India’s First Full-time Female Finance Minister- Nirmala Sitharaman

India witnessed a historic event in 2019 when Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the first full-time female Finance minister of India, but this success was not overnight. This achievement of her required a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication, and tons of sacrifices. Let’s take a look at her journey and how she was able to create this history and also we will take a look at her personal life and why she is an inspiration for millions.

Who is Nirmala Sitharaman?

Nirmala Sitharaman is an Indian Economist and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs of India. She has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2014. Before being appointed as the Finance Minister of India, she also served as the Defence Minister of India, becoming the second female to be appointed as the Defence Minister of India. Before that, she also served as the BJP spokesperson in 2010. Sitharaman was featured in the Forbes 2021 list of the World's 100 most powerful women and was ranked 37th. Fortune ranked Nirmala Sitharaman as the most powerful woman in India. India witnessed a historic event in 2019 when Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the first full-time female Finance minister of India, but this success was not overnight. This achievement of her required a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication, and tons of sacrifices. Let’s take a look at her journey and how she was able to create this history and also we will take a look at her personal life and why she is an inspiration for millions.

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Early Life

Nirmala Sitharaman was born on 18th August 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu to, Savitri and Narayanan Sitharaman.

Nirmala Sitharaman Education Qualificaions

Nirmala Sitharaman did her schooling from Madras and Tirruchipalli. She completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in 1980 and her Master of Arts degree in 1984 from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. She also enrolled for a P.H.D program in economics but unfortunately was unable to complete this program as she had to move to London when her husband secured a scholarship in the London School Of Economics.

Personal Life

While admiring these personalities, we ignore that these personalities also have a personal life and a family. Let’s take a look at Nirmala Sitaraman’s personal life and admire how she, despite being a mother and a family woman, became a finance minister. Nirmala Sitaraman was married in the year 1986 to Parakala Prabhakar. Nirmala Sitharaman’s husband is from Narsapuram, Andhra Pradesh, and served as the communications advisor to the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Nirmala Sitharaman also has a duaghter named Parakala Vangmayi.

Political Career

Nirmala Sitharaman joined BJP in 2006 and was appointed as the spokesperson for BJP in the year 2010. In 2014, she was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh. She served as the Defence Minister of India and also headed the “Balakot Air Strike” in the year 2019. She is the current Finance Minister of India and has presented four finance budgets of India till India until 2022. India reached the mark of $3.1 trillion economies under her leadership.

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Non-Political Career

Nirmala Sitharaman has served as an economist in the Agricultural Engineers Association in the U.K. She also served as a senior manager in PWC and briefly in the BBC World Service.

Nirmala Sitharamans Awards and Achievements

The Jawaharlal Nehru University conferred her with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. Forbes Magazine has ranked her 34th among the 100 most powerful women in the world in 2019.

Nirmala Sitharamans salary per month

Her basic salary is Rs 50,000, with a sumptuary allowance of Rs. 3,000, a daily allowance of Rs. 62,000, and an MP allowance of Rs. 45,000. In total, her salary per month is Rs.1,60,000.

Why is she an inspiration to millions?

Nirmala Sitharaman is an inspiration to millions while in power as a Defence Minister; she conducted not just one but two successful defense missions. The Rescue of Wing Commander Abhinandan and the Airstrike was India’s Response to the Pulwama Attack of 2019. She has also always been known for her bold and fearless statements, which often cause controversy but are never able to make her go mute. While serving as Finance Minister of India, she has also achieved numerous benchmarks. It was under her guidance that India became an Economy of $3.1 Trillion. On this occasion of International Women’s Day, let’s admire women like her and pay them a token of respect.

Conclusion

Nirmala Sitharaman is not just a name. She became a full-time finance minister and is serving the country like never before. The economy found strength under her reign. She is the women empowerment that every woman needs to follow. Her journey shows what it takes to reach the top.