet. He was conferred in the year 1997 as Outstanding Parliamentarian. This striking personality has been a member of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund, of the World Bank, of the Asian Development Bank, and of the African Development Bank. Pranab Mukherjee chaired the Group of 24, in 1984, attached to the IMF and World Bank. He presided over the SAARC Council of Ministers Conference, between May and November 1995. From 1991 to 1996, he has also held the position of Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission

He was always a member of the Rajya Sabha throughout his long career. He has been voted to the Rajya Sabha 5 times by a party-based voting system. In the Lok Sabha elections, he lost twice. Pranab Mukherjee brought off to obtain the Safe Seat of Jangipur, West Bengal, in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and finally entered the 14th Lok Sabha. His talents were again displayed during the negotiations for the Patent`s Amendment Bill in 2005. As Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee was not officially involved but was persuaded for his negotiation skills. The bill was finally approved on March 23, 2005. Another feather to his political career was added on 24 October 2006, when Pranab Mukherjeee was appointed as the External Affairs Minister of India. He again became the Finance Minister in the 2nd Manmohan Singh led Government. He presented the Union Budget of India in 2009 and 2010, as well as the 2011 budget.

Books Written by Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Mukherjee has written books on his credit. (i) Mid-term Poll, 1969, (ii) Beyond Survival: Emerging Dimensions of Indian Economy, 1984, (iii) Off the Track, 1987, (iv) Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice, 1992, and (v) Challenges before the Nation (on Indian National Congress), 1992. Pranab Mukherjee has gradually earned the respect of being the 2nd positioned man in the Cabinet of India. He has a parliamentary career that spans nearly 4 decades.

Awards Won by Pranab Mukherjee
He was rated as the best Finance Minister of the World in 1984 according to the survey conducted by Euromoney magazine. He also received the award for "Finance Minister of the Year for Asia" in 2010, by Emerging Markets daily newspaper of record for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Banker in 2010 recognized Pranab Babu as "Finance Minister of the Year" after making significant inroads into budget deficit reduction, throughout a turbulent year.

Personal Life of Pranab Mukherjee
On July 13th, 1957, Pranab Mukherjee married Suvra Mukherjee and the couple has 2 sons, Abhijit and Surojit and a daughter named Sharmistha. His son Abhijit is a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Administration


Administration of the Indian Gahadvalas
King occupied the highest position and had enormous power in the administrative system of the Gahadvalas.
Administration in Indian Villages
Administration in Indian Villages has seen significant changes from ancient period to contemporary period. The basic administration structure of Indian villages was quite common in the ancient, medieval and modern period.
Administration of Chera Dynasty
Administration of Chera Dynasty bears some mentioning in the epic Shilappadikaram. There were four divisions of the total Chera kingdom.
Nayaka Administration
Nayaka Administration was one of the major consolidating factors of the Vijaynagar kingdom in the 16th century. The Nayakas ruled as feudal landlords and they controlled the production in their territories through a hierarchical network.
Geeta Chopra Award
The Geeta Chopra Award is a prestigious civilian award in India, mainly given to the children under the age of 16 years, for their acts of bravery. The award is given under the National Bravery Awards category that was introduced in the year 1957.
Sanjay Chopra Award
Sanjay Chopra Award is presented to the bravest boys in India.
Village Administration in Ancient India
Village has been the pivot of administration in ancient India. As the states were small it enhanced the importance of the village.
Indian Coins
Coins of India has been modified from time to time with the changes in different dynasties. Coins of the Indian rupee were first minted in 1950.
Rural Local Self Government in India
Rural local self government in India is a three tier system, which looks after the necessities of the villagers and encourages developmental activity in the villages. The three tiers of rural local self government are Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad.
History of Indian Army
History of Indian Army dates back to the ancient India. From the ancient era to the modern age Indian army has evolved through the ages, with the bravery of Indians.
Kannada Language Newspapers
Kannada language newspapers are catering to the needs of the society, since 1930s. There are several renowned Kannada language newspapers that are published in south India. They are Hosa Digantha, Kannada Prabha, Kranti Kannada Daily and Prajavani.
Land System in Ancient India
Private Ownership of land was not uncommon in ancient India. As per the system King was considered as the owner of the land.
Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra which is the third gallantry award which is awarded for war time acts of bravery. It is granted only to the army personals for their exemplary acts of bravery in the battle field.
Samiti in Ancient India
Samiti was an assembly in ancient India that assisted the King. It is equivalent to modern Lower house or Lok Sabha.
Indian Media
Indian media is a medium of communication, which plays a crucial role in the development of the country. It evolved from print media to electronic media. Print media comprises of newspapers and magazines, whereas electronic media consists of radio, television, films and digital journalism.
Maha Vir Chakra
Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military felicitation in India. It is awarded for the acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy whether on land or water or air.
Telugu Language Newspapers
There are a number of newspapers in Telugu, which cater to the needs of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
Bharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India and is given for the highest degree of service to the nation. The award was established by India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad. Apart from Indian citizens, Bharat Ratna award has been given to non-Indians and a naturalized Indian citizen.
Kirti Chakra
Kirti Chakra is awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. It is the second highest military honour awarded during peacetime in India. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.
Panchyat Samiti
Panchayat Samiti is the link between the district administration and the Gram Panchayat.
Padma Bhushan Awardees
Padma Bhushan Awardees are those people who have received Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India.