Dr. Ashwani Kumar
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Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Author, Thinker & Speaker
Former Additional Solicitor General of India,
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha),
Union Minister for Law & Justice
Envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan

Portrait of Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Dr. Ashwani Kumar is an eminent lawyer, thinker, author and a veteran parliamentarian, was a member of the Rajya Sabha for fourteen consecutive years till the end of his tenure in April 2016. During this time, he held various ministerial positions including - Union Cabinet Minister of State for Industry, Planning, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Parliamentary Affairs, and Union Cabinet Minister for Law and Justice.

He was appointed as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy to Japan (2013) in the rank of Cabinet Minister, in recognition of his services and for deepening India’s strategic partnership with Japan. He was appointed as Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science, Technology, Environment and Forests (2015-2016) and also served as Chairman of the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha for "The Prevention of Torture Bill", 2010.

Cabinet

Union Minister for Law & Justice

Rajya Sabha

Member of Parliament

Special Envoy

Prime Minister’s Envoy to Japan

Senior Advocate

Supreme Court of India
Career & Public Life

A chronology of office and conviction.

  1. 1986 – Present

    Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

    Senior Advocate with extensive experience in constitutional, administrative, public, commercial, and civil law. Widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional governance, appellate advocacy, regulatory matters, and arbitration, and has represented clients in significant cases before the Supreme Court of India.

  2. 2012 – 2013

    Union Cabinet Minister for Law & Justice

    Sworn as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of India; steered key legislative and judicial reform initiatives.

  3. 2011 – 2012

    Union MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning

    Coordinated parliamentary business and represented the Government on the floor of both Houses.

  4. 2010 – 2011

    MoS (Independent Charge), Planning, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences

    Led national initiatives in science policy, climate observation and innovation-led growth.

  5. 2008 – 2010

    Union Minister of State for Industry

    Worked on industrial policy, foreign direct investment and competitiveness reforms.

  6. Multiple terms

    Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Punjab)

    Represented Punjab in the Council of States; served on several Parliamentary Standing Committees.

  7. Earlier years

    Additional Solicitor General of India

    Appointed Additional Solicitor General — among the youngest to hold the office — appearing in landmark constitutional matters.

  8. Special assignment

    Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Japan

    Appointed with the rank of Cabinet Minister to deepen India–Japan strategic partnership.

Books & Writing

Words written. Ideas preserved

2025

Guardians of the Republic

Constitutional Values & Nation Building

Governance
2023

Democracy in Retreat

Revisiting the Ends of Power

Political Analysis
2022

Ehsas-O-Izhar Vol. II

Contemporary Poetry & Reflections

Poetry Collection
2022

Book of Wisdom

Thoughts, Insights & Reflections

Wisdom Series
2020

Human Dignity – A Purpose in Perpetuity

Human Values, Rights & Society

Human Values
2018

Ehsas-O-Izhar Vol. I

Poetry & Literary Expressions

Poetry Collection
2017

Hope in a Challenged Democracy

Reflections on Democratic Values & Governance

Democracy
2003

Law, Ideas and Ideology in Politics

Political Thought & Public Discourse

Published Work

"Public life, at its highest, is a vocation of service — a constant endeavour to reconcile the urgencies of politics with the imperatives of conscience."

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