Mandaviya was born in a small village named Hanol in Palitana Taluka of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat State.[4] Born to a middle-class farmer family, he is the youngest amongst four brothers. He completed his primary education from the Government Primary School, Hanol and his high school studies from Songadh Gurukul.[5]
After completion of HSC, he did a certificate course in Veterinary Live Stock Inspector and has been educated at Songadh Gurukul and Gujarat Agriculture University, Gujarat.[6] He later completed his MA in political science from Bhavnagar University.[5]
In 2021, Mandavia obtained a Ph.D. in political science from Gujarat Institute of Development Research.[2]
He became a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and soon became a State Executive Committee Member of ABVP, Gujarat Unit.[8][9] He was appointed a leader of Yuva Morcha and then the President of BJP Unit of Palitana. Mr. Mandaviya also became the youngest Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Gujarat, when he was first elected in 2002.[8] After his tenure, in 2010, he became the chairman of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited.[10]
National politics
At the young age of 38, Mansukh Mandaviya was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.[11] He was appointed the Secretary for State Unit, BJP Gujarat, in 2013 and General Secretary in 2014.[12] Later, in 2014, he was appointed the Gujarat State Incharge of BJP's High-tech & Mega Membership Drive Campaign.[13]
MoS Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers
On 5 July 2016, Mansukh Mandaviya was sworn in as the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers, in the Government of India.[14] He was re-elected for a second term as an MP in Rajya Sabha in March 2018.[15]
In the Asian continent, he has visited China, Israel, Oman, Nepal, Dubai and Uzbekistan.[16] He has also visited European countries including England, Germany and Hungary, along with South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina. The African continent has also been explored by Mr. Mandaviya, including the countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini and Zambia. In the Oceania Region, he has visited New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji and Australia.[17]
MoS Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
In May 2019, Mansukh Mandaviya took oath as a Minister of State in the Council of Ministers, Government of India. He was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, along with being the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers. Mr. Mandaviya also represented India in the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January 2020.[18]
Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers
Mansukh Mandaviya took charge as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare in the Government of India on 7 July 2021, with an additional charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.[19]
Minister of Labour and Employment
On 11 June 2024, Mansukh Mandaviya took charge of the office of the Union Minister of Labour & Employment.[20]
The Ministry is committed to protecting and safeguarding the rights and interests of workers, particularly those from underprivileged, marginalized, and disadvantaged segments of society.[21]
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
On the same day, 11 June 2024, Mansukh Mandaviya assumes charge as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in Shastri Bhawan.[22]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports oversees two departments: the Department of Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports. It is responsible for the development and promotion of youth initiatives and sports in the country, with a focus on providing infrastructure, training, and programs to foster the growth of youth and sports.[23]
Awards and recognition
Mandaviya was honored by UNICEF for his contribution to women health-care initiatives and for distributing 10 crore sanitary napkins through Jan Aushadhi Kendras.[24][25]
He was also honored by The Economic Times with the Business Reformer of the Year Award 2022 for Corporate Excellence. Credited with raising India's vaccination coverage to more than 70%, his leadership during and after the pandemic has been instrumental in the economy bouncing back from Covid.[26][27]
India’s renowned newspaper The Indian Express in its prestigious list of 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2022 & 2023 placed him at number 25 & 27 respectively for boosting COVID-19 vaccination and improving the overall healthcare system.[28]
Initiatives
In 2004, he organized a 123 km long Padyatra, titled "Kanya Kelavani Jyot Padyatra" for the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' social campaign for 45 educational backward villages of his constituency.[29]
In 2006, he organized a 127 km Padyatra connecting 52 villages of his constituency with the title "Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Vyasan Hatao".[29]
As a part of the 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth, Mandaviya undertook a 150 km long Padyatra. He started the Padyatra with tree plantation and explained the relation among the Gandhian thoughts and nature. He also flagged off the 22,000 km and 3-month long bike journey by three youngsters from Surat.
In July 2024, he led the launch of Phase 2 of the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme in New Delhi. The initiative focuses on identifying young sports talent using modern technology, aiming for 20 lakh assessments across India in FY 2024-25. It seeks to support young athletes aged 9 to 18 and to use sports as a means to address drug addiction and excessive screen time.[30]
In October 2024, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, He launched the “eShram – One Stop Solution” in New Delhi. The platform aims to simplify the registration process for unorganised workers and connect them to various government welfare schemes, providing seamless access to social security benefits. The initiative integrates data from multiple Central Ministries and schemes, such as the One Nation One Ration Card and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, into a unified portal. Over 30 crore workers had registered on the eShram platform by 2024.[31]
Personal life
Mansukh Mandaviya is married to Neetaben Mandaviya and they have two children.[8]