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Arun Jaitley Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 4 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth28 December 1952

Age66 Years

BirthplaceDelhi, India

ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSangeeta Jaitley

FamilySon - Rohan Jaitley; Daughter - Sonali Jaitley; Father - Maharaj Kishen Jaitley; Mother - Ratan Prabha Jaitley; Sisters - Madhu Bhargava and one other

Net worthRs. 113 crore

Arun Jaitley Biography

Arun Jaitley was a senior Indian lawyer and politician who served in key roles for the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Government of India. Over a career of

Early life and background
Arun Maharaj Kishen Jaitley was born on 28 December 1952 in Delhi. Raised in a family with a strong legal background—his father Maharaj Kishen Jaitley was a lawyer and several uncles were in the profession—Jaitley developed an early interest in law and public affairs. He attended St. Xavier’s School in New Delhi, completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Shri Ram College of Commerce and then earned a Bachelor of Laws from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.

During his student years Jaitley was active in campus politics. He became involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and served as president of the Delhi ABVP. He also took part in the broader student movement of the 1970s and was detained for 19 months during the Emergency (1975–1977). Before turning fully to politics he considered a career as a Chartered Accountant but ultimately pursued law, beginning practice before the Supreme Court and various high courts from 1977 onward.

Career
Jaitley combined a legal practice with a rising profile in party politics. Early affiliations included the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the Janata Party; he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and became president of its youth wing in 1980. He gained recognition in the courts: in January 1990 he was designated a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court and in 1989 he was appointed Additional Solicitor General. His legal work included representing a broad spectrum of political figures and corporations, and he was involved in major public interest files, including work related to prominent national investigations.

Within the BJP, Jaitley steadily rose through organizational ranks. He was appointed to the party’s national executive in 1991, served as general secretary and national spokesperson, and held senior roles in successive BJP administrations. In the government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee he served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting and later took on the portfolio of Law, Justice and Company Affairs. He led the party in the Rajya Sabha as Leader of the Opposition from 2009 until 2014.

After 2014, when the BJP formed the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaitley became a prominent member of the cabinet. He served as Minister of Finance and was the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha. In 2017 he also held responsibility for the Defence Ministry for a period. His time as finance minister saw major policy actions at the national level.

Public profile
Jaitley’s public life combined courtroom advocacy, party organization and high-profile ministerial responsibilities. He wrote and spoke frequently on legal and current affairs, authored publications, and represented India at international forums: in 1998 he participated at the United Nations General Assembly on matters related to law enforcement cooperation.

He carried a visible personal style and remained active in public life even when managing health challenges. Jaitley was also associated with sports administration and served as president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. That tenure drew scrutiny and controversy related to financial management from some quarters.

Personal life
Arun Jaitley married Sangeeta Jaitley on 24 May 1982. The couple had two children: a son, Rohan Jaitley, who pursued law, and a daughter, Sonali Jaitley, who is also a lawyer. Jaitley’s wife was the daughter of Girdhari Lal Dogra, who served for many years as Finance Minister in the Jammu & Kashmir government.

Jaitley enjoyed reading, writing, travel and sport. He maintained a morning walking routine in Lodhi Garden in New Delhi and was known for a strong memory and an active social circle. He was related to actors Akshay Dogra and Riddhi Dogra.

Health, death and legacy
Jaitley experienced significant health problems in the last years of his life, including a kidney transplant in May 2018 and subsequent complications. He did not contest the 2019 general elections because of his health and declined to join the new cabinet, citing those concerns. Arun Jaitley died on 24 August 2019 at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was cremated at Nigam Bodh Ghat on 25 August 2019. In recognition of his public service, the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi was renamed Arun Jaitley Stadium in September 2019. Posthumously, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2020.

Latest updates
After his passing, national leaders expressed condolence. His name continues to be associated with significant legal and political reforms undertaken during his ministerial tenure, and public remembrances have marked his contributions to both law and public life in India.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Arun Jaitley, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Minister of Finance, Government of India

Served as Finance Minister in Narendra Modi’s first cabinet; oversaw major national economic policy measures during his tenure.

2014–2019
Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha

Led the BJP’s parliamentary work in the Rajya Sabha prior to 2014.

2009–2014
Minister of Defence (additional charge)

Held the Defence portfolio for a period in 2017.

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Designated Senior Advocate by Delhi High Court (1990)
  2. Additional Solicitor General of India (1989)
  3. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha (2009–2014)
  4. Finance Minister of India and Leader of the House, Rajya Sabha (2014–2019)
  5. Defence Minister (additional charge) in 2017
  6. President of Delhi and District Cricket Association
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Net Worth

Rs. 113 crore

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Arun Jaitley born?

Arun Jaitley was born on 28 December 1952.

What is Arun Jaitley known for?

Arun Jaitley is known for politician, Lawyer.

What is Arun Jaitley’s marital status?

Arun Jaitley's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Arun Jaitley married to?

Arun Jaitley is publicly listed as married to Sangeeta Jaitley.

What is Arun Jaitley’s net worth?

Arun Jaitley's net worth is commonly listed as Rs. 113 crore, based on available public profile information.