Jairam Ramesh

Jairam Ramesh was born on 9th April 1954 in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. He was born to C K Ramesh and Sridevi Ramesh. His father served as a Professor of Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay.

After completing his education, Ramesh briefly worked at the World Bank before becoming an assistant to economist Lovraj Kumar from December 1979 onwards. Inspired by the ideas of Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal and American economist Paul Samuelson, Ramesh was deeply influenced by Jawaharlal Nehru's perspectives on society, religion, and culture.

Currently, Ramesh is a prominent figure in the INC party. He is a member of parliament, representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament, under the banner of the Congress party. Before this, he served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing Andhra Pradesh from June 2004 to 2014.

Despite a long wait, he entered active politics in 1998 after concluding his advisory role with then Finance Minister P Chidambaram. During the Vajpayee government, he committed himself fully to the Indian Congress Party (INC).

Beginning his career as an economist, Ramesh held advisory positions of significance, advising both the Finance Minister (1996-98) and the Prime Minister (1991). He entered active politics in 1998 after concluding his advisory role with then Finance Minister P Chidambaram. During the Vajpayee government, he committed himself fully to the Indian Congress Party (INC). He has a deep interest in China, recognised as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi, since 2002. Ramesh also contributed as a member of the National Advisory Council under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

Throughout his career, Ramesh undertook several pivotal assignments, including restructuring India's international trade agencies (1990), implementing technology missions (1987-89), and reorganising CSIR (1986). He played a crucial role in shaping India's energy policy from 1983 to 1985 and was instrumental in economic reform advocacy. He also served on a special mission to Jammu and Kashmir (1993-95) and represented India at the WTO meeting in Seattle in 1999.

In terms of ministerial responsibilities, Ramesh held diverse portfolios, notably as Union Minister of Rural Development (2001-2014), including overseeing the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He also served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests (2009-2011), Minister of State for Power and Commerce (2008-2009), and Minister of State for Commerce (2006-2009).

During his tenure as Union Minister of Environment & Forests, Ramesh initiated the Green India initiative, showcasing his commitment to environmental conservation. He has authored numerous influential government reports spanning energy, technology, capital goods, industrial policy, and telecom.

Ramesh's extensive governmental roles include membership in key committees such as the Ministry of Finance, Committee on Government Assurance, Committee on Public Accounts, and the Court of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has held senior positions in the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Industry, Planning Commission, Advisory Board on Energy, and various other government departments from 1980 to 1998.

Apart from his political and economic roles, Ramesh has made significant contributions to journalism. He has been a columnist for prominent publications such as Business Standard, Business Today, The Telegraph, Times of India, and India Today. His column 'Kautilya' in The Times of India, focusing on economics and public policy, enjoys widespread popularity.

During the 1990s, Ramesh also ventured into television, where he served as an anchor for various programmes. Notably, he hosted 'Crossfire', a Sunday evening business roundtable, and a daily morning show titled 'Business Breakfast' on Star Plus.

In addition to his journalistic pursuits, Ramesh is an author. He has authored or co-edited several notable books including "Mobilising Technology for World Development" (Co-editor, 1979), "Kautilya Today" (2002), "Making Sense of Chindia: Reflections on China and India" (2005), "To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story" (2015), and "Old History New Geography" (2016).

In 1981, Ramesh married K R Jayashree, and they have two sons.