# Minister of Defence (India)

The Minister of Defence (ISO: Rakṣā Maṁtrī) is the head of the Ministry of Defence and a high ranking minister of the Government of India. The Defence minister is one of the most senior offices in the Union Council of Ministers as well as being a high-level minister in the union cabinet. The Defence minister additionally serves as president of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, and as chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology and of the National Defence University.
They are often assisted by a minister of state for defence and less-commonly, the lower-ranked deputy minister of defence.
The first defence minister of independent India was Baldev Singh Chokkar, who served in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet during 1947–52. Rajnath Singh is the current defence minister of India.

## Cabinet ministers

| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Name (born–died) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Name (born–died) Constituency | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | | Baldev Singh (1902–1961) MP for Punjab (Constituent Assembly) | 15 August 1947 | 13 May 1952 | 4 years, 272 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru I | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 2 | | | N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar (1882–1953) Rajya Sabha MP for Madras | 13 May 1952 | 10 February 1953 (died in office) | 273 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 3 | | | Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) MP for Phulpur (Prime Minister) | 10 February 1953 | 10 January 1955 | 1 year, 334 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 4 | | | Kailash Nath Katju (1887–1968) MP for Mandsaur | 10 January 1955 | 30 January 1957 | 2 years, 20 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| (3) | | | Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) MP for Phulpur (Prime Minister) | 30 January 1957 | 17 April 1957 | 77 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 5 | | | V. K. Krishna Menon (1896–1974) MP for Bombay North | 17 April 1957 | 2 April 1962 | 5 years, 197 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru III | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 5 | | | V. K. Krishna Menon (1896–1974) MP for Bombay North | 2 April 1962 | 31 October 1962 | 5 years, 197 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| (3) | | | Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) MP for Phulpur (Prime Minister) | 31 October 1962 | 14 November 1962 | 14 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 6 | | | Yashwantrao Chavan (1913–1984) MP for Nashik | 14 November 1962 | 27 May 1964 | 3 years, 364 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 6 | | | Yashwantrao Chavan (1913–1984) MP for Nashik | 27 May 1964 | 9 June 1964 | 3 years, 364 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda I | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| 6 | | | Yashwantrao Chavan (1913–1984) MP for Nashik | 9 June 1964 | 11 January 1966 | 3 years, 364 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| 6 | | | Yashwantrao Chavan (1913–1984) MP for Nashik | 11 January 1966 | 24 January 1966 | 3 years, 364 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda II | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| 6 | | | Yashwantrao Chavan (1913–1984) MP for Nashik | 24 January 1966 | 13 November 1966 | 3 years, 364 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| 7 | | | Swaran Singh (1907–1994) MP for Jullundur | 13 November 1966 | 13 March 1967 | 3 years, 226 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| 7 | | | Swaran Singh (1907–1994) MP for Jullundur | 13 March 1967 | 27 June 1970 | 3 years, 226 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 8 | | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MP for Sasaram | 27 June 1970 | 18 March 1971 | 4 years, 105 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 8 | | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MP for Sasaram | 18 March 1971 | 10 October 1974 | 4 years, 105 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| (7) | | | Swaran Singh (1907–1994) MP for Jullundur | 10 October 1974 | 1 December 1975 | 1 year, 52 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 9 | | | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) MP for Rae Bareli (Prime Minister) | 1 December 1975 | 20 December 1975 | 19 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 10 | | | Bansi Lal (1927–2006) Rajya Sabha MP for Punjab | 21 December 1975 | 24 March 1977 | 1 year, 93 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| (8) | | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MP for Sasaram (Deputy Prime Minister from 24 January 1979) | 24 March 1977 | 28 July 1979 | 2 years, 126 days | Janata Party | Desai | | Morarji Desai |
| 11 | | | Chidambaram Subramaniam (1910–2000) MP for Palani | 28 July 1979 | 14 January 1980 | 170 days | Indian National Congress (Urs) | Charan | | Charan Singh |
| (9) | | | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) MP for Medak (Prime Minister) | 14 January 1980 | 15 January 1982 | 2 years, 1 day | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 12 | | | Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1910–2009) MP for Chennai South | 15 January 1982 | 2 August 1984 | 2 years, 200 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 13 | | | Shankarrao Chavan (1920–2004) MP for Nanded | 2 August 1984 | 31 October 1984 | 151 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 13 | | | Shankarrao Chavan (1920–2004) MP for Nanded | 31 October 1984 | 31 December 1984 | 151 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv I | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 14 | | | P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) MP for Ramtek | 31 December 1984 | 25 September 1985 | 268 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 15 | | | Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991) MP for Amethi (Prime Minister) | 25 September 1985 | 24 January 1987 | 1 year, 121 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 16 | | | V. P. Singh (1931–2008) Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 24 January 1987 | 12 April 1987 | 78 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 17 | | | K. C. Pant (1931–2012) MP for New Delhi | 12 April 1987 | 2 December 1989 | 2 years, 234 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| (16) | | | Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1931–2008) MP for Fatehpur (Prime Minister) | 2 December 1989 | 10 November 1990 | 343 days | Janata Dal | Vishwanath | | Vishwanath Pratap Singh |
| 18 | | | Chandra Shekhar (1927–2007) MP for Ballia (Prime Minister) | 10 November 1990 | 21 June 1991 | 223 days | Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) | Chandra Shekhar | | Chandra Shekhar |
| (14) | | | P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) Unelected (Prime Minister) | 21 June 1991 | 26 June 1991 | 5 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 19 | | | Sharad Pawar (born 1940) MP for Baramati | 26 June 1991 | 6 March 1993 | 1 year, 253 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| (14) | | | P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) MP for Nandyal (Prime Minister) | 6 March 1993 | 16 May 1996 | 3 years, 71 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 20 | | | Pramod Mahajan (1949–2006) MP for Mumbai North East | 16 May 1996 | 1 June 1996 | 16 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee I | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 21 | | | Mulayam Singh Yadav (1939–2022) MP for Mainpuri | 1 June 1996 | 21 April 1997 | 1 year, 290 days | Samajwadi Party | Deve Gowda | | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| 21 | | | Mulayam Singh Yadav (1939–2022) MP for Mainpuri | 21 April 1997 | 18 March 1998 | 1 year, 290 days | Samajwadi Party | Gujral | | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| 22 | | | George Fernandes (1930–2019) MP for Nalanda | 19 March 1998 | 13 October 1999 | 2 years, 101 days | Samata Party | Vajpayee II | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 22 | | | George Fernandes (1930–2019) MP for Nalanda | 13 October 1999 | 16 March 2001 | 2 years, 101 days | Samata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 23 | | | Jaswant Singh (1938–2020) Rajya Sabha MP for Rajasthan | 16 March 2001 | 21 October 2001 | 219 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| (22) | | | George Fernandes (1930–2019) MP for Nalanda | 21 October 2001 | 22 May 2004 | 2 years, 214 days | Janata Dal (United) | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 24 | | | Pranab Mukherjee (1935–2020) MP for Jangipur | 23 May 2004 | 26 October 2006 | 2 years, 156 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| 25 | | | A. K. Antony (born 1940) Rajya Sabha MP for Kerala | 26 October 2006 | 22 May 2009 | 7 years, 212 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| 25 | | | A. K. Antony (born 1940) Rajya Sabha MP for Kerala | 23 May 2009 | 26 May 2014 | 7 years, 212 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| 26 | | | Arun Jaitley (1952–2019) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 27 May 2014 | 9 November 2014 | 166 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| 27 | | | Manohar Parrikar (1955–2019) Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 9 November 2014 | 13 March 2017 | 2 years, 124 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| (26) | | | Arun Jaitley (1952–2019) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 13 March 2017 | 3 September 2017 | 174 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| 28 | | | Nirmala Sitharaman (born 1959) Rajya Sabha MP for Karnataka | 3 September 2017 | 30 May 2019 | 1 year, 269 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| 29 | | | Rajnath Singh (born 1951) MP for Lucknow | 31 May 2019 | 9 June 2024 | 5 years, 282 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| 29 | | | Rajnath Singh (born 1951) MP for Lucknow | 10 June 2024 | Incumbent | 5 years, 282 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi III | | Narendra Modi |

## Ministers of state

| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | | Mahavir Tyagi (1899–1980) MP for Dehradun Minister of Defence Organisation | 16 March 1953 | 17 April 1957 | 4 years, 32 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 2 | | | Kotha Raghuramaiah (1912–1979) MP for Guntur Minister of Defence Production, since 14 November 1962 | 16 April 1962 | 27 May 1964 | 2 years, 54 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 2 | | | Kotha Raghuramaiah (1912–1979) MP for Guntur Minister of Defence Production, since 14 November 1962 | 27 May 1964 | 9 June 1964 | 2 years, 54 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda I | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| 3 | | | Alungal Mathai Thomas (1912–1981) MP for Ernakulam (Defence Production) | 13 June 1964 | 11 January 1966 | 1 year, 212 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| 4 | | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 29 October 1965 | 11 January 1966 | 74 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| (3) | | | Alungal Mathai Thomas (1912–1981) MP for Ernakulam (Defence Production) | 11 January 1966 | 24 January 1966 | 13 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda II | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| (4) | | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 11 January 1966 | 24 January 1966 | 13 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda II | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| (3) | | | Alungal Mathai Thomas (1912–1981) MP for Ernakulam (Defence Production since 31 January 1966) | 24 January 1966 | 13 March 1967 | 1 year, 48 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| (4) | | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat Minister of Defence Supplies, until 13 November 1966 | 24 January 1966 | 13 March 1967 | 1 year, 48 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| 5 | | | Bali Ram Bhagat (1922–2011) MP for Arrah | 13 March 1967 | 14 November 1967 | 246 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 6 | | | Lalit Narayan Mishra (1923–1975) Rajya Sabha MP for Bihar (Defence Production) | 14 November 1967 | 27 June 1970 | 2 years, 225 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 7 | | | Narendrasinghji Mahida MP for Anand | 27 June 1970 | 18 March 1971 | 264 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 8 | | | Prakash Chandra Sethi (1919–1996) MP for Indore (Defence Production) | 27 June 1970 | 18 March 1971 | 309 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 8 | | | Prakash Chandra Sethi (1919–1996) MP for Indore (Defence Production) | 18 March 1971 | 2 May 1971 | 309 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 9 | | | Vidya Charan Shukla (1929–2013) MP for Raipur (Defence Production) | 2 May 1971 | 10 October 1974 | 3 years, 161 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 10 | | | Ram Niwas Mirdha (1924–2010) Rajya Sabha MP for Rajasthan (Defence Production) | 10 October 1974 | 21 December 1975 | 1 year, 72 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 11 | | | Vitthalrao Gadgil (1928–2001) MP for Pune (Defence Production) | 25 December 1975 | 24 March 1977 | 1 year, 89 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 12 | | | Janaki Ballabh Patnaik (1927–2015) MP for Cuttack | 23 December 1976 | 24 March 1977 | 91 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 13 | | | Sher Singh Kadyan (1917–2009) MP for Rohtak | 14 August 1977 | 28 July 1979 | 1 year, 348 days | Janata Party | Desai | | Morarji Desai |
| 14 | | | Jagbir Singh Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 30 July 1979 | 14 January 1980 | 168 days | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan | | Charan Singh |
| 15 | | | C. P. N. Singh MP for Padrauna | 3 March 1980 | 19 October 1980 | 230 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 16 | | | Shivraj Patil (born 1935) MP for Latur | 19 October 1980 | 15 January 1982 | 1 year, 88 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 17 | | | Brigadier Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo AVSM (born 1941) MP for Dhenkanal | 29 January 1983 | 31 October 1984 | 1 year, 332 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| 17 | | | Brigadier Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo AVSM (born 1941) MP for Dhenkanal | 4 November 1984 | 31 December 1984 | 1 year, 332 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv I | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 18 | | | Sukh Ram (1927–2022) MP for Mandi (Defence Production and Defence Supplies) | 25 September 1985 | 22 October 1986 | 1 year, 27 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 19 | | | Arun Singh (born 1944) Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh (Defence Research and Development Organisation) | 25 September 1985 | 18 July 1987 | 1 year, 296 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| (16) | | | Shivraj Patil (born 1935) MP for Latur | 22 October 1986 | 25 June 1988 | 1 year, 247 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 20 | | | Chintamani Panigrahi (1922–2000) MP for Bhubaneswar (Defence Production and Defence Supplies) | 25 June 1988 | 4 July 1989 | 1 year, 9 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 21 | | | Dumar Lal Baitha (1924–1997) MP for Araria (Defence Production and Supplies) | 4 July 1989 | 2 December 1989 | 151 days | | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| 22 | | | Raja Ramanna (1925–2004) Unelected | 20 January 1990 | 10 November 1990 | 294 days | Janata Dal | Vishwanath | | Vishwanath Pratap Singh |
| 23 | | | Lalit Vijay Singh (1931–1998) MP for Begusarai | 21 November 1990 | 21 June 1991 | 212 days | Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) | Chandra Shekhar | | Chandra Shekhar |
| 24 | | | S. Krishna Kumar (born 1939) MP for Quilon | 26 June 1991 | 18 January 1993 | 1 year, 206 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 25 | | | Mallikarjun Goud (1941–2002) MP for Mahabubnagar | 18 January 1993 | 19 January 1995 | 2 years, 1 day | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 26 | | | Suresh Pachouri (born 1952) Rajya Sabha MP for Madhya Pradesh (Defence Production and Supplies) | 15 September 1995 | 16 May 1996 | 244 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 27 | | | Mallikarjun Goud (1941–2002) MP for Mahabubnagar (Defence, Defence Research and Development) | 30 September 1995 | 16 May 1996 | 229 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| 28 | | | N. V. N. Somu (1937–1997) MP for Chennai North | 6 July 1996 | 21 April 1997 | 296 days | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Deve Gowda | | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| 28 | | | N. V. N. Somu (1937–1997) MP for Chennai North | 21 April 1997 | 14 November 1997 (died in office) | 296 days | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Gujral | | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| 29 | | | Harin Pathak (born 1947) MP for Ahmedabad East | 13 October 1999 | 14 November 2000 | 1 year, 32 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 30 | | | Bachi Singh Rawat (1949–2021) MP for Almora | 13 October 1999 | 22 November 1999 | 40 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 31 | | | Krishnam Raju (1940–2022) MP for Narasapuram | 22 July 2001 | 1 July 2002 | 344 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| (29) | | | Harin Pathak (born 1947) MP for Ahmedabad East (Defence Production and Supplies) | 15 October 2001 | 29 January 2003 | 1 year, 106 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 32 | | | Chaman Lal Gupta (1934–2021) MP for Udhampur | 1 July 2002 | 22 May 2004 | 1 year, 326 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 33 | | | O. Rajagopal (born 1929) Rajya Sabha MP for Madhya Pradesh | 29 January 2003 | 22 May 2004 | 114 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 34 | | | Bijoy Krishna Handique (1934–2015) MP for Jorhat | 23 May 2004 | 29 January 2006 | 1 year, 251 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| 35 | | | Rao Inderjit Singh (born 1951) MP for Mahendragarh | 29 January 2006 | 22 May 2009 | 3 years, 113 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| 36 | | | M. M. Pallam Raju (born 1962) MP for Kakinada (Defence Production, until 28 May 2009) | 29 January 2006 | 22 May 2009 | 6 years, 273 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| 36 | | | M. M. Pallam Raju (born 1962) MP for Kakinada (Defence Production, until 28 May 2009) | 28 May 2009 | 28 October 2012 | 6 years, 273 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| 37 | | | Jitin Prasada (born 1973) MP for Dhaurahra | 28 October 2012 | 29 October 2012 | 1 day | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| 38 | | | Lalchand Kataria (born 1968) MP for Jaipur Rural | 28 October 2012 | 31 October 2012 | 3 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| 39 | | | Jitendra Singh (born 1971) MP for Alwar | 28 October 2012 | 26 May 2014 | 1 year, 180 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| (35) | | | Rao Inderjit Singh (born 1951) MP for Gurgaon | 27 May 2014 | 5 July 2016 | 2 years, 39 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| 40 | | | Subhash Bhamre (born 1953) MP for Dhule | 5 July 2016 | 30 May 2019 | 2 years, 329 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| 41 | | | Shripad Yesso Naik (born 1952) MP for North Goa | 31 May 2019 | 7 July 2021 | 2 years, 37 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| 42 | | | Ajay Bhatt (born 1961) MP for Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar | 7 July 2021 | 9 June 2024 | 2 years, 338 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| 43 | | | Sanjay Seth (born 1959) MP for Ranchi | 10 June 2024 | Incumbent | 272 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi III | | Narendra Modi |

## Deputy ministers

| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | | Major-General Kumar Shri Himmatsinhji CIE (1897–1973) | 14 August 1950 | 29 February 1952 | 1 year, 199 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru I | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 2 | | | Wing Commander Surjit Singh Majithia (1912–1995) MP for Tarn Taran | 12 August 1952 | 17 April 1957 | 4 years, 248 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 3 | | | Satish Chandra (1917–1990) MP for Bareilly (Defence Production, from 14 July 1955) | 27 November 1952 | 17 April 1957 | 4 years, 141 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| (2) | | | Wing Commander Surjit Singh Majithia (1912–1995) MP for Tarn Taran | 17 April 1957 | 10 April 1962 | 4 years, 358 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru III | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 4 | | | Kotha Raghuramaiah (1912–1979) MP for Guntur | 21 May 1957 | 10 April 1962 | 4 years, 324 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru III | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 5 | | | Dajisaheb Chavan (1916–1973) MP for Karad | 8 May 1962 | 27 May 1964 | 2 years, 32 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 5 | | | Dajisaheb Chavan (1916–1973) MP for Karad | 27 May 1964 | 9 June 1964 | 2 years, 32 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda I | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| 6 | | | Colonel Datla Satyanarayana Raju MP for Rajahmundry | 15 June 1964 | 24 January 1966 | 1 year, 223 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| 7 | | | Shyam Dhar Mishra (1919–2001) MP for Mirzapur | 24 January 1966 | 14 February 1966 | 21 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| 8 | | | M. R. Krishna MP for Peddapalli | 16 November 1967 | 27 June 1970 | 2 years, 223 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| 9 | | | Janaki Ballabh Patnaik (1927–2015) MP for Cuttack | 5 February 1973 | 23 December 1976 | 3 years, 322 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| 10 | | | Brigadier Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo AVSM (born 1941) MP for Dhenkanal | 15 January 1982 | 29 January 1983 | 1 year, 14 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |