Diplomat turned politician and union minister of state promoted as Petroleum Minister

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha member and minister of state in the Narendra Modi government Hardeep Singh Puri gets elavated to cabinet rank.According to the sources he has been handed over Petroleum ministry.

A diplomat turned politician, Mr Puri was an active minister in the Central government which enabled him to get the promotion.

Beloging to a diplomat family, he got Bachelor of Arts in history and Master of Arts in history from Hindu College, University of Delhi. He worked as a lecturer in history at St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

He served as Joint Secretary to the Government of India in Ministry of External Affairs from 1994 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2002. He has also served as Joint secretary to the Government of India in Ministry of Defence from 1997 to 1999. He later served as Secretary to the Government of India (Economic Relations) in Ministry of External Affairs from 2009 to 2013.

Mr Puri had been posted at different important diplomatic posts worldwide.He also served as the chairman of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee from January 2011 to February 2013, and as President of the United Nations Security Council in August 2011 and November 2012.

Mr Puri joined the BJP in January 2014, and contested from Amritsar as BJP Candidate, but lost to Congress.

In May 2019, Puri became the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.Later, he was elected to Rajya Sabha from UP.(UNI)