Amit Shah marked a historic milestone on Tuesday by becoming the longest serving Union Minister of Home Affairs in India.
Shah, who has served in the position for 2,258 days since May 30, 2019, when he was appointed, has now broken the old record held by BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani.
His prolonged tenure also surpasses that of Congress legend Govind Ballabh Pant, giving renewed evidence of his central position in the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Incidentally, the historic milestone coincides with August 5—the same day in 2019 when Shah publicly declared the revocation of Article 370 in Parliament, formally bringing Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status to an end.
So far, the most veteran Home Ministers have been Congress stalwart Govind Ballabh Pant and BJP veteran L.K. Advani. Advani had served for 2,256 days from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. Compared to this, Shah has gone past 2,258 days in office by August 4, 2025, making a new record.
Pant, however, served from January 10, 1955, to March 7, 1961—six years and 56 days.
Amit Shah initially took up the Home Ministry portfolio on May 30, 2019, and held it until June 9, 2024. Shah was reappointed on June 10, 2024, and is holding this important position even now. Shah also has the honor of being India's first Cooperation Minister.
His political career also sees him serving as Gujarat's Home Minister and as the President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Shah's stint as Home Minister has seen sweeping reforms in the nation’s internal security mechanisms. The revocation of Article 370 stands out as a defining moment, drastically altering the status of Jammu and Kashmir. The region has since experienced a remarkable improvement in public order, with incidents such as stone pelting virtually disappearing.
Countrywide, regions affected by Left-Wing Extremism, Naxalite activities, and Maoist mobilization have experienced a sharp reduction.
Shah's tenure has also been marked by notable developments on some other fronts: the peaceful progress of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple scheme, rollout of fresh criminal justice legislation, and the smooth implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
In addition, a sequence of peace agreements within the North East has assisted in terminating longstanding insurgencies, ushering in an era of consolidation and increased stability within the nation's internal security dynamics.
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