Ambika Soni

Ambika Soni (born 13 November 1942) is an Indian politician in the Indian National Congress. She has been Minister of Information and Broadcasting. She was a Member of Parliament representing the state of Punjab in the Rajya Sabha.

Early life and education Born in Lahore in undivided Punjab to Nakul Sen Wadhwa, an Indian Civil Service officer and Lt. Governor of Goa in 1942.

In 1961, aged 19, Ambika married Uday Soni, an Indian Foreign Service officer.

Political career

As Member of Indian National Congress Ambika Soni began her political career in 1969 when she was co-opted into the Congress Party by Indira Gandhi at the time of the Party split in 1969. Soni was an old family friend of Gandhi from the time when her father was posted as District collector of Amritsar during the Partition of India and worked very closely with Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1975 she was elected as the president of the Indian Youth Congress and worked closely with Sanjay Gandhi. In 1998, she became the president of All India Mahila Congress. From 1999 - 2006 she was General Secretary of All India Congress Committee.

As Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

First Term (March 1976 - March 1982)

Second Term (January 2000 - 10 June 2004) Jan. 2000 - Feb. 2004 and Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Committee on Public Undertakings Jan. 2000 - Feb. 2004Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Civil AviationFeb. 2000 - 2001Member, Committee on DefenceMay 2000 - June 2003Member, House CommitteeJan. 2002 - Dec. 2003Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and CultureJan. 2003 - Feb. 2004Member, Committee on Home Affairs

Third Term (July 2004 - July 2010) Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and CultureOct. 2004 - Jan. 2006Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Environment and ForestsMarch 2005 - Jan. 2006Member, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

Fourth Term (July 2010 - July 2016)

Fifth Term (July 2016 - July 2022)

As Cabinet Minister

Rajya Sabha