Rajnath Singh, born on July 10, 1951, is an Indian politician and a senior BJP leader. He is the Defence Minister of India. He has previously served as the Home Minister (from 2014-2019), Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (from 2000-2002) and was twice appointed as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (from 2005 to 2009 and 2013 to 2014).
He was born in the Chittor district of Uttar Pradesh to Ram Badan Singh and Gujarati Devi. He received his Master's Degree in Physics from Gorakhpur University. At the age of 13, he got associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Singh started his political career in 1975 as the Bhartiya Jan Sangh district president of Mirzapur, UP. He soon rose through the ranks and was appointed as the state education minister in 1991. In 1994, he was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP, which was followed by him becoming the UP state president for the BJP. He has also held the post of Union Minister for Agriculture in 2003 under the Vajpayee government and was appointed as the national general secretary of BJP in 2004.
He has also authored a book 'Unemployment: Its Reasons and Remedies'. Rajnath Singh is married to Savitri Singh and has two sons and a daughter.
His official Twitter handle is @rajnathsingh and the name of his official Facebook page is Rajnath Singh. He is also active on Instagram under the username rajnathsinghbjp.
Newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who is in the national capital for his first official visit since assuming office, met President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He will also meet Prime Minister Modi later today.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, former Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane discussed the row over his unpublished book, 'Four Stars of Destiny', and the military's handling of the situation at the Line of Actual Control.
As the US-Iran war enters its 33rd day, President Donald Trump has indicated openness to a ceasefire, conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the evolving situation in West Asia and its potential implications on India’s energy security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired the third Cabinet Committee on Security meeting since the West Asia conflict began, focusing on safeguarding India from the war's impact.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a massive roadshow in Guwahati, Assam, expressing confidence that the BJP will secure over 90 seats and form the government for a third consecutive term in the state.
As the West Asia conflict escalates, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made India's position clear during an all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, stating that India cannot act as a broker nation like Pakistan.
Amid diplomatic efforts to end the West Asia war, the United States is deploying approximately 7,000 to 8,000 additional personnel to the region, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and two Marine Expeditionary Units.
The government on Wednesday convened an all-party meeting to address the West Asia conflict's impact on the nation's energy security, assuring leaders that there is no oil or LPG crisis.
Amid the escalating West Asia war, the United States is rushing more troops to the region with reports of an additional 1,000 to 2,000 personnel being deployed.
Trinamool Congress has decided to skip the all-party meeting on war scheduled at 5pm on Wednesday, to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The meeting follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, emphasising the importance of taking parliamentary democracy into confidence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the India-France relationship as a force for global stability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held high-level bilateral talks at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, focusing on strengthening the 'Horizon 2047' strategic partnership.
In this special edition of 'Chakravyuh', former army commanders Lieutenant General Raj Shukla and Lieutenant General DP Pandey addressed political allegations surrounding the 2020 India-China standoff and General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir, 'Four Stars of Destiny'.
This episode of India First focusses on the mega defence deal to acquire 114 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force and Pakistan’s Supreme Court order for an urgent medical evaluation of former Prime Minister Imran Khan after a report said he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has cleared the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets, marking a significant boost to the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he failed to take responsibility during the 2020 India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Speaking to reporters and within Parliament premises, Gandhi said he was ready to personally hand over an unpublished “memoir” of former Army Chief General M M Naravane to the Prime Minister if he attended the Lok Sabha. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will have the guts to come to the House today. If he does, I will physically go and give him this book so he can read it and the country can know the truth,” Gandhi said. Displaying the manuscript to the media, the Congress leader claimed the book contains details of how the government handled the situation when Chinese troops and tanks reached the Kailash Ridge during the border standoff. Quoting from the document, Gandhi alleged that General Naravane had sought guidance from then Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the National Security Adviser but did not receive a clear response. He further claimed that when the Army Chief asked how to respond to Chinese movements, he was told that the “top” leadership had instructed that Indian forces should not open fire without permission. According to Gandhi, the Prime Minister’s message to the Army Chief was “jo uchit samjho woh karo” (do what you think is right), which he described as an abdication of responsibility. “This shows the Prime Minister did not fulfil his duty. He passed the buck to the Army Chief. It meant ‘this is not in my control’,” Gandhi said.
Speaking outside Parliament after being prevented from finishing his speech inside, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed, 'The main thing is that our PM is compromised.'
A massive showdown erupted in parliament on Monday after Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from former army chief Naravane's unpublished memoir claiming the government showed no political will against Chinese incursions in 2020.
