Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu (born 11 July 1953) is an Indian politician and Chancellor of Rishihood University who was the Minister of Civil Aviation, Railways, Commerce & Industry in the First Modi ministry.
He is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). From 1996, Prabhu retained the seat as a Member of Parliament for the Rajapur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra as a member of the Shiv Sena (SS) political party. He resigned from Shiv Sena and joined the BJP on 9 November 2014. Since June 2016, he has represented Andhra Pradesh and Haryana in the Rajya Sabha. He is also the founding Chancellor of Rishihood University. He is also a visiting professor at London School of Economics. He is also a chairman of National Cooperative Policy.
Education and career
Suresh Prabhu completed his schooling from Sharadashram Vidya Mandir, Dadar, Mumbai, followed by a Bachelor in Commerce with Honours from M. L. Dahanukar College, Vile Parle, Mumbai. He received a Bachelor in Law degree from the New Law College (Ruparel College campus), Mumbai. Prabhu is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was All India 11th (eleventh) rank holder in CA exams.
Prabhu has held several government and semi government positions, which includes the Chairmanship of Maharashtra State Finance Commission, Saraswat Co-operative Bank, National Cooperation Policy Member of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Board, among others. He is a part of 16 global organizations and 9 strategic dialogues which include: Global Water Partnership GLOBE, UK World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Industries Council UN Advisor United Nations Development Program (UNDP) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Global Forum For Farmers, President Strategic Dialogues Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service Skolkovo Foundation Asia Energy Forum United Nations Committee of Biodiversity World Federation of UNESCO
Currently, he is a member of the Board of Advisors of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.). He is a chairman of the National Cooperative Policy
Early political career
He was, at various times during the Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1998 to 2004, Industry Minister, Minister of Environment and Forests, Minister of Fertilizers & Chemicals, Power, Railways, Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation. He has been a Member of Lok Sabha in the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha between 1996 and 2009. His constituency comprised the district of Sindhudurg and parts of Ratnagiri district in the state of Maharashtra on the western coast of India. He was also a Member of Rajya Sabha representing Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.
Union Cabinet Minister
Union Minister for Industry (1996)
As Industries Minister, brought about greater transparency in functioning and fuel clearance of pending works.
Union Minister For Environment and Forests (1998-99)
Instrumental in preparation of a comprehensive National Environment Action Plan having time bound programs for abatement of pollution in the country Introduced 100% centrally funded Schemes for reducing pollution in 22 major cities of India Introduced unleaded petrol in National Capital Territory to control pollution levels Instrumental in setting up of Indian Centre for the Promotion of Cleaner Technologies (ICPC) in association with the World Bank, industries, academic institution and other agencies Formed Environment Surveillance Squads in the Central Pollution Control Board to enforce pollution control systems on polluting industries
Left a lasting imprint in areas like:
Environment Clearances
Streamlined procedures for environmental clearances and introduced transparency by bringing all works regarding environment and forest clearances on Internet Instrumental in strengthening the monitoring system for achieving better compliance of stipulated conditions in environmental clearances Issued notification to make Environmental Impact Assessment compulsory for 29 developmental activities Instrumental in project involving Asian Development Bank for strengthening Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Legislation