Present Position

He represents the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is presently Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change & Information and Broadcasting.

Positions Held (Previous)

• Union Minister of Human Resource Development - 5th July 2016 to 30th May 2019
• Minister of State (Independent Charge) — Environment, Forest & Climate Change - 26th May 2014 to 4th July 2016
• Minister of State — Parliamentary Affairs - 26th May 2014 to 9th Nov 2014
• Minister of State (Independent Charge) — Information and Broadcasting - 26th May 2014 to 9th Nov 2014
• Member of Parliament — Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra (April 2018 onwards )
• Member of Parliament — Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh (June 2014 –March 2018)
• Member of Parliament — Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra (May 2008– May 2014)
• Executive President — State Planning Board Maharashtra (1995–1999)
• Member of Legislative Council — Maharashtra from Pune Division Graduate Constituency for 12 years (1990–2002)
• Chairman — Task Force on IT, Government of Maharashtra (1997–1999)
• Chairman — Working Group on “IT for Masses”, Government of India (2000)
• Member — Press Council of India
• Member — Public Accounts Committee
• Member — Standing Committee on HRD
• Member — Consultative Committee for Min. of Power
• Member — Committee on Subordinate Legislation
• Member — Committee on WAKF
• Member — Standing Committee on Defence

Political Work

• Led Student Movement under ABVP in various capacities (1969–1977)
• Organised Satyagraha against Emergency Rule and imprisoned (1975–1977)
• Elected Senate Member of Pune University for 12 years (1975–1987)
• National Secretary and General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (1984–1990)
• Full time worker of BJP since 1981
• State Secretary and Campaign Chief of Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra (1989–1995)
• Produced 6 videos and 10 audio films/music cassettes for party propaganda
• Spokesman, BJP Maharashtra (1994–1996 and 2002–2003)

Social Work

• Completed successfully GoI’s Watershed Development Project in Kolvan Valley of Mulshi Tehsil of Pune District. (1996–2000)
• Worked in tribal area of Thane District for revival of a Development Project,launched by Bank of Maharashtra. (1978–1980)

Other Facts

• Worked with Bank of Maharashtra for 10 years (1971–1981)
• Worked in Rural Development Department, Sick Unit Cell, Employment Promotion Programme of the Bank of Maharashtra

Achievements

• Sir Purshottam Das Thakur Memorial National Award, for research Paper on "Rural Development and Banks’ Role in Coordinated Approach".
• Led delegation to Boston to Negotiate Media Lab Asia Project (2000)

Publications

• 350 articles in various newspapers on contemporary subjects.
• Many booklets on unemployment, infiltration, IMF loan and other political topics.

Countries Visited

USA, Europe, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Israel, Finland & Iceland, Taiwan, Japan, China, South Africa, Brazil, UK, Peru, Luxembourg, Norway, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Egypt, etc.