Mohsina Kidwai Dies at 94: Former Union Minister
Why in the news
Mohsina Kidwai, a senior Indian National Congress leader and former Union minister, has died at the age of 94. Reports place her death in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on 8 April 2026.
Key facts
- Died: 8 April 2026, aged 94; born 1 January 1932 in Barabanki.
- Lok Sabha: elected from Meerut for three terms, 1977 to 1989.
- Rajya Sabha: represented Chhattisgarh for two terms, 2004 to 2016.
- Union portfolios: Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, Transport and Urban Development, among others.
| Portfolio | Period |
|---|---|
| Health and Family Welfare | 1983 to 1986 |
| Transport | June to October 1986 |
| Urban Development | 1986 to 1989 |
About her career
She began in Uttar Pradesh politics, serving in the state Legislative Council from 1960 to 1974 and then in the Legislative Assembly, where she was also a state minister. At the Centre she served in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. In 2024 she published a memoir titled My Life in Indian Politics.
Exam angle
- Obituaries of former ministers are common in static-plus-current questions; remember her party, constituency and ministries.
- Note the two houses she served in: Lok Sabha (Meerut) and Rajya Sabha (Chhattisgarh).