Rajyavardhan Rathore

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (born 29 January 1970) is an Indian politician, Olympic medallist in shooting and retired colonel in the Indian Army. He is serving as a cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department in the Government of Rajasthan since December 2023. Rathore was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Jaipur Rural seat since 2014 till 2023.

He won 25 international medals at various championships for double trap shooting including a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the men's double trap event.

Rathore served as a commissioned officer in The Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army before retiring in 2013 as a colonel. Following his retirement from the army and shooting, he also acted in some advertisements and tv shows after that he later became a member of the parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014.

In November 2014, Rathore was appointed as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. He served as a Cabinet Minister (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2017 to 2019 until 2019. As of 2025, he serves in the Government of Rajasthan, holding the portfolios of Industry and Commerce, Youth Affairs and Sports, Information Technology and Communications, Military Welfare, and Planning and Entrepreneurship.

Personal life Rajyavardhan was born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to Colonel Lakshman Singh Rathore (Retd.), an Army Colonel of Garabdesar, Lunkaransar, Bikaner, and Manju Raghav Bhondsi, a teacher, on 29 January 1970.

His educational qualifications include B.A., Instructor-Weapons (MMG, AGL, Small Arms), Grading Tactics (YO) Course. He was educated at the National Defence Academy, Pune and Infantry School, Mhow.

Military career Rathore is a graduate of the 77th Course of the National Defence Academy. After graduating from the NDA, Rathore attended the Indian Military Academy where he was awarded the Sword of Honor for the best all-round Gentleman Cadet. He was also the recipient of the Sikh Regiment Gold Medal, awarded to the best sportsman of the course. He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1992 and to captain on 15 December 1995. Rathore fought in the Kargil War, As part of his career in the Indian Army, he served in Jammu and Kashmir, where he participated in counter-terrorist operations. His regiment was awarded the Army Chief's Citation and the Governor of J&K's Citation for exemplary work. and to his final rank of colonel on 1 May 2009.

Sports career At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Rathore won a gold medal and set a new Commonwealth Games Record of 192 targets out of 200, which still stands. He also won the Team Gold Medal along with Moraad Ali Khan. Rathore went on to successfully defend his Commonwealth Champion title by winning the gold medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. He also won the silver in the Team event with Vikram Bhatnagar. He won gold medals in two World Shooting Championships, at Sydney in 2004 and Cairo in 2006. In addition to these achievements, Rathore won a silver medal at the Olympic Games, a bronze medal at the World Championships, a bronze medal at the World Cup Final, and two gold medals and a bronze medal at the World Cup. He also secured five gold medals and a bronze medal at the Asian Championships and a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Altogether, Rathore has amassed a total of 13 medals in his sports career.

Rathore rose to prominence when he won the silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics. It was India's first ever individual silver at the Olympics.

In 2006, Rathore won a bronze medal in the World Championship in Spain, an event held for the top 12 shooters of the world. He was ranked third in the world for the most of 2003 and 2004 and briefly climbed to the first in early 2004 and second after the Athens Olympics. He won a silver at the World Championship in 2003 in Sydney for India after a gap of nearly 40 years. He was elected as an MP in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Jaipur Rural constituency. On the ninth of November 2014, he was sworn-in as the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, under the Narendra Modi government. He was appointed the Minister of Sports on 3 September 2017. In May 2018, he became Minister of State (I/C) for Information & Broadcasting.

In November 2023, Rathore contested from Jhotwara Assembly constituency for the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election. He defeated Abhishek Chaudhary of the INC by 50,167 votes. After winning the elections, Rathore resigned from Lok Sabha. On 30 December 2023, he took oath as a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan.

Awards and recognitions

2005 – Padma Shri 20042005 – the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Highest Sporting Honour of India). 20032004 – Arjuna Award Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), military award for exceptional service, presented by the President of India on behalf of the Government of India. Rathore was the chosen flag bearer for India during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Rathore was the chosen flag bearer for India during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia 1990 – the Sword of Honour (For the Best All Round Officer Cadet at the Indian Military Academy). 1990 – the Sikh Regiment Gold Medal (For the Best Sportsmen at the Indian Military Academy). 1989 – the "Blazer" (Highest sports award at the National Defence Academy, Pune, India).

Military awards