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Niranjan Pujari Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth31 January 1961

Age62 Years

BirthplaceSambalpur (Sonepur), Odisha

ProfessionPolitician; Advocate

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseBinapani Pujari

FamilyTwo daughters; father Radheshyam (deceased) alias Malu Pujari alias Pujhari

Net worthRs. 2 crores

Niranjan Pujari Biography

Niranjan Pujari is an Indian lawyer-turned-politician from Sambalpur, Odisha. A long-serving member of the Biju Janata Dal, he has represented Binka and S1

Early life and background

Niranjan Pujari was born on 31 January 1961 in Sambalpur (also referred to as Sonepur) in Odisha. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from Gangadhar Meher University in 1981 and went on to obtain an LLB from L. R. Law College, Sambalpur in 1984. Trained as an advocate, Pujari brought his legal background into a career in public life.

Career

Pujari entered electoral politics as a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). He first won a seat in the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2000 from the Binka constituency and retained that seat in 2004. In 2009 he shifted to the Sonepur constituency and has been re-elected from Sonepur in 2014 and 2019.

Across his legislative career he has served in a variety of ministerial roles. Early appointments included the Ministry of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (May 2011 to August 2012) and, briefly, the Ministry of Science and Technology (February 2012 to August 2012). From August 2012 until May 2014 he held the Industries and Excise portfolios. Returning to ministerial duties in 2017, he was named Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and, for a period, again Minister of Industries. Between March 2018 and May 2019 he served as Minister of Water Resources. He later held the Excise portfolio from May 2019 to June 2022.

On 5 June 2022 Pujari was assigned the Finance portfolio and was also appointed Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. In 2023, following the assassination of the state Health and Family Welfare Minister, he was given responsibility for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Pujari also served as Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly beginning on 26 May 2014. He resigned from that post in 2017 during a reshuffle announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, saying at the time that he wanted to devote more attention to his constituency.

Committee work and other roles

Throughout his tenure in the Assembly Pujari has been active on multiple committees. He has been a member of bodies such as the Committee on Public Undertakings, the House Committee on Rehabilitation, the Committee on Members’ Amenities, the Select Committee on the Orissa Excise Bill (2005), and the House Committee on Railways. He also chaired the Standing Committee on Energy, Revenue and Excise from 2006 to 2008. Outside the legislature, he has served as a director of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).

Public profile

Known for a soft-spoken demeanour, Pujari has maintained a public image grounded in constituency work and social engagement. He is involved in cultural activities and is associated with the Gangadhar Meher Sahitya Akademi in Rampur. He has taken part in sports in his earlier years as a student, including membership of Sambalpur University’s football team.

Pujari participates in social welfare initiatives and is connected with organisations such as UTSARGA, a blood donation association in Sambalpur, and Nikhila Orissa Chhatra Andolon. He serves as president of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, a private special education school in Rampur.

Personal life

Pujari belongs to the Brahmin community and practices Hinduism. He is married to Binapani Pujari and the couple has two daughters. His father was Radheshyam (also known as Malu Pujari or Pujhari). Pujari’s declared residential address is Village Rampur, PO/PS Rampur, District Subarnapur, Odisha. Physically, public records list his height at approximately 168 cm (5 ft 6 in), weight around 70 kg, black eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

Financial disclosures

Asset declarations filed for 2019 list movable and immovable assets including cash, bank deposits, insurance policies, motor vehicles, jewellery, agricultural and non-agricultural land, and residential property. The same filings present an estimated net worth of about Rs. 2 crore for the financial year 2019; those figures exclude assets held by his wife and dependents.

Latest updates

As of 2023, Niranjan Pujari held the additional charge of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare following the death of the sitting minister. He continues to be a senior BJD figure with an extended record of legislative and ministerial service in Odisha.
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Recent Work

Minister of Health and Family Welfare (additional charge)

Assigned the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2023 following the death of the incumbent minister.

2023
Minister of Finance and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

Appointed to these portfolios on 5 June 2022.

2022
Minister of Excise

Served as Minister of Excise from 29 May 2019 to 4 June 2022 and previously from 2 August 2012 to 21 May 2014.

2019-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Multiple-term member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly representing Binka and Sonepur constituencies (first elected 2000).
  2. Served as Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly beginning 26 May 2014.
  3. Held several state cabinet portfolios including Finance, Parliamentary Affairs, Excise, Industries, Water Resources, Housing and Urban Affairs, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, and Science and Technology.
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Net Worth

Rs. 2 crores

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Niranjan Pujari born?

31 January 1961

What is Niranjan Pujari known for?

Politician; Advocate

What is Niranjan Pujari’s marital status?

Married

Who is Niranjan Pujari married to?

Binapani Pujari

What is Niranjan Pujari’s net worth?

Rs. 2 crores