Sushma Swaraj
Former External Affairs Minister of India (2014–2019)
- Lived
- 67 yrs
- 1952 – 2019
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2020
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Sushma Swaraj was a BJP leader, lawyer and celebrated orator who served as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2014 to 2019. She was the first woman to serve as Chief Minister of Delhi and was widely admired for helping Indians in distress abroad.
Biography
Early career
Swaraj studied at Sanatan Dharma College, Ambala, and took a law degree at Panjab University, Chandigarh, before practising at the Supreme Court. Active in the movement against the Emergency, she was elected to the Haryana Assembly in 1977 and became a state cabinet minister at the age of 25 — one of the youngest in India’s history.
National politics
Swaraj moved to national politics with the BJP and held the information and broadcasting, health and parliamentary affairs portfolios in Vajpayee’s governments. In 1998 she briefly served as Chief Minister of Delhi, the first woman in the role. She was Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014, representing Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
External Affairs Minister
As External Affairs Minister in Narendra Modi’s first government, Swaraj became known for answering appeals on Twitter from Indians stranded or in trouble abroad, arranging passports, evacuations and medical help. She oversaw large evacuations from conflict zones such as Yemen in 2015.
She did not contest the 2019 election for health reasons and died in New Delhi on 6 August 2019. She was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2020.
Orator
Swaraj was one of the BJP’s most powerful speakers in both Hindi and English. Her speeches at the United Nations General Assembly as External Affairs Minister, delivered in Hindi, drew attention, as did her sharp exchanges in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition.
Personal life
She married Swaraj Kaushal, a Supreme Court lawyer who later became the youngest Governor of an Indian state (Mizoram) and a member of the Rajya Sabha. Their daughter Bansuri Swaraj is a lawyer and was elected MP for New Delhi in 2024. Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant in 2016 while still serving as External Affairs Minister.
Timeline
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1952
Born in Ambala Cantonment, Punjab (now Haryana)
-
1977
Haryana cabinet minister at 25
Elected to the state assembly.
-
1990
Enters the Rajya Sabha
Begins her national career.
-
1996
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
In the 13-day Vajpayee government; again in 1998 and 2000.
-
1996
Elected MP for South Delhi
-
1998
Chief Minister of Delhi
First woman to hold the post.
-
2003
Union Health Minister
Until 2004.
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2009
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha
Elected from Vidisha.
-
2014
External Affairs Minister
First full-time woman External Affairs Minister.
-
2016
Kidney transplant
While serving as External Affairs Minister.
-
2019
Dies in New Delhi
On 6 August.
-
2020
Padma Vibhushan (posthumous)
India’s second-highest civilian honour.
-
2019
Died, aged 67
Awards and honours
-
Outstanding Parliamentarian Award
2004
-
Padma Vibhushan
2020 · Awarded posthumously.
Did you know?
-
1
She was India’s first full-time woman External Affairs Minister.
-
2
Her daughter Bansuri Swaraj was elected to the Lok Sabha from New Delhi in 2024.
-
3
Her husband was the youngest person to serve as a state Governor in India.
-
4
She had a kidney transplant while in office as External Affairs Minister.
-
5
She often addressed the UN General Assembly in Hindi.
Gallery
Connections
Related people
-
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Politics & Leadership · Tenth Prime Minister of India and a founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party
Cabinet colleague
-
Narendra Modi
Politics & Leadership · Prime Minister of India since 2014
Prime Minister she served under
-
Arun Jaitley
Politics & Leadership · Former Finance Minister of India (2014–2019) and senior advocate
Party colleague
-
L. K. Advani
Politics & Leadership · Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party
Party colleague
Frequently asked
Who is Sushma Swaraj?
Sushma Swaraj was a BJP leader, lawyer and celebrated orator who served as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2014 to 2019. She was the first woman to serve as Chief Minister of Delhi and was widely admired for helping Indians in distress abroad.
When did Sushma Swaraj die?
Sushma Swaraj died on 6 August 2019 at the age of 67.
Where is Sushma Swaraj from?
Sushma Swaraj was born in Ambala Cantonment, Punjab (now Haryana).
What is Sushma Swaraj known for?
Sushma Swaraj is best known for People-centred diplomacy and consular help via social media; Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
What awards has Sushma Swaraj received?
Notable honours include Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2004), Padma Vibhushan (2020).
Who is Sushma Swaraj married to?
Spouse: Swaraj Kaushal (m. 1975).
References
- Sushma Swaraj — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Sushma Swaraj — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Sushma Swaraj — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Sushma Swaraj (Q1652493) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Sushma Swaraj.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/sushma-swaraj
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