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Anand Sharma Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth5 January 1953

Age71 Years

BirthplaceShimla, Punjab, India (now in Himachal Pradesh, India)

ProfessionPolitician; Lawyer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseZenobia Sharma

FamilyTwo sons; parents P.A. Sharma and Prabha Rani

Anand Sharma Biography

Anand Sharma is an Indian lawyer-turned-politician from Shimla who served as a Union Cabinet Minister and a long-time Rajya Sabha member representing both

Early life and background
Anand Sharma was born on 5 January 1953 in Shimla, then part of Punjab and now in Himachal Pradesh. He completed his undergraduate studies at R.P.C.S.D.B. College, Shimla, earning a B.A. in 1973, and went on to obtain an LL.B from the Faculty of Law at Himachal Pradesh University in 1977. His hometown and long-term residence is Shimla, where the family address is recorded as Prabhat Lodge (Anand Bhawan), Kelston.

Career
Trained as a lawyer, Sharma moved into active politics early and became prominent in student and youth movements. He is counted among the founding members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and later served as President of the Indian Youth Congress.

Sharma’s parliamentary career spans decades in the Rajya Sabha. He was elected to the upper house from Himachal Pradesh in April 2004 and has also represented Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh in later terms. His Rajya Sabha service includes roles on numerous committees and panels dating back to the mid-1980s, including early membership of the Committee on Petitions, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Lok Pal Bill, and the Panel of Vice-Chairmen.

In government, Sharma served as Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs from January 2006 until May 2009. He was India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry from 22 May 2009 to 20 May 2014, and for a period in 2011 he also held additional charge as Minister of Textiles. During his parliamentary tenure he chaired several important standing committees, including those on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice; Science & Technology, Environment and Forests; and later the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

As Commerce and Industry Minister, Sharma was associated with efforts to expand manufacturing, attract foreign investment and reform trade and FDI policy. He was involved in drafting India’s first National Manufacturing Policy, which set targets for raising manufacturing’s share of GDP and creating large-scale skilled employment, and oversaw policy changes that opened up sectors to foreign direct investment and introduced measures to simplify business processes. He also led a large business delegation to Pakistan in 2012 focused on enhancing bilateral trade links.

On international trade issues, Sharma played a visible role at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Bali in December 2013, where he defended developing-country positions on food security. Earlier, in 2008, he was part of the process surrounding the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement.

Public profile
Sharma has been an active voice within the Indian National Congress, serving as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from June 2014 until 2 April 2022. He has received foreign honours for his work, including distinctions from Ghana and the Ivory Coast, and a special award recognizing contributions to India–South Africa relations.

Beyond politics, Sharma is an author of multiple books. His titles include works published between 2007 and 2017 that engage with Gandhian thought, modern Indian political history and the legacy of national leaders. He is also associated with social and sports organizations and a government-linked NGO working in the disability sector.

Personal life
Anand Sharma married Zenobia Sharma, a non-practising doctor, on 23 February 1987. The couple have two sons. His parents are listed as P. A. Sharma and Prabha Rani. Physically, he is described as about 170 cm tall with salt-and-pepper hair and black eyes. His stated interests include cricket, hiking, travel, philosophy and history reading, and classical music.

Latest updates
In August 2022, Sharma resigned from the steering committee of the Congress’s Himachal Pradesh unit, saying his position had become untenable. In 2020 he was among a group of senior Congress leaders who called for organisational change within the party.

Awards and honours
Sharma’s international recognitions include the Companion of the Order of the Volta from Ghana and the Commander of the National Order of the Ivory Coast. He also received an award in 2012 marking his role in strengthening ties between India and South Africa.
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Recent Work

India's Indira

Book published in 2017 reflecting on the political legacy of Indira Gandhi.

2017
Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru

Memorial book released in 2014 to mark Jawaharlal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary.

2014
Journey of a Nation

Book published in 2011 covering aspects of India’s political journey.

2011
Gandhian Way

First book by Anand Sharma, published in 2007.

2007
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Career Highlights

  1. Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India (22 May 2009 – 20 May 2014)
  2. Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs (29 January 2006 – 22 May 2009)
  3. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha (8 June 2014 – 2 April 2022)
  4. Multiple-term Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha representing Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
  5. Chairman of parliamentary standing committees on Law & Justice; Science & Technology, Environment and Forests; and Home Affairs
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anand Sharma born?

5 January 1953

What is Anand Sharma known for?

Politician; Lawyer

What is Anand Sharma’s marital status?

Married

Who is Anand Sharma married to?

Zenobia Sharma