Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore AVSM OLY
Cabinet Minister Government of Rajasthan
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 December 2023
Governor	Haribhau Bagade
Chief Minister	Bhajan Lal Sharma
Ministry and Departments	Industry and Commerce Information Technology and Communication Youth Affairs and Sports Skill Planning and Entrepreneurship Sainik Welfare
Preceded by	Shakuntala Rawat
Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 December 2023 (2023-12-03)
Preceded by	Lalchand Kataria
Constituency	Jhotwara
Majority	147,913 (47.75%)
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports
In office 3 September 2017 – 30 May 2019
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Vijay Goel
Succeeded by	Kiren Rijiju
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting
In office 9 November 2014 – 24 May 2018
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
In office 24 May 2018 – 24 May 2019
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Smriti Irani
Succeeded by	Prakash Javadekar
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) – 6 December 2023
Preceded by	Lalchand Kataria
Succeeded by	Rao Rajendra Singh
Constituency	Jaipur Rural
Majority	332,896 (32.84%)
Personal details
Born	(1970-01-29) 29 January 1970 (age 55) Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Spouse	Gayatri Rathore ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2
Alma mater	National Defence Academy, Pune Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Army
Years of service	1990 – 2013
Rank	Colonel
Unit	9th Grenadiers
Battles/wars	Kargil War, CI/CT operations in J&K
Awards	Padma Shri Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Khel Ratna Award
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Sport Sport Shooting Event(s) Double trap Medal record Men's shooting Representing  India Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games – 1 – Commonwealth Games 3 1 – Asian Games - 1 1 World Shotgun Championship - - 1 ISSF World Shooting Championship 1 1 2 Asian Clay Target Championship 5 - - Olympic Games Silver 2004 Athens Double trap Commonwealth Games Gold 2002 Manchester Double trap individual Gold 2002 Manchester Double trap pairs Gold 2006 Melbourne Double trap individual Silver 2006 Melbourne Double trap pairs Asian Games Silver 2006 Doha Double trap teams Bronze 2006 Doha Double trap World Shotgun Championship Bronze 2003 Cyprus Double trap individual ISSF World Shooting Championship Bronze 2006 Granada Double trap individual Silver 2004 Sydney Double trap individual Gold 2006 Cairo Double trap individual Bronze 2003 New Delhi Double trap individual Asian Clay Target Championship Gold 2003 New Delhi Double trap individual Gold 2004 Bangkok Double trap individual Gold 2005 Bangkok Double trap individual Gold 2006 Singapore Double trap individual Gold 2011 Kuala Lumpur Double trap individual
Minister of State 24 May 2018 – 24 May 2019: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting 3 September 2017 – 24 May 2019:Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports 9 November 2014 – 24 May 2018: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was born on January 29, 1970. He is a well-known Indian politician and a former Olympic medalist in shooting. Before entering politics, he was a Colonel in the Indian Army.

Since December 2023, he has been a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan. He looks after departments like Industry, Commerce, Youth Affairs, and Sports. From 2014 to 2023, he was a Member of Parliament for the Jaipur Rural area.

Rathore has won 25 international medals in Double trap shooting. This includes a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He retired from the army in 2013 and later joined politics. In 2014, he became a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

From 2014 to 2018, he served as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. Later, from 2017 to 2019, he was the Cabinet Minister with independent charge for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

About Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

Rajyavardhan was born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. His father, Lakshman Singh Rathore, was also an Army Colonel. His mother, Manju Raghav Bhondsi, was a teacher.

He studied at the National Defence Academy in Pune. He also attended the Infantry School in Mhow. He is trained in weapons and tactics.

Rajyavardhan is married to Gayatri Rathore. She was a doctor in the Indian Army. They got married on February 16, 1997. They have two children, a son and a daughter.

His Time in the Army

Rathore joined the National Defence Academy as a cadet. He then went to the Indian Military Academy. There, he won the "Sword of Honor." This award is for the best all-round cadet. He also won a gold medal for being the best sportsman.

He became an officer in the 9th Grenadiers Regiment in 1990. He fought in the Kargil War. He also took part in operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. His regiment received awards for their excellent work. He retired from the army as a Colonel in 2013.

His Sports Achievements

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is famous for his shooting skills. He won many medals for India.

Commonwealth Games Medals

• In 2002, at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won a gold medal. He set a new record in Double Trap shooting.
• He also won a Team Gold Medal with Moraad Ali Khan in 2002.
• In 2006, he won another gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
• He also won a silver medal in the Team event with Vikram Bhatnagar in 2006.

Olympic Success

Rathore became very well known when he won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This was a big moment for India. It was the first time an Indian had won an individual silver medal at the Olympics.

Other Major Medals

• He won gold medals at two ISSF World Shooting Championships, in Sydney (2004) and Cairo (2006).
• In 2006, he won a bronze medal at the World Championship in Spain.
• He also won a silver medal at the World Championship in Sydney in 2003. This was India's first medal in this event in nearly 40 years.
• He won the Asian Clay Target gold medal four times in a row from 2003 to 2006.
• In 2011, he won another gold medal at the Asian Clay Target Championship in Kuala Lumpur. His score in that event matched the world record.
• He has won a total of 25 international medals in Double Trap shooting between 2002 and 2006.

His Political Journey

After leaving the army, Rathore joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in September 2013.

• In 2014, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Jaipur Rural.
• In November 2014, he became the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting.
• In September 2017, he was appointed the Minister of Sports.
• In May 2018, he also became the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information & Broadcasting.
• In the 2019 elections, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Jaipur Rural.

In November 2023, Rathore ran for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jhotwara Assembly constituency. He won the election and then resigned from the Lok Sabha. On December 30, 2023, he became a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan.

Awards and Recognitions

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has received many important awards for his service and sports achievements:

• 2005 – Padma Shri: A high civilian award from the Government of India.
• 2004–2005 – Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: India's highest sports honor.
• 2003–2004 – Arjuna Award: An award for outstanding performance in sports.
• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM): A military award for excellent service.
• He was the flag bearer for India at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
• He was also the flag bearer for India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
• 1990 – Sword of Honour: For being the best all-round cadet at the Indian Military Academy.
• 1990 – Sikh Regiment Gold Medal: For being the best sportsman at the Indian Military Academy.
• 1989 – "Blazer": The highest sports award at the National Defence Academy.

Military Awards