Upinderjit Kaur

Upinderjit Kaur is an Indian politician and belongs to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

Upinderjit Kaur
MLA, Punjab
In office 1997 - 2012
Preceded by	Gurmail Singh (politician)
Succeeded by	Navtej Singh Cheema
Constituency	Sultanpur
Minister for Technical Education and Industrial Training
In office 1997 -2002
Succeeded by	Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
Minister for School Education
In office 2007 -2010
Preceded by	Harnam Das Johar
Succeeded by	Sewa Singh Sekhwan
Minister for Finance & Planning
In office October 2010 -March 2012
Preceded by	Manpreet Singh Badal
Succeeded by	Parminder Singh Dhindsa
Personal details
Political party	Shiromani Akali Dal
Residence(s)	Kapurthala, Punjab, India

Early life

Her father S.Atma Singh was a minister of Punjab and Akali Dal leader. Her mother's name is Bibi Tej Kaur. She did M.A. in economics from Delhi University and M.A. in Punjabi from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She got Ph.D in Economics from Punjabi University, Patiala.

Academic career

She has taught Economics at Punjabi University and was a Professor of Economics. She also served as the Principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Dist. Kapurthala. She has written two books 'Development of Theory of Demand' and 'Sikh Religion and Economic Development'. Her second book is about the role of non-economic factors, especially religion in economic development. She was awarded Dr. Ganda Singh Memorial Award for her original research paper 'The Place and Status of Women in Sikh Society'.

Political career

She was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1997 on an Akali Dal ticket from Sultanpur for first time. She was made a cabinet minister in the Prakash Singh Badal government and given the portfolio of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Housing and Urban Development. She was re-elected from Sultanpur in 2002 and 2007. She was again made cabinet minister in 2007 and was minister of Education, Civil Aviation, Vigilance and Justice. In October 2010, she was made minister of finance after the removal of Manpreet Singh Badal. She is the first woman finance minister in the independent India. She has remained member of various Vidhan Sabha Committees, such as Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, Public Undertakings Committee, House Committee. In 2012 Punjab elections she was the oldest candidate among woman at the age of 72.