{"id":116515,"date":"2026-08-01T16:41:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=116515"},"modified":"2026-08-01T16:41:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:11:56","slug":"defence-ministers-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/defence-ministers-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Defence Ministers of India (1947-2026), List, Roles & Responsibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Defence Minister of India<\/b> is the head of the <\/span>Ministry of Defence (MoD)<\/b> and is responsible for managing the country’s defence and national security. The Defence Minister oversees the <\/span>Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and other defence organizations<\/b>, formulates defence policies, supervises military preparedness, and advises the Prime Minister on strategic and security matters. The current Defence Minister of India is Rajnath Singh.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is the Defence Minister of India?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Defence Minister is a senior member of the Union Council of Ministers and is appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. The minister is responsible for safeguarding India’s sovereignty, strengthening the armed forces, promoting defence production, and ensuring national security.<\/span><\/p>\n

List of Defence Ministers of India (1947-2026)<\/b><\/h2>\n

India has had <\/span>39 Defence Ministers<\/b> from <\/span>1947 to 2026<\/b>, who have played a vital role in shaping the country’s <\/span>defence policies, military modernization, and national security<\/b> since Independence. Here is the List of Defence Ministers of India from 1947 to 2026 (till now).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
List of Defence Ministers of India (1947-2026)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

S. No.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Defence Minister<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Tenure<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Baldev Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15 August 1947 – 13 May 1952<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 May 1952 – 10 February 1953<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jawaharlal Nehru<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 February 1953 – 10 January 1955<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kailash Nath Katju<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 January 1955 – 30 January 1957<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jawaharlal Nehru<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 January 1957 – 17 April 1957<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

V. K. Krishna Menon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17 April 1957 – 31 October 1962<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jawaharlal Nehru<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 October 1962 – 14 November 1962<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yashwantrao Chavan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14 November 1962 – 13 November 1966<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Swaran Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 November 1966 – 27 June 1970<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jagjivan Ram<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27 June 1970 – 10 October 1974<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Swaran Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 October 1974 – 1 December 1975<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

12<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Indira Gandhi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 December 1975 – 20 December 1975<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

13<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bansi Lal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21 December 1975 – 24 March 1977<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jagjivan Ram<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

C. Subramaniam<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Indira Gandhi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14 January 1980 – 15 January 1982<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

R. Venkataraman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15 January 1982 – 2 August 1984<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Shankarrao Chavan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 August 1984 – 31 December 1984<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

P. V. Narasimha Rao<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 January 1985 – 25 September 1985<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rajiv Gandhi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25 September 1985 – 24 January 1987<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

V. P. Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24 January 1987 – 12 April 1987<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

K. C. Pant<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 April 1987 – 1 December 1989<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

V. P. Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 December 1989 – 10 November 1990<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Chandra Shekhar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 November 1990 – 21 June 1991<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

P. V. Narasimha Rao<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21 June 1991 – 26 June 1991<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sharad Pawar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26 June 1991 – 6 March 1993<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

P. V. Narasimha Rao<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6 March 1993 – 16 May 1996<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pramod Mahajan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16 May 1996 – 1 June 1996<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mulayam Singh Yadav<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

30<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

George Fernandes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19 March 1998 – 16 March 2001<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

31<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jaswant Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16 March 2001 – 21 October 2001<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

32<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

George Fernandes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21 October 2001 – 22 May 2004<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

33<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pranab Mukherjee<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22 May 2004 – 26 October 2006<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

34<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A. K. Antony<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26 October 2006 – 26 May 2014<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

35<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Arun Jaitley<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26 May 2014 – 9 November 2014<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

36<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Manohar Parrikar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9 November 2014 – 13 March 2017<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

37<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Arun Jaitley<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 March 2017 – 3 September 2017<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

38<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Nirmala Sitharaman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3 September 2017 – 30 May 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

39<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rajnath Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 May 2019 – Present<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Current Defence Minister of India<\/b><\/h2>\n

Rajnath Singh<\/b> is the <\/span>current Defence Minister of India<\/b>, serving in the office since <\/span>30 May 2019<\/b>. He is responsible for overseeing the <\/span>Ministry of Defence<\/b>, strengthening India’s national security, and supervising the <\/span>Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force<\/b>. Under his leadership, the government has focused on <\/span>defence modernization, indigenous defence manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat), border infrastructure development, and increasing defence exports<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

First Defence Minister of India<\/b><\/h2>\n

Baldev Singh<\/b> was the <\/span>first Defence Minister of independent India<\/b>, serving from <\/span>15 August 1947 to 13 May 1952<\/b>. He played a crucial role in reorganizing the Indian Armed Forces after Independence and supervised defence matters during the <\/span>First <\/b>Indo-Pak War (1947-48)<\/b><\/a>. His leadership laid the foundation for India’s modern defence administration and military structure,<\/span><\/p>\n

Constitutional Position of the Defence Minister<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Defence Minister of India<\/b> derives their authority from the <\/span>Constitution of India<\/b> and functions as the political head of the <\/span>Ministry of Defence<\/b>, advising the President and the Prime Minister on defence and national security matters.<\/span><\/p>\n