Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended birthday greetings to Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, praising her focus on economic reforms and development and saying her efforts are adding momentum to India’s pursuit of a strong and self-reliant economy.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Best wishes to FM Nirmala Sitharaman Ji on her birthday. With her emphasis on reforms and economic development, she is adding momentum to our endeavour of being a strong and self-reliant India. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life.”
FM Sitharaman thanked the Prime Minister for his wishes, saying his guidance had always served as a motivation for her. “Grateful for the kind words and good wishes,” she said in a post on X.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also extended birthday greetings to Sitharaman.
LS Speaker Birla wished her good health, happiness and a long life, while EAM Jaishankar wished her good health, happiness and continued success in public service.
Sitharaman’s political and ministerial journey
Born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman studied economics at Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchirappalli before moving to New Delhi for higher education. She completed her master’s degree and M.Phil in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Sitharaman joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2006 and became its national spokesperson in 2010. She entered the Union government in 2014 as a Minister of State in the Ministries of Finance and Corporate Affairs and later served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry.
In 2017, she was appointed Defence Minister, becoming the country’s first full-time woman Defence Minister and the second woman after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to hold the portfolio.
Sitharaman took charge as Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister on May 31, 2019, becoming India’s first full-time woman Finance Minister. She presented her first Union Budget on July 5, 2019, and has since presented successive Union Budgets.
She is a member of the Rajya Sabha and has represented Karnataka in the Upper House since 2016.
Key figure in economic policy
Over the years, FM Sitharaman has emerged as one of the key figures in the Narendra Modi government, particularly in economic policy, fiscal management, corporate affairs and structural reforms.
Her tenure as Finance Minister has coincided with several major policy initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s economy, encouraging domestic manufacturing and enhancing self-reliance.
FM Sitharaman has also received international recognition for her influence. She was ranked 36th on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022 and 32nd in 2023. Fortune has also recognised her as India’s most powerful woman.
(With IANS inputs)
