Kumaramangalam is a graduate of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, with a degree in economics, and has an MBA from Madras University. She contested Lok Sabha elections twice as BJP candidate (2004 from Puducherry and 2009 from Tiruchirapalli) after her brother's death, but lost on both occasions. She runs an NGO named Prakriti. She was appointed Chairperson of the National Commission for Women on 29 September 2014.[1]