Kiren Rijiju

Joram Rina Rijiju

​

(m. 2004)​

Kiren Rijiju
Rijiju in 2024
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10)
Residence	9, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi
Alma mater	Delhi University (BA, LLB) [2]
Occupation	Politician
Website	sites.google.com/site/kirenrijiju/

Kiren Rijiju (born 19 November 1971) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 28th Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and 7th Minister of Minority Affairs since 2024. He was the Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries in the Government of India from 2023 to June 2024 and a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Arunachal West since 2014 and from 2004 to 2009. Earlier, he served as the 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 Law minister from 2021 to 2023. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

Education

Rijiju did his graduation degree (B.A.) from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. ^[5] Further, in 1998, he did his graduate degree in law (LL.B) from Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. ^{[6] [7]}

Political career

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. ^[8] On 10 June 2024, he was appointed as 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. ^[9]

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 DY Chandrachud. His comments on judiciary and collegium system were widely criticised by the legal community and the Supreme Court. ^{[8] [10]}

In March 2023, Kiren accused some retired judges to be a part of an "Anti-India gang". ^[11] A group of former civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group responded by claiming Rijiju's comments a sign of "authoritarianism". ^[12]

Personal life

He married Joram Rina Rijiju in 2004. ^[13] 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. ^[14]

See also

• Third Modi ministry

References

1. "Kiren Rijiju, a youth leader from Arunachal Pradesh". Ibn Live. Press Trust of India. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
2. "KIREN RIJIJU BIOGRAPHY AND 2014 ELECTION RESULT". Compare Infobase Limited. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
3. Saigal, Sonam (18 May 2023). "As Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju took potshots at Indian judiciary". The Hindu . Retrieved 20 May 2023.
4. C. B. Namchoom. "The saffron man, now playing the Jai Ho tune". eastern panorama. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
5. Mani, Gayathri (24 September 2017). "Wall of fame to inspire students in Delhi's Hansraj College". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
6. "Amid appointments impasse, virtual courts, new Law Minister Kiren Rijiju signs in". Indian Express. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
7. "Campus Law Centre DU". DU. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
8. Desk, Express Web (18 May 2023). "Kiren Rijiju no longer law minister: A look at his political career, controversies". Indian Express . Retrieved 20 May 2023.{{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
9. "Buddhist MPS in 18th Lok Sabha (2024-2029)". 2 July 2024.
10. Staff, The Wire (28 November 2022). "Supreme Court Objects to Kiren Rijiju's Remarks on Collegium System". The Wire . Retrieved 20 May 2023.
11. Staff, The Wire (18 March 2023). "Some Retired Judges Are Part of 'Anti-India Gang', Says Law Minister Kiren Rijiju". The Wire . Retrieved 20 May 2023.
12. Staff, The Wire (30 March 2023). "Rijiju's 'Anti-India' Comments a Sign of 'Authoritarianism', Say Former Civil Servants". The Wire . Retrieved 20 May 2023.
13. "Fourteenth Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile". Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
14. "Kiren Rijiju Biography: Education,Family,Net Worth,Offices". 17 September 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.

Lok Sabha
Preceded by Jarbom Gamlin	Member of Parliament for Arunachal West 2004–2009	Succeeded by Takam Sanjoy
Preceded by Takam Sanjoy	Member of Parliament for Arunachal West 2014–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Minister of State with Independent charge	Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister of State with Independent charge 31 May 2019 - 7 July 2021	Succeeded by Anurag Thakur
Preceded by Ravi Shankar Prasad	Minister of Law and Justice 7 July 2021 - 18 May 2023	Succeeded by Arjun Ram Meghwal Minister of State with Independent charge
Preceded by Jitendra Singh Minister of State with Independent charge	Minister of Earth Sciences 18 May 2023 - Present	Incumbent
Preceded by Pashupati Kumar Paras	Minister of Food Processing Industries 20 March 2024 - 10 June 2024	Succeeded by Chirag Paswan

External links

• Website of Kiren Rijiju
• Kiren Rijiju on Twitter
• Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website