Arun Jaitley

Distinguished Career in Politics and Law 

A politician and attorney, the late Arun Jaitley worked in Indian politics for nearly three decades until his death in 2019. He last served the country as minister of finance, minister for corporate affairs, and minister of defense under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among other actions during his tenure in these roles, Arun Jaitley oversaw the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax and demonetization of ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes to help mitigate fake currency, black money, and corruption. He was also an advocate of constitutionally-guaranteed rights and was recommended by Out Leadership in 2017 as one of India’s strongest supporters of the LGBT+ community. 

Prior to his appointment as minister of finance, Arun Jaitley spent five years as leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. In this role, he introduced the 84th and 91st amendments to the Constitution of India, which froze parliamentary seats until 2026 and penalized defections, respectively. He is also a former cabinet minister for the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Shipping and minister of state for Information and Broadcasting. 

An attorney by trade, Arun Jaitley was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India and served as additional solicitor general in the V.P. Singh government. In 2020, he was posthumously awarded India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, for his work in public affairs.