Dr. Upinderjit Kaur is an Indian politician and belongs to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

Early life

Her father S.Atma Singh was a minister of Punjab and

Akali Dal The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (translation: ''Supreme Akali Party'') is a centre-right sikh-centric state political party in Punjab, India. The party is the second-oldest in India, after Congress, being founded in 1920. Although there are man ...

leader. Her mother's name is Bibi Tej Kaur. She did M.A. in economics from Delhi University and M.A. in Punjabi from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She got Ph.D in Economics from Punjabi University, Patiala.

Academic career

She has taught Economics at Punjabi University and was a Professor of Economics. She also served as the Principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Dist. Kapurthala. She has written two books 'Development of Theory of Demand' and 'Sikh Religion and Economic Development'. Her second book is about the role of non-economic factors, especially religion in economic development. She was awarded Dr. Ganda Singh Memorial Award for her original research paper 'The Place and Status of Women in Sikh Society'.

Political career

She was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1997 on an

ticket from Sultanpur for first time. She was made a cabinet minister in the

Prakash Singh Badal Parkash Singh Badal ( pa, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ; born 8 December 1927) is an Indian politician who was Chief Minister of Punjab state from 1970 to 1971, from 1977 to 1980, from 1997 to 2002, and from 2007 to 2017. He ...

government and given the portfolio of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Housing and Urban Development. She was re-elected from Sultanpur in 2002 and 2007. She was again made cabinet minister in 2007 and was minister of Education, Civil Aviation, Vigilance and Justice. In October 2010, she was made minister of finance after the removal of

Manpreet Singh Badal Manpreet Singh Badal (born 26 July 1962) is an Indian politician and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the former Second Amarinder Singh ministry, Finance Minister of Punjab. He resigned from Indian National Congress on 18th January,20 ...

. She is the first woman finance minister in the independent India. She has remained member of various Vidhan Sabha Committees, such as Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, Public Undertakings Committee, House Committee. In 2012 Punjab elections she was the oldest candidate among woman at the age of 72.http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1642010/report-punjab-polls-minister-upinderjit-kaur-oldest-among-women-in-fray

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaur, Upinderjit Shiromani Akali Dal politicians State cabinet ministers of Punjab, India Punjab, India MLAs 2007–2012 Place of birth missing (living people) Living people Sikh politics Education Ministers of Punjab, India Finance Ministers of Punjab, India Punjab, India MLAs 1997–2002 Punjab, India MLAs 2002–2007 Delhi University alumni Panjab University alumni Punjabi University alumni 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians 21st-century Indian women politicians 21st-century Indian politicians People from Sultanpur district 20th-century Indian educational theorists 21st-century Indian educational theorists 21st-century Indian women scientists 20th-century Indian women scientists 21st-century Indian economists 20th-century Indian economists Indian women economists Women state cabinet ministers of India Women scientists from Punjab, India Year of birth missing (living people) Educators from Punjab, India Women educators from Punjab, India 20th-century Indian women educators 21st-century women educators Women members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly