Ramchandra Prasad Singh
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Indian politician
| image = RCP Singh jpg.jpg
| name = Ramchandra Prasad Singh
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|07|06|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Mustaffapur, Nalanda, Bihar, India
| nationality =
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = Union Minister of Steel
| term_start = 7 July 2021
| term_end = 6 July 2022
| primeminister = Narendra Modi
| predecessor = Dharmendra Pradhan
| successor = Jyotiraditya Scindia
| office1 = National President of Janata Dal (United)
| term_start1 = 27 December 2020
| term_end1 = 31 July 2021
| successor1 = Lalan Singh
| predecessor1 = Nitish Kumar
| office2 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| term_start2 = 8 July 2010
| term_end2 = 4 July 2022
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = Khiru Mahto
| constituency2 = Bihar
| party = Jan Suraaj Party (2025 - present)
| otherparty = AASA (2024-25)
BJP (2023-24)
JD(U) (2010-22)
| spouse = {{marriage|Girija Singh|1982}}
| children = 2, including Lipi Singh
| website = {{URL|https://rcpsingh.org/}}
| footnotes =
| date =
| year =
| source =
}}
Ram Chandra Prasad Singh (born 6 July 1958) is an Indian politician and former national president of Aap Sabki Aawaz and Janata Dal (United).{{cite news |title=Nitish Kumar's JD(U) successor an ex-IAS officer who cleared UPSC before graduating |url=https://theprint.in/politics/rcp-singh-a-jnu-alumnus-who-became-chhota-bheem-to-nitish-kumar-will-lead-jdu-now/575024/ |access-date=22 February 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806220529/https://theprint.in/politics/rcp-singh-a-jnu-alumnus-who-became-chhota-bheem-to-nitish-kumar-will-lead-jdu-now/575024/ |url-status=live }} Singh is a former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Bihar from 2010 to 2022. He was a Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer before joining politics.{{Cite web|date=27 December 2020|title=RCP Singh—Meet the IAS officer-turned politician who becomes new JD(U) president - The Financial Express|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rcp-singh-meet-the-ias-officer-turned-politician-who-becomes-new-jdu-president/2158552/|access-date=19 September 2021|website=www.financialexpress.com|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917110320/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rcp-singh-meet-the-ias-officer-turned-politician-who-becomes-new-jdu-president/2158552/|url-status=live}} He was also principal secretary of Nitish Kumar.{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100601/jsp/nation/story_12507749.jsp |title=RS reward for Nitish's trusted RCP |work=Telegraph |author=Nalin Verma |date=1 June 2010 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081331/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1100601/jsp/nation/story_12507749.jsp |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/bihar-jdu-leaders-unhappy-with-the-new-cabinet-of-modi-sarkar-2|title=Bihar: JDU leaders unhappy with the new cabinet of Modi Sarkar 2|first=Soroor|last=Ahmad|date=1 June 2019|work=National herald|accessdate=31 October 2020|quote=According to JD(U) sources, the party wanted cabinet berths for former bureaucrat and Rajya Sabha member R C P Singh and newly-elected MP from Munger Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and MoS status for Purnea MP Santosh Kushwaha.R C P Singh is a Kurmi and also comes from Nitish Kumar's home district of Nalanda, Lalan is a Bhumihar and Santosh a Kushwaha. The party cannot afford to lose the goodwill of any other two castes by nominating only one minister. Thus it deemed it fit not to join the government at all, said a party leader.|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113171600/https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/bihar-jdu-leaders-unhappy-with-the-new-cabinet-of-modi-sarkar-2|url-status=live}} He became Minister of Steel in Second Modi ministry when cabinet overhaul happened.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-cabinet-rejig-full-list-of-new-ministers-1825111-2021-07-07|title=Modi cabinet rejig: Full list of new ministers|website=India Today|date=7 July 2021 |access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707132605/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-cabinet-rejig-full-list-of-new-ministers-1825111-2021-07-07|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Singh was born in Mustaffapur in Nalanda district, Bihar to Sukhdeo Narayan Singh and Dukhalalo Devi. He married Girija Singh on 21 May 1982, with whom he has two daughters.{{cite web|title=Detailed Profile: Shri Ramchandra Prasad Singh|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/shri-ram-chandra-prasad-singh|website=India.gov.in|accessdate=23 August 2019|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809160710/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/shri-ram-chandra-prasad-singh|url-status=live}} His daughter, Lipi Singh, is a 2016-batch IPS officer and second daughter Lata is a Lawyer.{{cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Rohit Kumar|date=23 August 2019|title=Lady Singham: How this Bihar woman cop made 'bahubali' MLA Anant Singh flee for his life|language=en|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lady-singham-how-this-bihar-woman-cop-made-bahubali-mla-anant-singh-flee-for-his-life-1590608-2019-08-23|accessdate=23 August 2019|archive-date=6 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806220529/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lady-singham-how-this-bihar-woman-cop-made-bahubali-mla-anant-singh-flee-for-his-life-1590608-2019-08-23|url-status=live}} He belongs to OBC category.{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jd-u-chief-rcp-singhs-meteoric-rise-from-kurmi-bureaucrat-to-cabinet-minister-2481555|title=JD(U) Chief RCP Singh's Meteoric Rise From Kurmi Bureaucrat To Cabinet Minister|website=NDTV|accessdate=6 February 2023}}
Education
He completed his primary education in his village and passed Twelfth grade from Patna Science College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in history from Patna College in 1979 and did master's degree in International relations From School of International studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1982.{{cite web |title=Ramchandra Prasad Singh(Janata Dal (United)(JD(U))):(BIHAR) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/rajsab09aff/candidate.php?candidate_id=612 |website=myneta.info |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222083607/https://myneta.info/rajsab09aff/candidate.php?candidate_id=612 |url-status=live }}
Career
He initially joined the IRS (income tax) and completed the training. He resigned from the IRS after getting selected in the IAS in the year 1984, he was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He worked in various roles typical to an IAS officer both in state government and on central deputation.{{cite web |title=Shri Ram Chandra Prasad Singh Highlights Importance of Training for People from All Walks of Life |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1768316 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222083822/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1768316 |url-status=live }}
While working in central deputation he came in contact with Nitish Kumar and worked as his private secretary for 7 years. He worked as Principal Secretary to Nitish Kumar after he was elected chief minister of Bihar in 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. He took voluntary retirement from the Service in 2010 and joined the Nitish Kumar led JD(U) to start his political career.{{cite web|url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/india-news/bihar-nitish-kumar-made-rcp-singh-a-leader-from-ias-now-why-does-he-want-to-eliminate-him|title=Nitish-kumar-made-rcp-singh-a-leader-from-ias-now-why-does-he-want-to-eliminate-him|website=Amarujala|accessdate=7 July 2022|archive-date=6 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806220529/https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/india-news/bihar-nitish-kumar-made-rcp-singh-a-leader-from-ias-now-why-does-he-want-to-eliminate-him|url-status=live}}
On 31 October 2024, Singh announced formation of his own political party called Aap Sabki Aawaz. It was formed on the occasion of Diwali and the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, who is recognised as an icon by the Kurmi community of Bihar. On this occasion, Singh also announced that he will contest in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar/estranged-nitish-aide-rcp-singh-floats-own-party/article68817463.ece |title=Estranged Nitish aide RCP Singh floats his own party|website=The Hindu |agency=PTI |date=31 October 2024 |access-date=31 October 2024}}
On 18 May 2025, Singh merged his party Aap Sabki Aawaz with Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Santosh |date=18 May 2025 |title=Ex-Nitish aide RCP Singh buries hatchet with Prashant Kishor, merges outfit with Jan Suraaj |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rcp-singh-prashant-kishor-jan-suraaj-10014372/ |work=The Indian Express |access-date=18 May 2025}}
Politics
- Got elected to Rajya Sabha in June 2010.
- Served as Member of Standing Committee on Railway, DOPT, Home.
- Served as Member of Consultative Committee on External Affairs and Home.
- Joined JDU in 2010. Given the assignment of General Secretary.
- Later elevated as General Secretary (Organisation) of JDU.
- Served as National President JDU from 27 December 2020 to 31 July 2021.
- Took oath as Union Cabinet Minister of Steel, Govt. of India on 7 July 2021.
References
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{{Janata Dal (United)}}
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{{s-bef|before=Dharmendra Pradhan}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Steel |years=7 July 2021 - 6 July 2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Jyotiraditya Scindia}}
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{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Ramchandra Prasad}}
Category:Rajya Sabha members from Bihar
Category:Indian Administrative Service officers
Category:Janata Dal (United) politicians
Category:Narendra Modi ministry
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Bihar
{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet|state=collapsed}}