Anurag Thakur is an Indian politician from Himachal Pradesh. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party. In May 2019, he became the state’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs. On 7 July 2021, he became the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting. He is also the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister of India.
Anurag Thakur Early Life
He was born on 24 October 1974 in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. He completed his schooling at Dayanand Model School, Jalandhar, and graduated with a BA from Doaba College, Jalandhar, Punjab. Anurag Thakur belongs to the Rajput family. His father, Prem Kumar Dhumal, is also a politician; he has been the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh twice. His mother, Sheela Devi, is a homemaker, and his brother, Arun Singh Thakur, is a businessman. On 27 November 2002, he got married to Shefali Thakur. Anurag Thakur is the daughter of the former Public Works Department minister Gulab Singh Thakur. Thakur has two sons, Jaiaditya Thakur, his elder son, and Udayveer Thakur, his younger son.
Political Career
In May 2008, he started his political career. Anurag Thakur was elected for the first time as a member of the Parliament in India’s 14th Lok Sabha from the Hamirpur constituency. And he was re-elected to the 15th, 16th, and 17th Lok Sabha. In November 2000, he played for Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. He appointed himself as the chairman of selectors of the HPCA Ranji Trophy team. He is also known as the president of the BCCI. Anurag helped in the creation of the International Level Cricket Stadium at Dharamshala. On 26 May 2017, he became the president of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). But his tenure was not very long. Because the Supreme Court fired him, and he resigned from the post.
Territorial Army
In July 2016, he became the first Member of Parliament to become a regular commissioned officer in the Territorial Army.
Awards—He was awarded the Sansad Ratna Award on 19 January 2019. He is the first MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party to be awarded the Jury Committee Special Award.
🟢 Anurag Thakur – Latest Updates
🔁 Cabinet Roles Changed (June 2024)
Anurag Thakur lost his ministerial position in Modi’s 2024 cabinet reshuffle.
He is no longer the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting or Sports & Youth Affairs.
These roles were handed over to:
- Ashwini Vaishnaw (I&B Ministry)
- Mansukh Mandaviya (Sports Ministry)
🗳️ Still Active as MP
- Continues to represent Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) in the Lok Sabha (elected again in 2024).
- Keeps engaging in national issues and local development.
🗣️ Recent Political Activities
- Raised serious allegations against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding land misuse under the Waqf board.
- Faced backlash and was asked to either prove it or apologise — later, he retracted some statements.
🏏 Cricket Talk
- Clarified that India playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup was not a political move but a tournament rule compulsion.
📢 Statements & Controversies
- In a student interaction, he claimed that “Hanuman ji was the first space traveller”, which stirred criticism from opposition leaders.
- The remarks were seen as mixing mythology with science.
💬 On Union Budget
- Praised the Budget 2025–26, stating that 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty under the BJP’s governance.
Highlighted benefits for the middle class and small businesses.
🚆 Local Development
- Inaugurated a train service extension between Amb-Andaura and Haridwar, improving Himachal’s connectivity.
🏛️ Current Role
- Not holding any ministerial post, but remains a key BJP face.
- Regularly participates in debates, rallies, and media discussions.
