Newly appointed Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is a retired IAS officer, social worker, farmer, and educationist by profession who took voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service to join politics.
In a major Union Cabinet reshuffle on May 18, Mr Meghwal replaced Kiren Rijiju, who was assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Earth sSciences.
Known for his defining trait as the politician in Rajasthani turban, kurta-pyjama and sleeveless jacket who would cycle to Lok Sabha before joining the Modi government, Mr. Meghwal’s appointment comes at a critical time when the government and the Supreme Court have often not been on the same page on judges’ appointments
A former IAS and RAS officer, famous for his simple life, Mr. Meghwal is an MP from Bikaner, Rajasthan and this is his third term as a parliamentarian after joining politics in 2009.
The 69-year-old Minister of State in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, was on Thursday handed the Independent Charge of the Law Ministry as well, making him for the first time in recent history a Law Minister at the Centre not of cabinet rank.
AS BUREAUCRAT
Mr Meghwal is 1999 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre. Before joining politics, he was selected in Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) in 1980 and served within various ranks in the state service.
Later, he was promoted to an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in 1999 and also served as Churu District Collector.
He has also worked as OSD to former Deputy Chief Minister Harishchandra Bhabha.
POLITICAL CAREER
His political career began in the year 2009, when he won the first election from Bikaner Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls 2009, Mr Meghwal took voluntary retirement to contest from the Bikaner on a BJP ticket. He won the election.
In 2014, he was reelected and served as Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs in the Central Government, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation .
In 2019, he won his third consecutive term as MP from the Bikaner seat.
CYCLE LOVE
Despite being an union minister and having an official car issued by the government, he preferred to go to Lok Sabha on a cycle for a longtime. He also reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan on a bicycle for the swearing-in ceremony.
When Modi government came in power in 2015, he was the BJP’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha.
PERSONAL LIFE
Born in a traditional family of weavers in Bikaner’s Kismidesar village, Mr Meghwal was married off at the just age of 14. He continued his studies while working as a weaver with his father.
He received his BA degree from Shree Dungar College, Bikaner and also obtained his bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) and master’s degree in law from the same institution.
After completing his studies, Meghwal started preparing for competitive examinations. He got the post of telephone operator in the India Post and Telegraph Department.
His debut in politics was when he contested the elections of the Telephone Traffic Association and was elected as the general secretary.
While working as a telephone operator, Meghwal cleared the Rajasthan State Administrative Service examination in his second attempt.
