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Who is Piyush Goyal
Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal is a prominent figure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a key minister in the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. Previously a three-term Rajya Sabha member, Goyal is now a Lok Sabha member representing Mumbai North seat.
During the previous tenure of the PM Modi-led government, besides holding the independent charge of the coal ministry as a minister of state, Goyal also held the power, new & renewable energy and mines portfolios from July 5, 2016, to September 3, 2017. During the first term of the Modi government, he was given the charge of the railway ministry and subsequently, he stepped in as the finance minister when Arun Jaitley became ill.
Early life
Coming from a family with a long association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP, Goyal received his initial political education from his late parents, who were committed to the cause of Hindutva. Goyal was also greatly influenced by the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Goyal's father, the late Ved Prakash Goyal, was a member of the Rajya Sabha and had served as the shipping minister. He was also one of the longest-serving treasurers of the party. Goyal's mother, the late Chandrakanta Goyal, was a three-time member of the legislative assembly from Matunga.
Goyal's political journey within the BJP has seen him represent Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha since 2010, establishing himself as a stalwart within the party's leadership cadre.
Education
The 59-year-old Goyal has been an all-India second-rank holder chartered accountant and a second-rank holder in law from Mumbai University.
Political life
During his tenure in the Commerce Ministry, he led the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UAE, and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). He also oversaw the launch of production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes to boost the Make in India push.
His tenure as the Minister of Power witnessed the successful implementation of flagship schemes such as the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) and the electrification drive under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya). Additionally, he spearheaded initiatives like the LED bulb distribution program (UJALA), underscoring his commitment to bolstering India's energy infrastructure.
During his interim stint as the Finance Minister, Goyal introduced measures like the PM-KISAN scheme, aimed at providing direct cash income support to small and marginal farmers. These initiatives, coupled with tax rebates for middle-class taxpayers, were perceived as strategic moves to address voter concerns, particularly among distressed farmers, ahead of the 2019 elections.
Goyal is currently heading the team that is negotiating with protesting farmers at the Delhi borders. He was also a member of the previous team that successfully facilitated the withdrawal of farmers from the Delhi borders after months of negotiations between the Union government and farmer unions.
He has also served as a government-nominated director on the boards of the State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.
2024 elections
A three-time Rajya Sabha member, Goyal had never contested any Lok Sabha or assembly elections. In 2024 general elections, he contested his first Lok Sabha election from the Mumbai North seat and won the high-stakes seat with a margin of 357,608 votes, defeating Congress party’s Bhushan Patil.