Amit Shah (born 22 October 1964) is an Indian politician who has served as Union Home Minister since 2019 and as India’s first Minister of Cooperation since 2021. A close associate of Narendra Modi for decades, he was national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2014 to 2020. He is widely regarded as the chief strategist behind the party’s election victories.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Amit Anilchandra Shah |
| Born | 22 October 1964, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Age | 61 |
| Offices | Minister of Home Affairs (since 2019); Minister of Cooperation (since 2021) |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Constituency | Gandhinagar, Gujarat (Lok Sabha) |
| Education | BSc in Biochemistry, Gujarat University |
| Spouse | Sonal Shah |
| Son | Jay Shah (ICC chairman) |
Early Life
Amit Shah was born in Mumbai into a prosperous Gujarati family with roots in Mansa, Gujarat. He grew up in Gujarat, joined the RSS as a boy and studied biochemistry in Ahmedabad. He worked in his family’s business and as a stockbroker before turning to politics full-time.
Political Career
Shah became active in the ABVP, the RSS student wing, and joined the BJP in 1987. He met Narendra Modi in the 1980s, and the two formed a lasting partnership. Shah was elected to the Gujarat Assembly in 1997 and served as a minister in Modi’s state government, including as Minister of State for Home. In 2010 he was arrested in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. He was released on bail and was discharged by a special CBI court in 2014.
As the BJP’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 election, Shah helped the party and its allies win 73 of the state’s 80 seats. He became national president of the BJP in July 2014. Under his leadership the party expanded into many new states and built one of the world’s largest political party memberships. He entered the Rajya Sabha in 2017.
Shah won the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and was appointed Home Minister. He piloted the August 2019 revocation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. He also piloted the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the replacement of India’s colonial-era criminal laws with new codes, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In 2021 he became the first Minister of Cooperation. He retained both portfolios after the 2024 election.
Personal Life
Shah is married to Sonal Shah. Their son, Jay Shah, served as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and became chairman of the International Cricket Council in December 2024. Shah is known for his organisational skill and his interest in Indian history.
Key Offices Held
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Amit Shah born?
Amit Shah was born on 22 October 1964 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
