Suresh Prabhu
{{short description|Indian politician (born 1953)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Overly detailed|date=August 2020}}
{{peacock|date=June 2021}}
{{fan POV|date=November 2023}}}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name = Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu
| image = The Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu holding a Press Conference on the 3rd meeting of Council for Trade Development and Promotion, in New Delhi on January 08, 2018.jpg
| alt = Suresh Prabhu, former MP and Union Minister, speaking at an event.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|07|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bombay, Bombay State (present day Maharashtra), India
| residence = Mumbai, Maharashtra
| death_date =
| death_place =
| primeminister = Narendra Modi
| successor = Piyush Goyal
| termstart = 24 June 2019
| termend = 7 September 2021
| office = Indian emissary to the G20 & G7
| predecessor = Shaktikanta Das
| office1 = Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India
| primeminister1 = Narendra Modi
| term_start1 = 12 March 2018
| term_end1 = 30 May 2019
| predecessor1 = Ashok Gajapathi Raju
| successor1 = Hardeep Singh Puri
| office2 = Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
| primeminister2 = Narendra Modi
| term_start2 = 3 September 2017
| term_end2 = 30 May 2019
| predecessor2 = Nirmala Sitharaman
| successor2 = Piyush Goyal
| office3 = Minister of Railways, Government of India
| primeminister3 = Narendra Modi
| term_start3 = 9 November 2014
| term_end3 = 3 September 2017
| predecessor3 = D. V. Sadananda Gowda
| successor3 = Piyush Goyal
| office5 = Minister of Power, Government of India
| primeminister5 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start5 = 30 September 2000
| term_end5 = 25 August 2002
| predecessor5 = Rangarajan Kumaramangalam
| successor5 = Anant Geete
| office6 = Minister of Fertilizers & Chemicals, Government of India
| primeminister6 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start6 = 13 October 1999
| term_end6 = 29 September 2000
| predecessor6 = Office raised to Cabinet rank
| successor6 = Sunder Lal Patwa
| office7 = Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India
| primeminister7 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start7 = 19 March 1998
| term_end7 = 13 October 1999
| predecessor7 = Saifuddin Soz
| successor7 = T.R. Baalu
| office8 = Minister of Industry, Government of India
| primeminister8 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start8 = 16 May 1996
| term_end8 = 1 June 1996
| predecessor8 = K. Karunakaran
| successor8 = Murasoli Maran
| office13 = Chairperson, Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers
| primeminister13 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start13 = 2002
| term_end13 = 2004
| predecessor13 =
| successor13 =
| office10 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| term_start10 = 15 May 1996
| term_end10 = 18 May 2009
| predecessor10 = Sudhir Sawant
| successor10 = Constituency abolished
| constituency10 = Rajapur
| office11 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| term_start11 = 22 June 2016
| term_end11 = 21 June 2022
| predecessor11 = Nirmala Sitharaman
| successor11 = R. Krishnaiah
| constituency11 = Andhra Pradesh
| office12 =
| term_start12 = 29 November 2014
| term_end12 = 21 June 2016
| predecessor12 = Ranbir Singh Parjapati
| successor12 = Dr. Subhash Chandra
| constituency12 = Haryana
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
(since 2014)
| otherparty = Shiv Sena {{small|(before 2014)}}
| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list|University of Mumbai|Institute of Chartered Accountants of India}}
| profession = {{Unbulleted_list|Chartered Accountant|Chancellor, Rishihood University{{cite news |title=Suresh Prabhu joins Rishihood University as the Founding Chancellor |url=https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/suresh-prabhu-joins-rishihood-university-as-the-founding-chancellor-120070400428_1.html |accessdate=31 May 2022 |work= |date=4 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531131342/https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/suresh-prabhu-joins-rishihood-university-as-the-founding-chancellor-120070400428_1.html |archivedate=31 May 2022}}|Professor, London School of Economics{{cite web |title=Suresh Prabhu appointed as Visiting Professor in Practice |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/suresh-prabhu-appointed-as-visiting-professor-in-practice/ |website=LSE |access-date=10 February 2022}}}}
| religion =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Uma Prabhu|1984}}
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|www.sureshprabhu.in}}
| footnotes =
| caption = Suresh Prabhu
| image name =
}}
Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu (born 11 July 1953) is an Indian politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1996 to 2009, representing Rajapur in the Lok Sabha. He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing Andhra Pradesh and Haryana from 2014 to 2022.{{Cite news |title=Suresh Prabhu files nomination for Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/suresh-prabhu-files-nomination-for-rajya-sabha-from-andhra-pradesh/articleshow/52517316.cms |newspaper=The Economic Times}}{{cite web |title=Suresh Prabhu, Birender Singh to be in Rajya Sabha from Haryana |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/suresh-prabhu-birender-singh-to-be-in-rajya-sabha-from-haryana-703105}}
He held several ministerial portfolios in the Union Government, including Ministry of Civil Aviation, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of Railways, Minister of Fertilizers & Chemicals, and Minister of Environment and Forests. He is the current chancellor of Rishihood University and chairman of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA).{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Ashish |title=India-US trade deal: PM Modi will never compromise interests of our farmers, says Suresh Prabhu |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/india-us-trade-deal-pm-modi-will-never-compromise-interests-of-our-farmers-says-suresh-prabhu/articleshow/120687869.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times |date=28 April 2025}}{{cite news |title=Former union minister Suresh Prabhu appointed as ICFA chairman |url=https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-former-union-minister-suresh-prabhu-appointed-as-icfa-chairman-325493 |work=Zee Business |date=11 November 2024 |language=en}}
Prabhu was appointed to the Bloomberg New Economy Advisory Board as the only representative from India.{{cite news |title=Ex-Minister Suresh Prabhu Only Indian On Bloomberg New Economy Advisory Board |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-minister-suresh-prabhu-only-indian-on-bloomberg-new-economy-advisory-board-8132847 |work=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}
He worked in the Global Advisory Council of the World Economic Forum.{{cite web |title=Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu |url=https://www.weforum.org/people/suresh-prabhakar-prabhu/ |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}
Education and career
Suresh Prabhu is a chartered accountant (CA) by profession. He qualified as a CA in 1977, securing the ninth rank in India.{{Cite web |title=Suresh Prabhu |url=https://rishihood.edu.in/people/suresh-prabhu/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Rishihood University, Delhi NCR |language=en-US}} He attended Sharad Ashram Vidyamandir, Dadar, Mumbai for schooling. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with Honours from M. L. Dahanukar College, Vile Parle, Mumbai, and a Bachelor of Law degree from the New Law College (Ruparel College campus), Mumbai.{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://iimranchi.ac.in/media/2023/10/Shri-Suresh-Prabhu-CV.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240831180300/https://iimranchi.ac.in/media/2023/10/Shri-Suresh-Prabhu-CV.pdf |archive-date=2024-08-31 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=iimranchi.ac.in}}
Political career
Prabhu held ministerial positions during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (1998–2004). His first portfolio was Minister of Industry.{{cite web |title=Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu Takes Over as Minister of Railways |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=111260 |website=pib.gov.in/ |access-date=10 November 2014}}
Prabhu served as Minister of Environment and Forests from 9 March 1998 to 13 October 1999 under the Vajpayee government. During this period, initiatives included developing bamboo resources, drafting the Biological Diversity Act, preparing the National Environment Action Plan, and finalizing various waste management rules.{{cite web |title=A brief bio sketch of Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Railways |url=https://wsds.teriin.org/2015/pdf/speaker/suresh.pdf}}
He held the Ministry of Fertilizers and Chemicals from 1999 to 2000.{{cite news |last1=S |first1=Sharadchandran |title=When a minister came to my birthday party |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/mindspace/2018/Sep/20/when-a-minister-came-to-my-birthday-party-1874444.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=20 September 2018 |language=en}} He worked on policies for the fertilizers, pharma, petrochemicals, and chemicals sectors.
He served as Minister of Power from 2000 to 2004.{{cite news |last1=Ramaseshan |first1=Radhika |title=Alice' in pants who kept growing |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/alice-in-pants-who-kept-growing/cid/1510491 |access-date=27 February 2015}} The Electricity Act of 2003 was enacted during his tenure.{{cite web |title=Suresh Prabhu |url=https://shaktifoundation.in/team-member/suresh-prabhu/ |website=Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation |language=en}} Reforms made under his ministry encouraged the people to set up their business without being dependent on captive power generation.{{cite news |title=Interview with Suresh Prabhu: “Learn lessons from power sector reforms” |url=https://powerline.net.in/2021/09/30/interview-with-suresh-prabhu/ |work=Power Line Magazine |date=30 September 2021}}
Prabhu was appointed Chairperson of the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers under the Vajpayee government.{{cite news |title=Inter-linking of rivers within 7-10 years: Uma Bharti |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/inter-linking-of-rivers-within-7-10-years-uma-bharti/articleshow/44863718.cms |work=The Times of India |date=18 October 2014}}
In the first term of the Narendra Modi government, Suresh Prabhu was appointed Minister of Railways but resigned in 2017 following train accidents.{{cite news |title=10 things you didn't know about Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-railway-minister-suresh-prabhu-242070-2015-02-26 |work=India Today |date=26 February 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announces new terminus near Kalyan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/railway-minister-suresh-prabhu-announces-new-terminus-near-thane-maharashtra-kalyan-4434330/ |work=The Indian Express |date=19 December 2016 |language=en}} In January 2016, the World Bank invited Prabhu to speak on the role of transport and cities in achieving climate goals.{{cite web |title=Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Railways |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=134540 |website=pib.gov.in}}
He served as Minister of Commerce and Industry from 2017 to 2019.{{cite news |last1=Correspondent |first1=Special |title=Nirmala and three other Ministers must quit: Congress |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nirmala-and-three-other-ministers-must-quit-congress/article19983396.ece |work=The Hindu |date=4 November 2017 |language=en-IN}} For the control of child trafficking, Mr Prabhu launched an app called ReUnite to track the abandoned and missing children.{{cite news |title=Suresh Prabhu launches Mobile App 'ReUnite' |url=https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1537135 |work=pib.gov.in}} Also visited Russia to participate in “Timber in the Far East-Increasing Industry’s Economic Return” and talked about India-Russia ties with Russian minister Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Russian Federation and Governors, Vice Governors and representatives of regions.{{cite web |last1=Bureau |first1=Press Information |title=Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1545678}}
In the final period of the first term of the Narendra Modi government, he served as Minister of Civil Aviation.{{cite news |title=Suresh Prabhu gets additional charge of Civil Aviation Ministry |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/suresh-prabhu-gets-additional-charge-of-civil-aviation-ministry-1502598991.html |work=The Statesman |date=10 March 2018 |language=en}} Under his ministry, Mr. Prabhu laid the foundation for seven new airports across the country.{{cite news |last1=Bharat |first1=E. T. V. |title=Govt to finalise regulations for drones: Suresh Prabhu |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/city/delhi/govt-to-finalise-regulations-for-drones-suresh-prabhu/na20190222194033409 |work=ETV Bharat News |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}
Awards and recognition
On 18 August 2016, Prabhu received the Goud Saraswat Brahmin Samaj Maharatha Award.{{citation |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/rly-minister-suresh-prabhu-gets-maharatha-award/article9006069.ece |title=Rly. Minister Suresh Prabhu gets Maharatha Award |work=The Hindu |date=19 August 2016 }}{{citation |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/GSB-Maharatna-Award-for-Suresh-Prabhu/articleshow/53736355.cms |title=GSB Maharatna Award for Suresh Prabhu |work=The Times of India |date=19 August 2016 }} Media surveys between 2014 and 2017 reportedly ranked him among the top performing ministers.{{Cite news |last=ABP News Bureau |first=ABP News Bureau |title=Achche din? Report card of PM Modi's top 5 performing ministers |url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/achche-din-report-card-of-pm-modis-top-5-ministers-349754 |access-date=2017-12-19 |language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.indianyouth.net/best-performing-ministers/|title=Who are the Best performing ministers in the Narendra Modi government ? - Indian Youth|date=2016-04-06|work=Indian Youth|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en-US}} In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Economic Policy Group (EPG).{{Cite web |last=EPG |date=2024-03-08 |title=Sadiq Khan, Oliver Dowden, Angela Rayner top the poll at Awards |url=https://www.economicpolicygroup.com/sadiq-khan-oliver-dowden-angela-rayner-win-at-epg-political-public-life-awards/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=EPG Economic and Strategy Consulting |language=en-US}}
Social work and interests
- Founder and trustee of Manav Sadhan Vikas Sansthan, an NGO.{{cite web | url=http://msvs.org.in/board-of-trustees.html | title=Manav Sadhan Vikas Sanstha }}
- Formed CoOperative Development Forum (CDF) for the promotion of cooperative movement in the country.{{cite news |title=Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu to head forum for promoting cooperative movement |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/former-union-minister-suresh-prabhu-to-head-forum-for-promoting-cooperative-movement/articleshow/76706355.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times |date=30 June 2020}}
Controversies
Suresh Prabhu has been associated with several controversies, including:
- The Adarsh Housing Society scandal.{{cite news |last=Jog |first=Sanjay |date=21 January 2013 |title=What the Adarsh scam is about... |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/what-the-adarsh-scam-is-about-110111000100_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913052348/https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/what-the-adarsh-scam-is-about-110111000100_1.html |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=Business Standard |location=Mumbai}}{{cite news |last=Jog |first=Sanjay |date=4 January 2014 |title=What the Adarsh scam is about... |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/adarsh-scam-how-politicians-their-kin-and-officials-became-members-by-flouting-norms-114010300494_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408224505/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/adarsh-scam-how-politicians-their-kin-and-officials-became-members-by-flouting-norms-114010300494_1.html |archive-date=8 April 2014 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=Business Standard |location=Mumbai}}{{cite news |author=PTI |date=2 Nov 2010 |title=Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu denies involvement in Adarsh scam |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-former-union-minister-suresh-prabhu-denies-involvement-in-adarsh-scam-1461252 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002183136/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-former-union-minister-suresh-prabhu-denies-involvement-in-adarsh-scam-1461252 |archive-date=2 October 2017 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=DNA India |location=Mumbai}}
- Bounced cheques issued by Western India Financial Services, where he served as chairman.{{cite news |author= BT Investigation |date= 9 September 2011 |title=Trapped in the Forest Fire |url=https://archives.digitaltoday.in/businesstoday/22121998/invest.html |work=Business Today |location=Mumbai |access-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415084144/https://archives.digitaltoday.in/businesstoday/22121998/invest.html |archive-date= 15 April 2024}}
- The "cobbler scam" involving Saraswat Bank during his chairmanship.{{cite news |title=Beneficiaries All| author = Outlook Web Desk | date=6 February 2022 |work=Outlook India |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/beneficiaries-all-news-202844 |access-date=13 September 2024 |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913052345/https://www.outlookindia.com/national/beneficiaries-all-news-202844 |archive-date=13 September 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.sureshprabhu.in}}
- [http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/suresh-prabhu.html Detailed Profile: Suresh Prabhu]
{{Navboxes
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|list1=
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{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=Sudhir Sawant}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Rajapur|years=1996–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=Constituency merged into
Ratnagiri–Sindhudurg constituency
Nilesh Narayan Rane}}
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{{s-bef|before=P R Kumaramangalam}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Power|years=30 September 2000 – 24 August 2002}}
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{{s-bef|before=Manohar Joshi}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises|years=26 August 2002 – 24 May 2004}}
{{s-aft|after=Santosh Mohan Dev}}
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{{s-bef|before=D. V. Sadananda Gowda}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Railways|years=9 November 2014 – 3 September 2017}}
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{{s-bef|before=Nirmala Sitharaman
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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Commerce and Industry|years=3 September 2017 – 30 May 2019}}
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{{s-bef|before=Ashok Gajapathi Raju}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ministry of Civil Aviation|years=2018 – Present
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