Profile
- 1994-99
Member, Goa Legislative Assembly
Member, Public Accounts Committee, Goa Legislative Assembly
- 1995-96
Leader, B.J.P. Legislature Party
Member, Committee on Delegated Legislation, Goa Legislative Assembly
- 1999
Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
- 1999-2000
Member, Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism
Member, Committee on Absences of Members from the Sittings of the House
Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Rural Development
- 30 Sep. 2000 - 2 Nov. 2001
Union Minister of State, Agriculture
- 2 Nov. 2001 - 14 May 2002
Union Minister of State, Shipping
- 2002-2003
Union Minister of State, Civil Aviation
- 8 Sep. 2003 - 22 May 2004
Union Minister of State, Finance
- 2004
Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
Member, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
Member, Standing Committee on Urban Development
Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
- 7 Aug. 2007
Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
- 2009
Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
- 31 Aug. 2009
Member, Standing Committee on Energy
- 2012-2013
Member, Public Accounts Committee
- 7 May, 2014
Re-elected to 16th Lok Sabha (4th term)
- 27 May 2014 - 9 Nov. 2014
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Culture; and Ministry of Tourism.
- 9 Nov. 2014 - 5 July 2016
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH);
Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- 5 July 2016 - 25 May 2019
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH);
- May, 2019
Re-elected to 17th Lok Sabha (5th term)
- 30 May 2019 onwards
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH);
Union Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
Social And Cultural Activities
Has been actively associated with social and cultural activities as President, (i) Vidyarthi Nidhi, Goa; (ii) Sai Prathan Mandir Trust, Ribandar, Goa and Chairman, (i) Shikshan Prasarak Sangh, Dhurpat; (ii) Sharda English High School, Dhurpat, Ponda, Goa; and (iii) Sumangal Urban Credit Cooperative Society, Durbhat, Ponda, Goa; (iv) Ratnagiri Education Society-Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; Member, Managing Committees of various Educational Institutions such as (i) Mandovi Education Society, Betim; (ii) Old Goa Education Society, Old Goa; (iii) Prabodhan Education Society, Porvorm Goa
Special Interests
Travelling, Reading, Yoga, Meditation, Singing, Swimming, Shooting
Sports and Clubs
State Player, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Swimming Champion, Southern State Championship, Gold Medalist in 400 mtrs race, Silver medal in shooting, Chairman, Goa Rifle Association-Goa and Mandon Athletic Club - Goa; President, Goa, Olympic Association
Countries Visited
Widely travelled
Other Information
N.C.C. (National Cadet Corps) `C` Certificate holder and was adjudged the best N.C.C. Candidate