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Manohar Parrikar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 December 1955

Age63 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceMapuçá, Goa, Portuguese India (now India)

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidower

SpouseMedha Parrikar (died of cancer)

FamilyFather - Gopalkrishna Parrikar; Mother - Radhabai Parrikar; Sons - Abhijit Parrikar, Utpal Parrikar

Manohar Parrikar Biography

Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar was an Indian politician and IIT Bombay alumnus who served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Goa and as India’s Rakṣ

Early life and background
Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar was born on 13 December 1955 in Mapuçá, Goa, when it was still part of Portuguese India. He grew up in Mapusa and attended local schools including Loyola High School, Margao and New Goa High School in Mapusa. Parrikar went on to study at St. Xavier’s College in Mapusa and later earned a B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Parrikar was exposed to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age and, by the end of his school years, had taken on responsibilities as a chief instructor within the organisation. After graduating from IIT Bombay he returned to Goa, resumed work with the RSS and ran a private business while rising through the organisation’s local leadership ranks.

Career
Parrikar’s formal political career began when he was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly in 1994 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He became the state’s chief minister for the first time in October 2000. That initial term ended in February 2002. He reclaimed the chief ministership in June 2002, though that tenure was cut short when several BJP MLAs resigned.

He returned to lead Goa again in March 2012. In November 2014 he left the state government to accept a central cabinet post when Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed him as India’s Defence Minister. Parrikar served in that national role until his resignation in March 2017, after which he was called upon to form the government in Goa following a closely contested state election and became the state’s 13th chief minister.

Parrikar was noted for being the first alumnus of the Indian Institutes of Technology to be sworn in as a chief minister of an Indian state. Colleagues and observers often described him as straightforward in his speech and known for a simple personal style—including preferences for public transport and modest living arrangements while in office.

Public profile
Parrikar was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and retained strong ties with the RSS throughout his life. He was married to Medha Parrikar, who died of cancer; he was a widower and the father of two sons, Abhijit Parrikar and Utpal Parrikar. His parents were Gopalkrishna and Radhabai Parrikar. He belonged to the Brahmin caste and practiced Hinduism.

Throughout his political career Parrikar attracted both praise and criticism. Supporters highlighted his clean image and administrative simplicity, while critics focused on specific policy decisions and government expenditures during his terms. Published accounts note controversies such as the conversion of certain rural government schools to an RSS-affiliated educational programme and scrutiny over government-funded study trips and delegations.

Health and death
In 2018 Parrikar was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died on 17 March 2019 at his son’s home in Panaji, Goa. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.

Latest updates
Parrikar’s political legacy includes multiple stints as Goa’s chief minister and a period as India’s Defence Minister. His career is often recalled for the combination of an IIT education, a long association with the RSS, and a reputation for straightforwardness. Observers note his early backing of Narendra Modi within the party and his occasional blunt public remarks.

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 Manohar Parrikar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Chief Minister of Goa (multiple terms)

Served as Chief Minister of Goa in several non-consecutive terms, most recently sworn in March 2017 as the 13th Chief Minister.

2017
Defence Minister of India

Appointed to the Union Cabinet as Defence Minister in November 2014 and served until March 2017.

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. First IIT alumnus to become chief minister of an Indian state
  2. Multiple terms as Chief Minister of Goa
  3. Served as India’s Defence Minister in the Union Cabinet (2014–2017)
  4. Longstanding association with the RSS and leadership roles within Goa’s BJP
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 Manohar Parrikar born?

Manohar Parrikar was born on 13 December 1955.

What is Manohar Parrikar known for?

Manohar Parrikar is known for politician.

What is Manohar Parrikar’s marital status?

Manohar Parrikar's marital status is listed as Widower.

Who is Manohar Parrikar married to?

Manohar Parrikar is publicly listed as married to Medha Parrikar (died of cancer).