Since October 28th 2012, Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh has served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Born on April 24, 1964, Mr. Singh is the son of renowned politician Chandra Pratap Narayan Singh, remembered for his extensive infrastructural work in post-independence India. Like many other Congressman, Mr. Singh has nobility in his bloodlines. His family descends from Maharaja Jai Chand of Kannauj, whom the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb anointed royalty in 1686.
Since Singh’s family still boasts landholdings, he lists his profession as an agriculturist. Like many children of politicians and royals, he attended the Doon School and Delhi University’s St Stephens College, where he studied history.
Singh entered electoral politics in 1996, as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2007. In 2009, he became a Member of Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha led by the UPA-II coalition. Singh scored a resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh's Khushi Nagar constituency, a crucial win for Congress in a state where they consistently struggle.
In interviews and public appearances, Singh constantly affirms his faith the Congress’ progressive government. As a result, he fits the party’s vision for young, dynamic politicians. Having served as president of the Youth Congress in Uttar Pradesh between 1997-1999 and as secretary of the All India Congress Committee between 2003-2006, he also enjoys credibility in both urban and rural India.
Since being elected to national office, Singh has held significant portfolios like Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways between May 30, 2009 – January 18, 2011 and a concurrent assignment as the Union Minister of State for both Petroleum and Natural Gas and Corporate Affairs between January 18, 2011 - October 28, 2012.
His present assignment, as Minister of State for Home Affairs, remains his most challenging. Soon after assuming office, a brutal gang rape and assault on December 16 2012 in Delhi grabbed headlines worldwide. (The victim eventually died from her injuries.)
Since the crime, Singh has been the face of the government reform efforts to prioritize the security and dignity of women. Non-controversial and articulate in both Hindi and English, the government often employs Singh to pacify the masses and the opposition. He also plays an influential role in bi-lateral relations with neighboring countries and the Maoists, who present an internal threat that previous Home Minister P. Chidambaram handled rather poorly.
Singh's wife, Sonia, is an anchor with the national news channel, NDTV.
