Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu is a veteran politician and diplomat who has held key positions such as the Minsiter of Civil Aviation, Railways, Commerce & Industry among others.
Numerous Cabinet Positions Holder
Shri Suresh Prabhu has held numerous significant cabinet portfolios at the federal level, including Industry, Power, Environment and Forests, Railways, Civil Aviation, Commerce and Industry, and Fertilisers and Chemicals. He served as the Prime Minister’s Sherpa to the G7 and G20 for many years, helping shape the government’s agenda on critical issues for these summits. In 2014, he chaired a high-level task force to develop an integrated energy policy and its implementation roadmap.
Maker of Transformative Policies
Shri Suresh Prabhu was a Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2022, initially serving four consecutive terms in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) and later in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha). He was known for his innovative and transformative policy initiatives across various key sectors. During the Modi government, Shri Suresh Prabhu was the Minister of Railways, Civil Aviation, and Commerce and Industry. He developed a comprehensive blueprint for modernising the railways, initiated a unique real-time customer grievance redressal mechanism, and spearheaded the development of India’s New Industrial Policy focused on sustainable manufacturing and economic diversification. He also led the first-ever Global Aviation Summit and contributed significantly to the UDAN initiative.
Distinguished Work
Under Prime Minister Vajpayee from 1998-2004, Shri Suresh Prabhu held several portfolios, including Industry, Environment and Forests, Fertilisers and Chemicals, Power, Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises. His notable achievements during this period include enacting the Electricity Act of 2003 and creating securitisation of dues from provincial states. He also chaired the Task Force for interlinking rivers, aiming to provide year-long irrigation to dry regions of India. Shri Suresh Prabhu was an elected member of the World Bank Parliamentary Network and chaired the South Asia Water Regional Group of the World Bank, contributing to about 16 different global organisations in strategic sectors. His extensive experience includes being a member of the United Nations Commission for Biodiversity and Land Use Change, the Global Advisory Council of the WEF, and chairman of various significant commissions and councils in India.
Recognition for Transparent Governance
Recognised for his transparent and reform-oriented governance, Prabhu was featured among the top three future Indian leaders in Asia Week Magazine’s cover story “Giant on the Move” in September 2000. He was named “Best Member of Parliament in 13th Lok Sabha” by Aaj Tak in April 2004 and ranked as the second-best performing Minister in India Today’s August 2001 report. He has received honorary doctorates from several universities globally. Prabhu has a unique trajectory, working from grassroots to national and global levels. He was the youngest chairperson of the largest cooperative bank and has been involved in cooperative activities at all levels. He has worked on a holistic rural development model in over 2,000 villages.
Internationally, he has held significant roles in global NGOs, including chairing the Asia Energy Foundation and the South Asia Chair of the Global Water Partnership, and serving as President of the World Forum for Global Governance. He is currently the Founding Chancellor of Rishihood University, chairperson of the drafting committee for the National Cooperation Policy, and an active visiting professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Suresh Prabhu’s political career is a testament to his dedication to public service and his ability to drive change through innovative and reformist approaches. His work has left an indelible mark on various sectors, particularly in railways, commerce, and power, reflecting his vision for a progressive and sustainable India. As a leader, he continues to inspire with his commitment to development, integrity, and the well-being of the nation. Shri Suresh Prabhu is truly the Leader of Hope.
Leader Highlights:
- Holding important cabinet portfolios at the federal level including Industry, Power, Environment and Forest, Railways, Civil Aviation, Commerce and Industry, Fertilisers and Chemicals.
- Prime Minister’s Sherpa to the G7 and G20 for many years
- Chaired a high-level task force to frame integrated energy policy and the roadmap for its implementation in 2014.
- Member of Parliament (MP) 1996 till 2022, first, as an MP in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) for four consecutive terms
- MP in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha)