K. Natwar Singh

K. Natwar Singh Biography

K. Natwar Singh is an Indian politician belonging to Indian National Congress who has served as a cabinet minister in Manmohan Singh’s ministry. He served as external affairs minister of India in 2005 and was removed from the post following Oil for Food scandal. Later he continued in Manmohan ministry. In 2008, Natwar Singh resigned membership in the Congress Party following his membership suspension. He is married to Maharajkumari Heminder Kaur belonging to the royal family of Patiala, daughter of His highness, Yadavindra Singh and Rajmata Mohinder Kaur of Patiala. He is also the brother-in-law to Amarinder Singh, the current Maharaja of Patiala and famous congress politician who has served as chief minister of Punjab state. Natwar is an author too, who has published a few books as well.

He was born in Jaghina, Bharatpur of present day Rajasthan. His education was completed at Gwalior, Delhi, US and China. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in the year 1953 and served for 31 years. He has been posted in Beijing, New York and many other foreign nations for different assignments. He was posted in Secretariat under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1966. He served as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs during 1982-1984. For his service in Indian Foreign Service, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1984.

After his retirement from IFS in 1984, he joined Indian National Congress and actively involved in politics. Same year he was elected to Loksabha from Bharatpur constituency in Rajasthan and in 1985, he joined Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet as minister of state of steel, coal and mines, and agriculture portfolios. However he lost 1989 general elections. In 1998, he reached LokSabha from opposition party. Following his win in 2002 Raj Sabhaelections, he gained position in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet though he lost it later following the allegations.

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Updated: April 22, 2014