Smriti Irani

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Smriti Irani's transition from television star to senior cabinet minister is rare in Indian public life. She was the first woman to lead the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Textiles. In 2019, she became the first non-Gandhi to win the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in four decades, defeating a sitting Congress president. At age 43, she was the youngest cabinet minister in Prime Minister Modi's second ministry.

AwardsIrani won five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress (Popular) for her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She also won four Indian Telly Awards for Best Actress in a Lead Role and eight Star Parivaar Awards for the same show.

Honours & Distinctions

Youngest Union Cabinet Minister

Government of India·2019

Became the youngest cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second ministry at age 43.

First Woman to Lead Ministry of Human Resource Development

Government of India·2014

Appointed as the first woman to head the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

First Woman to Lead Ministry of Textiles

Government of India·2016

Appointed as the first woman to head the Ministry of Textiles.

First Non-Muslim Minister of Minority Affairs

Government of India·2022

Appointed as the first non-Muslim to hold the portfolio of Minister of Minority Affairs.

Records & Feats

First non-Gandhi to win Amethi Lok Sabha seat in four decades

Historic First·2019

Defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 general election, ending a four-decade hold by the Nehru-Gandhi family on the constituency.