Meira Kumar, an Indian politician, and former diplomat was born on March 31, 1945. She served as the 15th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 4 June 2009 to 18 May 2014 and served as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004 to 2009.
She is a member of the Indian National Congress. When she received the United Progressive Alliance’s nomination for president of India in 2017, Kumar became the second woman to do so.
Key Points :
* She was an Indian Foreign Service Officer from the 1973 batch.
* She served as a diplomat in the high commission of India in the UK.
* She entered politics in 1989 as a member of the Indian National Congress.
* Meira Kumar was elected to the 8th, 11th, 12th, and 14th Lok Sabha.
* Meira served as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2004 (Under Manmohan Singh’s Prime Ministership).
* In 2009, she became the first woman speaker of Lok Sabha (15th Lok Sabha).
* She was the presidential candidate for Indian National Congress in 2017; But failed to win against Ram Nath Kovind.