Nirmala Sitharaman

Milestones

2003

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2017

2019

2024

2025

Presented record consecutive Union Budgets

In Feb 2025, Smt. Sitharaman presented a record eighth consecutive budget, setting the record for the most consecutive budget presentations by any finance minister. The landmark budget also featured personal income tax reforms with a special focus on the middle class, raising the tax rebate in the new tax regime such that resident individuals with total incomes upto Rs 12 lakh pay no tax and revising the tax slabs, building on previous reforms to increase the standard deduction and the limit of exemption on certain financial assets.

2024

Reassumed charge as Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister

Smt. Sitharaman reassumed her role as Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister in the landmark victory of the BJP in the General Elections of 2024.

2019

Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India

After landslide victory of BJP in the general elections of 2019, Smt. Sitharaman was entrusted with the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, and became the first full- time woman Finance Minister of India. Her tenure has seen key reforms, including in taxation; ease of doing business; financial inclusion; infrastructure development; transparent Budget accounting, among others. Signaling the commitment to ease of doing living and ease of business reforms that defined her tenure, her first Union Budget in 2019-20 reduced corporate tax rates to globally competitive levels, introduced Faceless e-assessment in the Income Tax Department, announced roll out of simplified GST compliance, etc.

2017

Defence Minister of India

On 3 September 2017, she became the first full- time woman Defence Minister of India. As the Defence Minister, Smt. Sitharaman is credited with expediting the decision-making process relating to procurement in defence sector. She constituted a Defence Planning Committee to formulate an “action plan” to effectively overcome with various security challenges facing the nation. During her tenure, the Indian Air Force conducted the surgical strike on Balakot, Pakistan, in response to the Pulwama attack.

2016

Rajya Sabha elections

In May 2016, Smt. Sitharaman was one of the 12 candidates nominated by the BJP to contest the Rajya Sabha elections. She successfully contested her seat from Karnataka.

2014

Minister of State (Independent charge)

After the historic victory of BJP in the General Elections of 2014, she was inducted into the Council of Ministers and was Minister of State (Independent charge) for Commerce & Industry, and was elected in June as a Rajya Sabha Member from Andhra Pradesh.

2012

Gujarat Assembly Elections

During the Gujarat Assembly Elections, 2012, Smt. Sitharaman worked directly under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi and was given the responsibility of organizing BJP’s Media Campaign for the elections.

2010

National spokesperson of the party

Smt. Sitharaman was appointed as the National spokesperson of the party and was widely respected for her well-researched and graceful articulation of the party’s stand.

2008

Member of the BJP’s National Executive

Smt. Sitharaman was invited to become a member of the BJP’s National Executive and was actively involved in drafting almost all of party’s Economic and Political Resolutions.

2003

Member of the National Commission for Women

Smt. Sitharaman held the position as a member of the National Commission for Women from 2003 to 2005 – among NCW’s youngest members, she was instrumental in voicing various issues of women's empowerment.