Anand Sharma

Anand Sharma (born 5 January 1953) is an Indian politician and former Union Cabinet Minister in charge of Commerce and Industry and Textiles in the Government of India. Since June 2014, Sharma was the Deputy Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament until 2022. He contested the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency in 2024, but lost.

Early life and education Anand Sharma is the son of P. A. Sharma and Prabha Rani Sharma and was born in Shimla, Punjab, India. He was educated at R.P.C.S.D.B. College (now R.K.M.V. College), Shimla and Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.

Career Sharma was a prominent leader in the student and youth movement in India, a founder member of the Congress Party's students wing the NSUI. He was also a former President of the Indian Youth Congress. Sharma asserts that the country needed investment in the manufacturing sector and the cost of credit must be brought down for this purpose. In February 2012, Sharma led a business delegation of more than 120 people to Pakistan for improving trade ties. During this visit, he discussed the revision of the existing visa bilateral agreement, signed in 1974, with his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem, to facilitate travel by bona fide businessmen from both the countries.

During his tenure, India's first National Manufacturing policy (NMP) in 2011, was rolled out. The policy envisaged establishment of greenfield integrated manufacturing cities; NIMZ-National Investment and Manufacturing Zones. Sixteen NIMZ were notified.

He was one of the ministers responsible for National Investment Policy. During his tenure, India allowed 100% FDI in Single Brand retail and opened up Multi Brand retail to Foreign Investors.

Post Global Economic Crisis, India emerged as an alternative destination for Foreign Investors and during Anand Sharma's five years tenure received 190 bn USD as FDI.

Anand Sharma participated at the IXth WTO Ministerial Meeting in Bali in December, 2013. Bali Ministerial, resulted in the first ever agreement, since the establishment of the WTO including the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

He helped in convening of an International Conference in Delhi in November, 2014, to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru- Independent India's first Prime Minister. He edited the book "Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru".

He is one of the few who opposed his party's caste-based politics, suggesting that the Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi's policies would only further entrench the caste-system system in the country. He is claimed to have said that -"...such a move would amount to endorsing 'identity politics'..." and urged the party to 'eschew the radical posturing of regional and caste-based organisations'. In his letter right before the general elections (on 19 March 2024) to Congress party President - Mallikarjun Kharge, he wrote - "In my considered view, a caste census cannot be a panacea nor a solution for unemployment and prevailing inequalities. A fundamental departure from time-honoured policy on this critical and sensitive subject has major long-term national implications. As a party with an inclusive approach, the Congress should strive to reclaim its role as builder of national consensus and build a harmonious society." The Congress party nonetheless used its caste-based politics to win 99 seats in 2024 general elections to the Lower House of Indian Parliament. Meeting between Anand Sharma and Mariam Boni Diallo, in New Delhi on May 10, 2007.

MP Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Committees From 2020 till 2022, he was the chair person of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

Positions held 1984–86 Member, Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh Sept. 2016 - Aug. 2017 Chairman, Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice 1 Sept. 2017 - 25 May 2019 Chairman, Science & Technology, Environment and Forests 13 Sept. 2019 - 2022 Chairman, Standing Committee on Home Affairs

Awards Foreign honours

Special Award for contribution in strengthening India-South Africa relations on the occasion of 150 Years of the First Arrival of Indians in South Africa.

Publications

India's Indira, 2018 Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru, 2016 Journey of a Nation, 2011 Gandhian Way, 2007