Mr Piyush Goyal is the Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and India's G20 Sherpa.
He was earlier the Minister of Railways (2017 - 21) and Coal (2014 - 19). He has also held the additional charge of Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs twice in 2018 and 2019. His previous portfolios include Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy (2014 - 17), and Mines (2016 - 17).
Mr Goyal’s tenure has seen Indian Railways achieve its best ever safety record in 2018 - 20. This was achieved through holistic measures such as elimination of Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) from the broad gauge network, production of safer coaches etc. Additionally, Mr. Goyal oversaw the launch of the first indigenous semi‐high speed train Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Varanasi.
As Minister of Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, he led transformational changes in India’s power sector including the fast tracking of electrification of the nearly 18,000 unelectrified villages in some of the remotest and inaccessible parts of the country, the rollout of the most comprehensive power sector reform ever (UDAY), the success of the world’s largest LED bulb distribution programme (UJALA) for energy efficiency, and massive proliferation of renewable energy through the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programme. Other achievements include the elimination of coal shortages to improve the energy security of India and successful conduct of transparent e‐auctions of coal blocks. He also received the 4th Annual Carnot Prize in 2018 recognising the pathbreaking transformations in India’s energy sector.
During his 35 year long political career, Mr Goyal has held several important positions at different levels in the world’s largest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is in its National Executive. He has been the National Treasurer of the Party. In the 2019 Indian General Elections, he was a member of the Manifesto and Publicity Committees. He also headed the BJP’s Information Communication Campaign Committee for the Indian General Elections 2014.
Mr Goyal has had a brilliant academic record – all‐India second rank holder Chartered Accountant and second rank holder in Law in Mumbai University. He was a well‐known investment banker and has advised top corporates on management strategy and growth. He also served on the Board of India’s largest commercial bank, the State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. He was also nominated by the Government of India to the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers in 2002.