Nitish Kumar Age, Wiki and Bio

Nitish Kumar

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician, Social Worker, Agriculturist, Engineer
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth01/03/1951
Age73 years
BirthplaceBakhtiarpur, Bihar, India
HometownBakhtiarpur, Bihar, India

Bio/Wiki

Nickname(s)
  • Munna
  • Sushasan Babu

Physical Stats & More

Height173 cm
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorGrey

Educational Qualification(s)

School
  • Shree Ganesh High School, Bakhtiarpur, Patna, Bihar
  • Patna Science College, Patna
College/UniversityBihar College of Engineering, Patna
Degree(s)
  • B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Bihar College of Engineering (1972)

Personal Life

Zodiac signPisces
CasteOBC (Kurmi)
AddressVillage - Hakikatpur, PO - Bakhtiarpur, District - Patna, Bihar (permanent)
Food HabitVegetarian
Hobbies
  • Reading books
  • Watching films
Controversies
  • After he sacked his Excise Minister Jamshed Ashraf in 2010, Ashraf alleged him in a scandal involving evasion of taxes on liquor that has led to revenue losses worth Rs. 500 crores.
  • Nitish Kumar broke his alliance with BJP before 2014 general elections after Narendra Modi was chosen as the NDA's Prime Minister candidate.
  • His alliance with his long time opposition RJD of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress in 2015 Bihar elections was highly criticized.
  • He landed in a controversy after a video of him meeting a 'tantrik' went viral during 2015 Bihar elections.
  • Nitish Kumar lost temper in Assembly and blamed himself for appointing Bihar's CM, Jitan Ram Manjhi in 2014, and the incident created controversy.
  • Nitish Kumar blamed for breaking the alliance with RJD and INC and within 24 hours and formed the government in Bihar with the support of BJP and NDA in 2024.
Brief Details of IPCs
  • 1 charge related to Murder (IPC Section-302)
  • 1 charge related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307)
  • 1 charge related to Punishment for Rioting (IPC Section-147)
  • 1 charge related to Rioting, armed with deadly weapon (IPC Section-148)
  • 1 charge related to Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object (IPC Section-149)

Relationships & More

Marital StatusWidower
Marriage Date22 February 1973

Family

FatherKaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh (freedom fighter, ayurvedist)
MotherParmeshwari Devi (homemaker)
Siblings
BrotherSatish Kumar (Elder)
Sisters
  • Usha Devi (Elder)
  • Indu Devi (Younger)
  • Prabha Devi (Younger)
SpouseLate Manju Kumari Sinha (teacher- m.1973-till her death in 2007)
Children
SonNishant Kumar (he considers himself an apolitical person and wants to lead a spiritual life)

Career

Political PartyJanata Dal (United)
Political Journey
  • 1971: Became a member of Ram Manohar Lohia's youth wing, Samajwadi Yuvajan Sabha
  • 1974: Joined the JP movement, arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act
  • 1975: Arrested during the infamous Emergency
  • 1985: Became the member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
  • 1987: Became state president of Lok Dal
  • 1989: Appointed as Secretary General of Janata Dal, Bihar. Elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time
  • 1990: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperation
  • 1995: Started the Samata party along with George Fernandes
  • 1999: Union Minister for Surface Transport
  • 2000: Union Minister of Agriculture. He also became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 1st time for only 8 days as he couldn't prove majority
  • 2001: Union Minister for Railways
  • 2005: Sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 2nd time with BJP's support
  • 2010: Sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 3rd time.
  • 2014: Broke up with the long time partner BJP, after which his party was defeated badly in Lok Sabha elections and he resigned as CM.
  • 2015: Sworn in as the Chief Minister for the 4th time. The same year he was sworn in as the Chief minister of Bihar for the 5th time and the government was, in fact, a coalition government, which was popularly termed as Mahagathbandhan that includes Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian National Congress, and Janata Dal (United)
  • 2017: Broke up with the Mahagathbandhan and sworn in as Chief Minister on 27 July 2015 for a record 6th time with BJP's support
  • 2022: On 9 August, he ended his alliance with the BJP in Bihar and tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister of Bihar to Governor Phagu Chauhan following which he staked claim to form the government by submitting a letter of support of 160 MLAs.
  • 2022: On 10 August, he took oath as Bihar CM for a record eighth-time.
  • 2024: On 28 January, he took oath as Bihar CM for the ninth time.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
  • 2017: Anuvrat Puraskar by Shwetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha (Jain organisation) for enforcing total prohibition on liquor in Bihar
  • 2013: JP Memorial Award, Nagpur's Manav Mandir
  • 2012: Ranked 77th in Foreign Policy Magazine' top 100 global thinkers
  • 2011: XLRI, Jamshedpur Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial & Social Peace
  • 2010: 'MSN Indian of the Year'
  • 2010: NDTV Indian of the Year – Politics
  • 2010: Forbes' 'India's Person of the Year'
  • 2010: CNN-IBN 'Indian of the Year Award' – Politics
  • 2009: NDTV Indian of the Year – Politics
  • 2009: Economics Times 'Business Reformer of the Year'
  • 2009: Polio Eradication Championship Award by Rotary International
  • 2008: CNN-IBN Great Indian of the Year – Politics
  • 2007: The Best Chief Minister, according to the CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times State of the Nation Poll

Favourites

PoliticianJaiprakash Narayan
ActorAamir Khan

Style Quotient

Car CollectionTata Tiago

Some Lesser Known Facts

Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister of Bihar, serving since 22 February 2015.
He is the founder member of the Samata Party Movement.
In January 2024, he was elected as Chief Minister of Bihar for the 9th time.
Before gaining independence, his father was a freedom fighter associated with the Indian National Congress.
Nitish Kumar's interest in politics grew from his father's influence.
His wedding had a dowry of Rs. 22,000, but he returned it when he found out.
He was detained during political movements in the 1970s.
In 1994, he formed the Samata Party with George Fernandes.
As the Railway Minister, he introduced changes like internet ticket booking and the Tatkal scheme.
He took office as Chief Minister of Bihar in 2005 and introduced the Special Vigilance Unit.
Nitish Kumar's wife passed away in 2007.
He has two biographies written about him.
His son, Nishant, is reportedly wealthier than him.
In 2022, he began his eighth term as Chief Minister.
He was elected Chief Minister for the ninth time in January 2024.
Nitish Kumar implemented the 'Jankari Scheme' during his tenure.
People criticize him for frequently changing political alliances.
He is known for his simple lifestyle and habits.