How a former London retail worker became India’s longest-serving full-time finance minister

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Nirmala Sitharaman’s path to power is unconventional. From selling home decor in London to shaping India’s national security and economic strategy, she broke barriers as the country’s first full-time female defense and finance minister. Her career highlights a rise through the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party, defying traditional political expectations.

Born in 1959 in Madurai, India, Nirmala Sitharaman’s early life was rooted in academia. After earning degrees in economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College and Jawaharlal Nehru University, she moved to London with her husband, Parakala Prabhakar. During this period, she worked as a salesperson at the home decor store Habitat and held roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and the BBC World Service. These international experiences preceded her return to India in 1991, where she eventually pivoted toward public service and politics.

Sitharaman’s political ascent began in earnest after she joined the National Commission for Women in 2003. By 2006, she had formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rising to become a national spokesperson by 2010. Her government career accelerated in 2014 when she was appointed minister of state with independent charge of commerce and industry. She later made history in 2017 as the first woman to serve as India’s full-time defense minister, a role in which she oversaw the 2019 Balakot airstrike following a deadly militant attack in Pulwama.

In May 2019, Sitharaman transitioned to her current role as minister of finance and corporate affairs. She is the first woman to hold this position full-time, a milestone that underscores her influence in the Indian government. Her tenure has been marked by significant economic responsibilities, including managing the country's budget and navigating the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the 2024 general election, she was reappointed to these portfolios, cementing her status as a central figure in the nation's economic governance.

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