Kapil Sibal

Sibal was born on 8 August 1948 at Jalandhar in Punjab. His family migrated to India during the partition in 1947.{{cite web|title=Birthplace of Sibal|url=http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4077|work=National Portal of India|publisher=Government of India|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-date=4 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704122833/http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4077|url-status=dead}} After his schooling from St. John's High School, Chandigarh, he moved to Delhi in 1964 and joined the St. Stephen's College, Delhi for his B.A. He earned his LL.B. degree from the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, and later an M.A. in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.{{cite news |title=From MA in history to a prospective RS nominee; know all about Kapil Sibal's educational qualifications |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/from-ma-in-history-to-a-prospective-rs-nominee-know-all-about-kapil-sibals-educational-qualifications |work=Free Press Journal |language=en}}

Sibal joined the bar association in 1972.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/election-news/key-contestants/story/kapil-sibal-42739-2009-03-26 |date=26 Mar 2009 |title=Kapil Sibal|magazine=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-04-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018142243/https://www.indiatoday.in/election-news/key-contestants/story/kapil-sibal-42739-2009-03-26 |archive-date= 18 Oct 2019 }} In the year 1973, he qualified for Indian Administrative Services and was offered an appointment.{{Citation|work=India Today|title=Kapil Sibal & Son Akhil Exclusive Interview With Karan Thapar|date=2016-08-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khGWYPUwAjI |publisher=YouTube |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/khGWYPUwAjI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-05-06}}{{cbignore}} But he declined the offer and decided to set up his own law practice. Afterwards, he attended the Harvard Law School where he enrolled for an LL.M. which he completed in 1977.{{cite web |title=Harvard Law School Graduates: A Biographical Research Guide |url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/special/research/biographical-research-guide.html |publisher=Harvard Law School Library |access-date=12 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112224140/http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/special/research/biographical-research-guide.html|archive-date=12 January 2014}} He was designated as senior lawyer in 1983.

In 1989, he was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India. In 1994, he appeared in the Parliament as a lawyer and successfully defended V. Ramaswami during impeachment proceedings. The impeachment motion was placed in the assembly for debate and voting on 10 May 1993. Of 401 members present in the assembly that day, there were 196 votes for impeachment and no votes against and 205 abstentions by ruling Congress and its allies. He had served as the President of the Supreme Court Bar association on four occasions, i.e. 1995–1996, 1997–1998 and 2001–2002, 2024-2025.{{cite web|last=Sibal|first=Detail about|title=Short Biography of Kapil Sibal|date=25 January 2012|url=http://www.preservearticles.com/2012012521459/short-biography-of-kapil-sibal.html|publisher=Preserve Article Press|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112193546/http://www.preservearticles.com/2012012521459/short-biography-of-kapil-sibal.html|url-status=dead}}

Kapil Sibal joined the Bar association in 1972. He decided to set up his own law practice.[http://dod.nic.in/kapilsibalresume.htm Minister for Earth Sciences, Govt. of India: Shri Kapil Sibal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415090114/http://dod.nic.in/kapilsibalresume.htm|date=15 April 2012}} Ministry of Earth Sciences website.[http://www.csir.res.in/csir/external/heads/aboutcsir/leaders/kapil-speech/Curriculum%20Vitae-kapil.HTM Kapil Sibal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430002322/http://www.csir.res.in/csir/external/heads/aboutcsir/leaders/kapil-speech/Curriculum%20Vitae-kapil.HTM |date=30 April 2008 }} Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He was designated as a Senior Lawyer by the High Court of Delhi on 8 November 1983. He was the Additional Solicitor General of India between 1989 and 1990, as well.[http://203.200.89.92/dst/about_us/kapil-sibal-resume.htm Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529220727/http://203.200.89.92/dst/about_us/kapil-sibal-resume.htm |date=29 May 2011 }} Ministry of Science and Technology

Over the years, he has held several important positions in the Government of India and the Society, such as: Additional Solicitor General of India (December 1989 – 1990); Member, Board of Management, Indira Gandhi National Open University (1993); President, Supreme Court Bar Association (1995–96, 1997–98 and 2001–2002); Member, Rajya Sabha (July 1998); Member, Executive Council, Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies (July, 2001); Member, Business Advisory Committee (August, 2001); Member, Committee on Home Affairs (January, 2002); Co-chairman, Indo-US Parliamentary Forum (2002); Member, Board of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (2002); Member, Programme Board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Indian AIDS initiative (2003); Member, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention set up by the Human Rights Commission, Geneva.

File:Shri Kapil Sibal takes over the charge of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology in New Delhi May 24, 2004.jpg

In the 2004 general elections, Sibal became an MP by winning the Chandni Chowk constituency against TV actor Smriti Irani of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the National Capital Territory representing the Congress Party and was inducted into the Cabinet under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Union Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences. He won the constituency of Chandni Chowk for the second time for the Indian National Congress in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009.

During his tenure as Telecom Minister his comment about the loss in the 2G spectrum case being only notional and causing "zero loss"{{cite news|title=No loss to Govt from 2G spectrum allocation: Sibal|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/article1065479.ece|access-date=6 December 2011|newspaper=Hindu Businessline|date=7 January 2011}} created a public outcry{{cite web|last=Ninan|first=T N|title=Sibal's 'zero loss' claim carries zero credibility|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-sibals-zero-loss-claim-carries-zero-credibility/20110118.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=6 December 2011}} and he had to clarify it later.{{cite news|title=I never said zero loss if spectrum was auctioned: Kapil Sibal|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-01/news/28645574_1_zero-loss-spectrum-allocation-criminal-culpability|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121112622/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-01/news/28645574_1_zero-loss-spectrum-allocation-criminal-culpability|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2012|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=1 March 2011|agency=PTI}} Kapil Sibal was indicted by CAG for favoring M/S Phoenix Rose LLC by overlooking rules and regulations and handpicking that company for creating a database for over 500,000 working professionals of People of Indian Origin settled in the US. CAG's report said that the project's cost was ${{formatnum:120000}} but three years after the initiation, the company has dumped the networking site, completing just over 16% of the targeted work.{{cite news|title=CAG indictment adds to Kapil Sibal troubles|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_cag-indictment-adds-to-kapil-sibal-troubles_1564476|access-date=7 December 2011|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|date=11 July 2011}}

Also during his time in that office, his move to regulate internet content{{cite news|last=Timmons|first=Heather|title=India Asks Google, Facebook to Screen User Content|url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/india-asks-google-facebook-others-to-screen-user-content/|work=The New York Times|access-date=6 December 2011|date=5 December 2011}} was criticized across many social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.{{cite news|last=Iyer|first=Srividya|title=Kapil Sibal under attack: Twitter, Facebook users target him|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-07/social-media/30485176_1_kapil-sibal-democratic-medium-facebook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622121100/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-07/social-media/30485176_1_kapil-sibal-democratic-medium-facebook|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2013|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=The Times of India|date=7 December 2011}}

He represented India in the Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum in 2005 and 2009 held at Davos, Switzerland. He led the Indian delegation to the Annapolis Conference, USA, held to gather International support for establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of Israeli–Palestinian peace during November 2007. He led the Indian delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Bali in December 2007.

Sibal introduced the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system in India for Class IX and Class X and he has also started the changes in the IIT JEE pattern. He has laid the foundation stone for IIT Patna.

File:Kapil Sibal inaugurating the ‘National Cloud’ under the ‘MeghRaj’ initiative of the Department of Electronics & IT, in New Delhi. The Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.jpg

After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Sibal announced that a fresh onslaught of deadly tsunami were likely along the India southern coast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, even though there was no sign of turbulence in the region.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/false-warning-of-tsunami-causes-panic-in-india-1.1171743|title= Tsunami - The Irish Times|website=www.irishtimes.com|access-date=2019-11-11}} The announcement was a false alarm and the Home Affairs minister withdrew their announcement.Tran, Tina. (30 December 2004) Associated Press "[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20041230-1108-tsunami-falsewarning.html False tsunami alarm sparks panic in Indian Ocean region.]" Three days after the announcement, Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi called Science & Technology minister Kapil Sibal to express her concern about Sibal's 30 December public warning being "hogwash".The Financial Express (2 January 2005) "[http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=40261 Congress chief steps in as home, S&T ministers lock horns.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419124851/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=40261 |date=19 April 2012 }}"

;Parliamentary Committee assignments

• 13 September 2021 onwards: Member Committee on External Affairs{{cite web |title=Committee on External Affairs : Loksabha |url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Committee/CommitteeInformation.aspx?comm_code=11&tab=2 |website=loksabhaph.nic.in |access-date=20 January 2022}}

On 25 May 2022, he filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha elections as an independent candidate with support of Samajwadi Party. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had accompanied him while he filed his nominations. Subsequently, he broke to the media that he had resigned from the Indian National Congress on 16 May.{{cite news |last1=Phukan |first1=Sandeep |title=Kapil Sibal says he has quit Congress, files Rajya Sabha nomination papers with Samajwadi Party backing |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kapil-sibal-files-rajya-sabha-nomination-as-independent-candidate-backed-by-samajwadi-party-says-he-quit-congress-on-may-16/article65459553.ece |access-date=25 May 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=25 May 2022 |language=en-IN}}

In 2011 Sibal has also announced a touchscreen tablet computer to be co-developed with private partnership. It was to be available to students for {{INRConvert|1500}}. Satish Jha, chairman of OLPC India, the leading competitor to this venture, questioned his claim that a $35 laptop could be created in a year.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130828034810/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMC8wNy8yNiNBcjAxNzAy&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom Article – OLPC picks holes in govt’s laptop agenda]. Epaper.timesofindia.com (26 July 2010). Retrieved on 2011-01-22. Five state Chief Ministers endorsed the OLPC initiative and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan himself inaugurated the project on the day Sibal showcased his future laptop. The event was attended by two members of the Union Cabinet.[http://lug-iitd.posterous.com/olpc-stall-pics-nogallary OLPC Stall Pics ((nogallary)) – LUG@IITD Community Blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715105944/http://lug-iitd.posterous.com/olpc-stall-pics-nogallary |date=15 July 2011 }}. Lug-iitd.posterous.com (23 July 2010). Retrieved on 2011-01-22.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/29/stories/2010072958740500.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804002756/http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/29/stories/2010072958740500.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 August 2010 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Laptop experience for Rajasthan villagers | date=29 July 2010}} This also lead to an open letter by Nicholas Negroponte offering him complete access to MIT and OLPC technologies to help realise India's dream to create a laptop of its own.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100804005253/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMC8wNy8yOSNBcjAxNTAy&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom Article – $35 laptop: OLPC founder wants stress on design]. Epaper.timesofindia.com (29 July 2010). Retrieved on 2011-01-22.

The computer was eventually released online as the UbiSlate7C1 tablet PC at {{INRConvert|4199}} and the Ubislate7C+ tablet PC at {{INRConvert|5199}}.[http://ubislate.com/device-specification/index.html UbiSlate device specifications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120075221/http://ubislate.com/device-specification/index.html |date=20 January 2013 }} ubislate.com, Retrieved on 1 March 2013. As of February 2012, Datawind had over 1,400,000 pre-orders, but had only shipped 10,000 units - 0.7% of orders.[https://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/aakash-stalls/ Aakash lurches toward another crisis as India loses patience with DataWind] Engadget, Retrieved on 1 March 2013. As of November 2012, many customers who put in orders still had not received their computers and were offered refunds.[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/datawind-to-clear-all-paid-orders-for-aakash-in-6-weeks/article4108396.ece Datawind to clear all paid orders for Aakash in 6 weeks] The Hindu Business Line, Retrieved on 1 March 2013.

An anthology of Kapil Sibal's poems titled I Witness: Partial Observation was published by Roli Books, New Delhi,{{cite news|last=Reddy|first=Sheela|title=A Couple of Syllables|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?238350|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=Outlook India|date=8 September 2008}} in August 2008.

His lyrics were also turned into a studio album by A. R. Rahman titled Raunaq: Conversation of Music and Poetry in 2014.

Kapil Sibal wrote the lyrics of the songs "Tere bina" and "Mast hawa" for 2016 Hindi film Shorgul.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-15 |title=I belong to the romantic genre: Kapil Sibal |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/i-belong-to-the-romantic-genre-kapil-sibal-2854837/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Indian Express |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111165956/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/i-belong-to-the-romantic-genre-kapil-sibal-2854837/ |archive-date= 11 Jan 2024 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/kapil-sibal-turns-lyricist-for-shorgul/article8699171.ece|title=Kapil Sibal turns lyricist for Shorgul|newspaper=The Hindu|date=7 June 2016|last1=Basu|first1=Indira |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607003128/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/kapil-sibal-turns-lyricist-for-shorgul/article8699171.ece |archive-date= 7 Jun 2016 }}

Kapil Sibal's father was Hira Lall Sibal, a renowned advocate, his family migrated to India during the partition in 1947. In 1994, H.L. Sibal was named a "Living Legend of the Law" by the International Bar Association and in 2006, the Government of India honoured him with the 'Padma Bhushan' award for his distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs.{{cite web|url=https://www.kapilsibal.in/about-me/personal-profile/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111074433/https://www.kapilsibal.in/about-me/personal-profile/ |archive-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=dead |title=Personal Profile |website= Kapil Sibal |access-date=4 May 2015}}

He married Nina Sibal in 1973, who died of breast cancer in 2000.[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000701/nation.htm#12 The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Nation]. Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-22. Amit and Akhil, Sibal's two sons from his first marriage, are both lawyers.{{cite news|last=Basu|first=Arundhati|title=Legally speaking|url=http://ww.telegraphindia.com/1051112/asp/weekend/story_5441621.asp|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=12 November 2005|location=Calcutta, India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002108/http://ww.telegraphindia.com/1051112/asp/weekend/story_5441621.asp|archive-date=26 April 2012}} In 2005, Sibal married Promila Sibal.{{cite news|title='When I'm in politics, I stick to the party line; when I'm a poet, I don't'|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080824/jsp/7days/story_9734997.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203221715/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080824/jsp/7days/story_9734997.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2013|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 August 2008|author=Bishakha De Sarkar|location=Calcutta, India}}{{cite news|last=Chadha|first=Kum Kum|title=Kapil da dhaba|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/62229.aspx|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=10 February 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829124108/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/62229.aspx|archive-date=29 August 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune-times/No-politricks-for-Kapil-Sibal/articleshow/44009939.cms |title=No 'politricks' for Kapil Sibal|work=Times of India|access-date=2023-02-04|date=21 April 2003|author=Gaurav Thakur}} His brother is Kanwal Sibal, a retired top diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service, and a former foreign secretary of India.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Kapil Sibal}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/in-conversation-kapil-sibal-hrd-minister/362478/ In Conversation: Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister] Business Standard
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110529220727/http://203.200.89.92/dst/about_us/kapil-sibal-resume.htm Profile at Ministry of Science and Technology, Official website]
• [http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/argumentative-indian The Argumentative Indian: The precarious ambition of Kapil Sibal]

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