Smriti Irani
Smriti Irani
Actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani is currently the Textiles Minister of India. She also holds the Women and Child Development Ministry.

In 2003, Irani joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The subsequent year, she assumed the role of vice-president in the Maharashtra Youth Wing in 2004. During the general elections for the 14th Lok Sabha held that same year, she contested in the Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi, but regrettably, she did not secure victory. This election marked a surprising defeat for the incumbent Vajpayee government.

In December 2004, Irani, attributing the BJP's electoral losses to the then Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi, threatened to go on a hunger strike until his resignation. However, she withdrew this demand following warnings of potential action from the BJP's central leadership.

Irani's contributions to the party led to her nomination as an executive member of the central committee of the BJP. During the 2009 parliamentary election campaign, while advocating for Vijay Goel in the New Delhi constituency, she raised concerns about women's safety in the city and advocated for capital punishment as a deterrent for rapists.

In early 2010, Irani was appointed as the National Secretary of the BJP, and on June 24, she was named the All India President of the BJP's women's wing, BJP Mahila Morcha. In her role as the National President of BJP Women's Wing, she championed the cause of Permanent Commission for Women in the Indian Army, providing legal support to women officers with temporary commissions who were seeking permanent commissions.

In August 2011, Irani made her parliamentary debut, taking her oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing Gujarat.

In the 2014 general elections, Irani contested the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh against Rahul Gandhi. Regrettably, she lost to Gandhi by a margin of 107,923 votes, equivalent to 12.32%. On May 26, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed her as the Minister of Human Resource Development in his cabinet. Her appointment drew criticism from some due to her lack of formal higher education.

During her tenure as the HRD minister, Irani initiated a series of reforms in universities.

In June 2016, she announced the establishment of new yoga departments in six additional universities.

In a cabinet reshuffle that took place in July 2016, Irani was moved from the ministry of human resource development to the ministry of textiles.

Then, in July 2017, she assumed the additional responsibility of the ministry of information and broadcasting following the resignation of former minister Venkaiah Naidu, who had chosen to participate in the vice-presidential elections.

In the 2019 general elections, Irani secured victory in the Lok Sabha seat in Amethi, defeating Rahul Gandhi and consequently becoming a Member of Parliament for the Amethi constituency.


Showing 7106 results
  • All(7106)
  • Articles(6067)
  • Videos(608)
  • Photos(431)

Smriti Irani News

Taarak Mehta’s Tanmay Vekaria aka Bagha reunites with <i class="tbold">Smriti Irani</i> after ‘17 years’; recalls working with her on a show
Taarak Mehta’s Tanmay Vekaria aka Bagha reunites with Smriti Irani after ‘17 years’; recalls working with her on a show
Article image for: Exclusive - Shriya Tiwari 'Saloni' on her pregnancy track in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 : ‘Excited to become a medium to address another social issue in the show’
Exclusive - Shriya Tiwari 'Saloni' on her pregnancy track in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 : ‘Excited to become a medium to address another social issue in the show’
Article image for: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Akashdeep Saigal returns as Ansh’s son, surprising fans; <i class="tbold">Smriti Irani</i> earns praise from netizens
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Akashdeep Saigal returns as Ansh’s son, surprising fans; Smriti Irani earns praise from netizens
Article image for: NDA show of strength as Suvendu takes oath as 1st BJP CM of Bengal
NDA show of strength as Suvendu takes oath as 1st BJP CM of Bengal
Article image for: Exclusive - Parakh Madan on joining Kyunki Saas Phi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and working with <i class="tbold">Smriti Irani</i>: She's legendary, being a part of Kyunki… feels very special'
Exclusive - Parakh Madan on joining Kyunki Saas Phi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and working with Smriti Irani: She's legendary, being a part of Kyunki… feels very special'
Article image for: Glad I will be included in the Bahu list of Tulsi Virani: Shriya Tiwari
Glad I will be included in the Bahu list of Tulsi Virani: Shriya Tiwari
Article image for: Hiten Tejwani celebrates 22 years of married life with ‘beautiful’ Gauri Pradhan
Hiten Tejwani celebrates 22 years of married life with ‘beautiful’ Gauri Pradhan
Article image for: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’s <i class="tbold">Smriti Irani</i> offers prayers at Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi; see pics
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’s Smriti Irani offers prayers at Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi; see pics
Article image for: Rekha & Smriti woo state’s woman voters for BJP
Rekha & Smriti woo state’s woman voters for BJP
Article image for: Exclusive - Akashdeep Saigal on joining Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Carrying a legacy forward while building something new
Exclusive - Akashdeep Saigal on joining Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Carrying a legacy forward while building something new
Article image for: Is TV’s most iconic character comeback happening? Tulsi–Ansh legacy sparks frenzy amongst fans
Is TV’s most iconic character comeback happening? Tulsi–Ansh legacy sparks frenzy amongst fans
Article image for: Nikhil Sharma on joining Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Calling it just a show would be an understatement
Nikhil Sharma on joining Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Calling it just a show would be an understatement
Article image for: Nari Shakti law empowers women: Smriti
Nari Shakti law empowers women: Smriti
Article image for: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's <i class="tbold">Smriti Irani</i> devours a tray of authentic Bengali sweets; says 'When the mishti calls you'
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's Smriti Irani devours a tray of authentic Bengali sweets; says 'When the mishti calls you'
Article image for: Congress stance on women’s bill reflects feudal mindset: BJP
Congress stance on women’s bill reflects feudal mindset: BJP
Article image for: Irani slams Akhilesh over ‘saas-bahu’ remark
Irani slams Akhilesh over ‘saas-bahu’ remark
Article image for: Irani hands out ‘Rs 3,000-a-month’ card, TMC questions timing
Irani hands out ‘Rs 3,000-a-month’ card, TMC questions timing
Article image for: Exclusive - Tanish Mahendru steps in a new avatar in Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badalte Hai; says 'My return to the Kyunki universe feels both nostalgic and refreshing'
Exclusive - Tanish Mahendru steps in a new avatar in Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badalte Hai; says 'My return to the Kyunki universe feels both nostalgic and refreshing'
Article image for: TMC complains of MCC breaches by BJP netas, Kabir to CEO
TMC complains of MCC breaches by BJP netas, Kabir to CEO
Article image for: 'Shouldn't be considered failure of govt ...': Rijiju on women's reservation bill not clearing LS
'Shouldn't be considered failure of govt ...': Rijiju on women's reservation bill not clearing LS

Smriti Irani Photos