Hardeep Singh Puri spent almost four decades as a diplomat before he became a politician. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974, represented India at the United Nations for four years, and entered the Rajya Sabha in 2018. In the years since, he has run three of the government's busiest ministries: housing, civil aviation and petroleum.
At a glance
- Born: 15 February 1952, Daryaganj, Delhi
- Education: BA in history and MA in political science, Hindu College, Delhi University
- Career: Indian Foreign Service officer (1974 batch), then Union minister
- Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (joined January 2014)
- Spouse: Lakshmi Puri, also a diplomat (married 1975)
- Books: Perilous Interventions (2016), Delusional Politics (2018)
Early life and education
Puri was born in Daryaganj, in old Delhi, in 1952. He studied at Hindu College, part of Delhi University, where he took a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in political science. He then joined the Indian Foreign Service in the 1974 batch.
Years in the Foreign Service
His early postings took him to Brazil, Japan, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. He served as Deputy High Commissioner in London and later as India's ambassador to Brazil. Between 1988 and 1991 he worked as a coordinator for UNDP and UNCTAD on the Uruguay Round trade negotiations, which led to the creation of the World Trade Organization.
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Back in New Delhi he was Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 1994 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2002, with a stint as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence in between.
At the United Nations
From 2009 to 2013 Puri was India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. India sat on the Security Council in 2011 and 2012, and during that term he chaired the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee, from January 2011 to February 2013, and held the Council's rotating presidency.
Books
Puri has written two books on the same theme: how big-power politics shapes what the Security Council does. Perilous Interventions: The Security Council and the Politics of Chaos came out in 2016, and Delusional Politics: Back to the Future followed in 2018.
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Moving into politics
He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2014. He was not yet an elected member of parliament when he was made Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs in September 2017. In January 2018 he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. He contested the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and lost.
- Housing and Urban Affairs: September 2017 to June 2024
- Civil Aviation, with Commerce and Industry (Minister of State, Independent Charge): May 2019 to July 2021
- Petroleum and Natural Gas: from July 2021
Portfolios change with each reshuffle, so check the government's official website if you need his current responsibilities.
Family
Puri married Lakshmi Puri in 1975. She is a former ambassador. They have two daughters.
Frequently asked questions
When was Hardeep Singh Puri born?
On 15 February 1952, in Daryaganj, Delhi.
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What did he do before politics?
He was a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service from 1974, and represented India at the UN from 2009 to 2013.
Which ministries has he led?
Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation (as a minister of state with independent charge) and Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Has he written any books?
Yes: Perilous Interventions (2016) and Delusional Politics (2018).
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