RonAgnew292842 at 01:09, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T01:09:34Z

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{{short description|Indian politician (born 1971)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kiren Rijiju
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Kiren Rijiju with Modi (cropped).jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2021
| image_size = 220px
| office1 = [[Third Modi ministry|Union Cabinet Minister]]
| term_start1 = {{Start date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| termend1 =
| primeminister1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor1 = *[[Pralhad Joshi]]
*[[Smriti Irani]]
| successor1 =
| 1blankname1 = Ministry & Departments
| 1namedata1 = *[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Parliamentary Affairs]]
*[[Ministry of Minority Affairs|Minority Affairs]]
| minister1 =
| office2 = [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries|Union Minister of Food Processing Industries]]
| primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| term_start2 = {{Start date|2024|03|20|df=yes}}
| termend2 = {{End date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| predecessor2 = [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]]
| successor2 = [[Chirag Paswan]]
| office3 = [[Ministry of Earth Sciences|Union Minister of Earth Sciences]]
| primeminister3 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| term_start3 = {{Start date|2023|05|18|df=yes}}
| termend3 = {{End date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| predecessor3 = [[Jitendra Singh (BJP politician)|Jitendra Singh]]
| successor3 = [[Jitendra Singh Rana|Jitendra Singh]]
| office4 = 34th [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Union Minister of Law and Justice]]
| primeminister4 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| president4 = [[Ramnath Kovind]] [[Droupadi Murmu]]| term_start4 = {{Start date|2021|07|07|df=yes}}
| termend4 = {{End date|2023|05|18|df=yes}}
| predecessor4 = [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]]
| successor4 = [[Arjun Ram Meghwal]]
| office5 = [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports]]
| primeminister5 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor5 = [[Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore]]
| term_start5 = 30 May 2019
| term_end5 = 7 July 2021
| successor5 = [[Anurag Thakur]]
| office6 = [[Ministry of Minority Affairs|Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs]]
| term_start6 = 30 May 2019
| term_end6 = 7 July 2021
| minister6 = [[Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi]]
| predecessor6 = [[Virendra Kumar Khatik|Virendra Kumar]]
| successor6 = [[John Barla]]
| office7 = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Union Minister of State for Home Affairs]]
| minister7 = [[Rajnath Singh]]
| predecessor7 = [[R. P. N. Singh]]
| successor7 = *[[Nityanand Rai]]
*[[G. Kishan Reddy]]
| term_start7 = 26 May 2014
| term_end7 = 30 May 2019
| alongside7 = [[Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary|H. P. Chaudhary]] (2014–2016) and [[Hansraj Gangaram Ahir|H. G. Ahir]] (2016–2019)
| office8 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start8 = {{Start date|2014|05|16|df=yes}}
| predecessor8 = [[Takam Sanjoy]]
| constituency8 = [[Arunachal West (Lok Sabha constituency)|West Arunachal Pradesh]]
| term_start9 = {{Start date|2004|05|22|df=yes}}
| predecessor9 = [[Jarbom Gamlin]]
| constituency9 = [[Arunachal West (Lok Sabha constituency)|West Arunachal Pradesh]]
| term_end9 = {{End date|2009|05|17|df=yes}}
| successor9 = [[Takam Sanjoy]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|11|19|df=yes}}<ref name="youth leader">{{cite web | url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kiren-rijiju-a-youth-leader-from-arunachal-pradesh/474566-80.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529085422/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kiren-rijiju-a-youth-leader-from-arunachal-pradesh/474566-80.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 May 2014 | title=Kiren Rijiju, a youth leader from Arunachal Pradesh | publisher=Ibn Live | date=26 May 2014  | access-date=8 June 2014 | agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[West Kameng district|Nafra]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India
| residence = [[New Delhi|9, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Joram Rina Rijiju|2004}}
| alma_mater = [[Delhi University]]
| occupation = [[Politician]]
| website = {{URL|sites.google.com/site/kirenrijiju/}}
| education = B.A., LL.B<ref name="Factsheet">{{cite web | url=http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/kiren-rijiju.html | title=Kiren Rijiju Biography and 2014 Election Result | publisher=Compare Infobase Limited | access-date=8 June 2014 | archive-date=26 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626030246/http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/kiren-rijiju.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''Kiren Rijiju''' (born 19 November 1971) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 28th [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]] and 7th [[Ministry of Minority Affairs|Minister of Minority Affairs]] since 2024. He was the [[Ministry of Earth Sciences|Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences]] and [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries|Food Processing Industries]] in the [[Government of India]] from 2023 to June 2024 and a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in the [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency|Arunachal West]] since 2014 and from 2004 to 2009. Earlier, he served as the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of State for Home Affairs]] from 2014 to 2019, Minister of State for Minority Affairs from 2019 to 2021, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2019 to 2021 and the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law minister]] from 2021 to 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saigal |first1=Sonam |title=As Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju took potshots at Indian judiciary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/as-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-took-potshots-at-indian-judiciary/article66866361.ece |access-date=20 May 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=18 May 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520135656/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/as-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-took-potshots-at-indian-judiciary/article66866361.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Rijiju was born on 19 November 1971 to a [[Buddhist]] family in the Nakhu village near the Nafra town in the [[West Kameng district]] of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. His father's name is Rinchin Kharu and his mother's name is Chirai Rijiju. His father was the first pro-tempore speaker of the first [[Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]].<ref name="panorama">{{cite web | url=http://www.easternpanorama.in/index.php/component/content/article/27-2009/september31/523-the-saffron-man-now-playing-the-jai-ho-tune | title=The saffron man, now playing the Jai Ho tune | publisher=eastern panorama | access-date=8 June 2014 | author=C. B. Namchoom | archive-date=23 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232627/http://www.easternpanorama.in/index.php/component/content/article/27-2009/september31/523-the-saffron-man-now-playing-the-jai-ho-tune | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education==
Rijiju did his graduation degree (B.A.) from [[Hansraj College]], [[Delhi University|University of Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mani |first=Gayathri |date=24 September 2017 |title=Wall of fame to inspire students in Delhi's Hansraj College |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/Sep/24/wall-of-fame-to-inspire-students-in-delhis-hansraj-college-1661736.html |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=23 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023225127/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/sep/24/wall-of-fame-to-inspire-students-in-delhis-hansraj-college-1661736.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Further, in 1998, he did his graduate degree in law (LL.B) from [[Campus Law Centre]], [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-appointments-impasse-virtual-courts-new-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-signs-in-7395908/ | title=Amid appointments impasse, virtual courts, new Law Minister Kiren Rijiju signs in | publisher=Indian Express | date=8 July 2021 | accessdate=8 July 2021 | archive-date=8 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708211317/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-appointments-impasse-virtual-courts-new-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-signs-in-7395908/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://clc.du.ac.in/ | title=Campus Law Centre DU | publisher=DU | date=8 July 2021 | accessdate=8 July 2021}}</ref>

==Political career==
[[File:Shri Kiren Rijiju assuming charge as the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.jpg|thumb|Rijiju assuming charge as the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs]]
Kiren Rijiju is a four time MP in [[Lok Sabha]] from Arunachal Pradesh (2004, 2014, 2019
and 2024). He has served as minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) youth affairs and sports, MoS minority affairs, MoS home affairs, and [[Minister of Law and Justice]]. His tenure as Law Minister was marked by controversies. On 18 May 2023, he was assigned the portfolio of [[Ministry of Earth Sciences]].<ref name="indian-express-summary">{{cite news |title=Kiren Rijiju no longer law minister: A look at his political career, controversies |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kiren-rijiju-law-ministry-political-career-controversies-8615705/ |access-date=20 May 2023 |work=[[Indian Express]] |date=18 May 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520141026/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kiren-rijiju-law-ministry-political-career-controversies-8615705/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 June 2024, he was appointed the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in the [[Government of India]]. He is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the [[18th Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dhammabharat.com/buddhist-mps-in-18th-loksabha/ | title=Buddhist MPS in 18th Lok Sabha (2024-2029) | date=2 July 2024 | access-date=15 July 2024 | archive-date=15 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715161810/https://www.dhammabharat.com/buddhist-mps-in-18th-loksabha/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Controversies==
In 2022, Kiren called the collegium system of appointment of judges in Indian judicial system as "opaque", implying that appointments are done on personal associations rather than merit. He also advocated for government's role in the appointment of judges, writing to the [[Chief Justice of India]] [[Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud|DY Chandrachud]]. His comments on judiciary and collegium system were widely criticised by the legal community and the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref name="indian-express-summary" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Supreme Court Objects to Kiren Rijiju's Remarks on Collegium System |url=https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-kiren-rijiju-collegium-system |access-date=20 May 2023 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=28 November 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520143249/https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-kiren-rijiju-collegium-system |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2023, Kiren accused some retired judges to be a part of an "Anti-India gang".<ref>{{cite news |title=Some Retired Judges Are Part of 'Anti-India Gang', Says Law Minister Kiren Rijiju |url=https://thewire.in/law/kiren-rijiju-judges-rahul-gandhi-anti-india-gang |access-date=20 May 2023 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=18 March 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520144324/https://thewire.in/law/kiren-rijiju-judges-rahul-gandhi-anti-india-gang |url-status=live }}</ref> A group of former civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group responded by claiming Rijiju's comments a sign of "authoritarianism".<ref>{{cite news |title=Rijiju's 'Anti-India' Comments a Sign of 'Authoritarianism', Say Former Civil Servants |url=https://thewire.in/rights/rijijus-anti-india-comments-a-sign-of-authoritarianism-say-former-civil-servants |access-date=20 May 2023 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=30 March 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520144323/https://thewire.in/rights/rijijus-anti-india-comments-a-sign-of-authoritarianism-say-former-civil-servants |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He married Joram Rina Rijiju in 2004.<ref name="lok">{{cite web|title=Fourteenth Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/former_Biography.aspx?mpsno=3972|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529071136/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/former_Biography.aspx?mpsno=3972|archive-date=29 May 2014|access-date=28 May 2014|publisher=Lok Sabha}}</ref> She is a graduate from [[Lady Shri Ram College]] for Women, New Delhi and is a gold medalist from [[Arunachal University]]. She is an Associate Professor teaching history at Dera Natung Government College, [[Itanagar]] in Arunachal Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 September 2024 |title=Kiren Rijiju Biography: Education, Family, Net Worth, Offices |url=https://indiapresentinfo.in/2024/09/who-is-kiren-rijiju-biography-wife.html |access-date=14 December 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214182454/https://indiapresentinfo.in/2024/09/who-is-kiren-rijiju-biography-wife.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Third Modi ministry]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://kirenrijiju.googlepages.com Website of Kiren Rijiju]
* {{Twitter}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071219123049/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=3972 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]

{{s-start}}
{{S-par|in-ls}}
{{Succession box
| title = Member of Parliament for [[Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency|Arunachal West]]
| years = 22 May 2004 – 17 May 2009
| before = [[Jarbom Gamlin]]
| after = [[Takam Sanjoy]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = Takam Sanjoy
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Member of Parliament for Arunachal West
| years = 16 May 2014 – Present
}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)#Ministers of state|Minister of State for Home Affairs]]
| years = 26 May 2014 – 30 May 2019
| with = [[Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary]] 9 November 2014 – 5 July 2016
| with2 = [[Hansraj Gangaram Ahir]] 5 July 2016 – 30 May 2019
| before = [[Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh|R. P. N. Singh]]
| after = [[G. Kishan Reddy]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Ministry of Minority Affairs#Ministers of State|Minister of State for Minority Affairs]]
| years = 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021
| before = [[Virendra Kumar Khatik]]
| after = [[John Barla]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports]] Minister of State (Independent Charge)
| years = 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021
| before = [[Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore]] Minister of State (Independent Charge)
| after = [[Anurag Singh Thakur]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Minister of Law and Justice]]
| years = 7 July 2021 – 18 May 2023
| before = [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]]
| after = [[Arjun Ram Meghwal]] Minister of State (Independent Charge)
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Ministry of Earth Sciences|Minister of Earth Sciences]]
| years = 18 May 2023 – 10 June 2024
| before = [[Jitendra Singh Rana|Jitendra Singh]] Minister of State (Independent Charge)
| after = Jitendra Singh Minister of State (Independent Charge)
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries|Minister of Food Processing Industries]]
| years = 20 March 2024 – 10 June 2024
| before = [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]]
| after = [[Chirag Paswan]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Pralhad Joshi]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]]
| years = 10 June 2024 – Present
}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Smriti Irani]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Ministry of Minority Affairs|Minister of Minority Affairs]]
| years = 10 June 2024 – Present
}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{16th Lok Sabha members from Northeast states}}
{{First Modi ministry}}
{{17th Lok Sabha members from Northeast states}}
{{Second Modi ministry}}
{{Home Ministry (India)}}
{{18th Lok Sabha members from Northeast states}}
{{Third Modi ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rijiju, Kiren}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from West Kameng district]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Faculty of Law, University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:India MPs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Union ministers of state of India]]
[[Category:Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:National Democratic Alliance candidates in the 2019 Indian general election]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Hansraj College alumni]]

Kiren Rijiju - Revision history

RonAgnew292842 at 01:09, 25 March 2026