09 Office
Ministerial
Responsibilities
Sworn in as a Union Minister of State on 9 June 2024; charge assumed in both ministries on 11 June 2024. Two portfolios, each under its own Cabinet Minister.
Portfolio
Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency of the Government of India for the development and promotion of tourism. It frames national policy and works with State governments and Union Territory administrations, which own and run most of the tourism assets on the ground.
Its programme areas include destination development under Swadesh Darshan and its successor Swadesh Darshan 2.0; pilgrimage and heritage site development under PRASHAD; promotion in domestic and overseas markets under the Incredible India brand; visitor facilitation, including e-visa and a multilingual tourist helpline; and market development across niche segments — adventure, cultural, medical and MICE tourism among them.
Documented activity in this portfolio
- 11 May 2026Addressed participants at the National Consultative Workshop on “Developing Tourist Destinations to Global Standards” at Kevadia, Gujarat, on collaborative work to strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem.
- 16 Mar 2026Listed in the Lok Sabha to make a statement on action taken on the 357th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, on niche and spiritual tourism.
- Feb 2026Chaired a review meeting on the Aspirational District Programme at Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh.
- 11 Jun 2024Took charge at the Ministry of Tourism, welcomed by the Secretary, Ms. V. Vidyavathi, and set out his approach to senior officials.
Portfolio
Petroleum &
Natural Gas
In the ministry’s own words, it “is responsible for exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products, as well as their import, export and conservation.”
In practice that spans upstream exploration licensing; the refining and marketing operations of the public-sector oil companies; household energy access through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana; the national gas grid and city gas distribution; and the shift towards cleaner fuels — ethanol blending, compressed bio-gas, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Documented activity in this portfolio
- 09 Jul 2026Took part in a Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 event of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas at Amrita Vidyalayam, Perumbavoor, Kerala, held under the Mission LiFE banner with Bharat Petroleum.
- 08 Dec 2025Gave a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the approval of 25 lakh additional connections for 2025-26.
- 16 Mar 2026Laid papers on the table of the Lok Sabha for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- 11 Jun 2024Took charge as Minister of State, welcomed by the Cabinet Minister, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, succeeding Shri Rameswar Teli.
Where a ministry’s programme is described, the phrasing is “according to the Ministry” or “in an official government release”. Where a period of office is referred to, the phrasing is “during his tenure as Minister of State”. Neither form implies personal authorship of a national programme, and that distinction is applied throughout.