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Shivraj Patil Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 15, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth12 October 1935

Age87 Years

BirthplaceChakur, Latur district, Marathwada region, princely state of Hyderabad, British India (now Maharashtra, India)

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidowed

SpouseVijaya Patil

FamilySon - Shailesh Patil; Daughter - Late Sapna B. Patil

Shivraj Patil Biography

Long-serving Indian National Congress leader Shivraj Patil has held key roles across state and national politics, including Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1991–

Early life and background
Shivraj Vishwanath Patil was born on 12 October 1935 in the village of Chakur in what is now Latur district, Maharashtra. He grew up in Latur and went on to complete higher education in the sciences and law, earning a B.Sc. and later both an LL.B. and an LL.M. He spent a brief period teaching law before returning to Latur to practise as an attorney.

Career
Patil entered electoral politics in 1967 when he joined the Indian National Congress. Early responsibilities included serving as president of the Latur Municipality and, by the early 1970s, winning election to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. During his time in state politics he held several legislative and executive posts: chairman of the Public Undertakings Committee, deputy minister for portfolios including law and judiciary, irrigation and protocol, deputy speaker and later speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

In 1980 Patil made the leap to national politics with election to the Lok Sabha. Over the following two decades he was repeatedly returned to Parliament and held a wide range of ministerial responsibilities. In the early 1980s he served as Union Minister of State in defence, commerce, and a variety of science-and-technology–related departments, including atomic energy, electronics, space and ocean development. Later roles included personnel and training, defence production, and civil aviation and tourism.

Patil’s parliamentary career reached a peak when he was elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 1991. As Speaker from 1991 to 1996 he chaired business and rules committees and presided over the House through several contentious debates. Observers credited him with managing heated proceedings and helping defuse tensions between the ruling side and opposition on numerous occasions.

After returning to ministerial office following the 1999 decade of service in various parliamentary committees, Patil was appointed Union Home Minister in 2004. He held that portfolio until 2008.

Public profile
Patil’s long public life has seen both recognition and controversy. He has been respected across party lines for his stewardship of parliamentary procedure during his tenure as Speaker. His record includes leadership roles in parliamentary groups and standing committees and service as vice president of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research in the 1980s.

At the same time, his tenure as a high-profile minister brought scrutiny and criticism. He lost his Lok Sabha seat in 2004 to a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. In 2008 he resigned from the position of Home Minister. Media and public debate have also followed him over other incidents and remarks that generated controversy.

Personal life
Patil married Vijaya Patil in June 1963. The couple had two children: a son, Shailesh Patil, who is involved in politics, and a daughter, Sapna B. Patil, who practised as an advocate. Patil is widowed. His parents were Vishwanath Patil and Bhagiriti Bai.

Latest updates
As of the information provided, Patil is in his late eighties. His political affiliation remains with the Indian National Congress. He has continued to be a public figure whose past parliamentary leadership and ministerial roles are frequently referenced in discussions of contemporary politics.

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

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Minister of Home Affairs

Served as India’s Union Home Minister from 2004 until his resignation in 2008.

2004-2008
Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Served as the tenth Speaker of the Lok Sabha, presiding over the House from 1991 to 1996 and chairing several parliamentary committees.

1991-1996
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Career Highlights

  1. Elected to the Lok Sabha multiple times beginning in 1980 and serving in numerous ministerial and parliamentary roles
  2. Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1991–1996), credited with managing contentious proceedings
  3. Union Minister of Home Affairs (2004–2008) and holder of several Union Minister of State portfolios in the 1980s
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 Shivraj Patil born?

Shivraj Patil was born on 12 October 1935.

What is Shivraj Patil known for?

Shivraj Patil is known for politician.

What is Shivraj Patil’s marital status?

Shivraj Patil's marital status is listed as Widowed.

Who is Shivraj Patil married to?

Shivraj Patil is publicly listed as married to Vijaya Patil.