Ambika Soni (born 13 November 1942) is an Indian politician in the Indian National Congress. She has been Minister of Information and Broadcasting. She was a Member of Parliament representing the state of Punjab in the Rajya Sabha.
Early life and education Born in Lahore in undivided Punjab to Nakul Sen Wadhwa, an Indian Civil Service officer and Lt. Governor of Goa in 1942. Her mother, Indu Wadhwa, was a home-maker. The family is Hindu.
Ambika studied at Welham Girls School, New Delhi and did her M.A. (Hons.) from Indraprastha College, Delhi University, followed by Diploma Superiore en Langue Francaise from Alliance Francaise, Bangkok and Post-Graduate Diploma in Spanish Art and Literature from University of Havana, Cuba.
In 1961, aged 19, Ambika married Uday Soni, an Indian Foreign Service officer.
Political career
As Member of Indian National Congress Ambika Soni began her political career in 1969 when she was co-opted into the Congress Party by Indira Gandhi at the time of the Party split in 1969. Soni was an old family friend of Gandhi from the time when her father was posted as District collector of Amritsar during the Partition of India and worked very closely with Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1975 she was elected as the president of the Indian Youth Congress and worked closely with Sanjay Gandhi. In 1998, she became the president of All India Mahila Congress. From 1999 - 2006 she was General Secretary of All India Congress Committee.
As Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
First Term (March 1976 - March 1982)
Second Term (January 2000 - 10 June 2004) Jan. 2000 - Feb. 2004 and Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Committee on Public Undertakings Jan. 2000 - Feb. 2004Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Civil AviationFeb. 2000 - 2001Member, Committee on DefenceMay 2000 - June 2003Member, House CommitteeJan. 2002 - Dec. 2003Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and CultureJan. 2003 - Feb. 2004Member, Committee on Home Affairs
Third Term (July 2004 - July 2010) Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and CultureOct. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Environment and ForestsMarch 2005 - Jan. 2006Member, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
Fourth Term (July 2010 - July 2016) Dec. 2012 - May 2014Member, Committee on External AffairsDec. 2012 - May 2014Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of DefenceMay 2013 - May 2014Member, Committee on Public AccountsSept. 2014 - May 2019Member, Committee on Defence
Fifth Term (July 2016 - July 2022) July 2018 - Feb. 2019Member, Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2018July 2019 - July 2022Member, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, ChandigarhSept. 2019 - July 2022Member, Committee on Finance Oct. 2019 - July 2022Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
As Cabinet Minister DateOffice heldAdditional InfoReference29 January 2006 - 22 May 2009Minister of Tourism and Minister of CultureFirst Manmohan Singh ministry22 May 2009 - 27 October 2012Minister of Information and BroadcastingSecond Manmohan Singh ministry
Rajya Sabha PositionParty Constituency From To Tenure Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha(1st Term) Punjab 30 March1976 2 April1980 Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha(2nd Term) NCT Delhi 28 January2000 10 June2004 Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha(3rd Term)Punjab 5 July2004 4 July2010 Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha(4th Term) 5 July2010 4 July2016 Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha(5th Term) 5 July2016 4 July2022
References
External links
Profile at National Portal of India