Who is the present Central Defence Minister?
VerifiedAnswer: Smt. Nirmala Seetharaman
Explanation:
I need to provide an important correction here. While the answer states Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, this information is currently outdated. As of 2024, the present Central Defence Minister of India is Shri Rajnath Singh, who has been holding this position since May 2019 under the Modi government.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman did serve as the Defence Minister from September 2017 to May 2019, making her the second woman to hold this crucial position in India's history. The first woman Defence Minister was Smt. Indira Gandhi, who held the portfolio along with being the Prime Minister. During Sitharaman's tenure, she focused on modernizing India's defense capabilities and strengthening border security.
Currently, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman serves as India's Finance Minister, a position she has held since May 2019. She is the first full-time woman Finance Minister of India and has been instrumental in presenting several Union Budgets and implementing major economic reforms.
The Defence Ministry is one of the most important portfolios in the Indian government, responsible for the defense of the country and overseeing the Indian Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Defense Minister works closely with the Chief of Defence Staff and the three service chiefs to ensure national security and defense preparedness.
