Tell me a bio of Arif Mohammad Khan.

Include key facts about their life, career, achievements, and impact.

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Arif Mohammad Khan is an Indian politician and a former Union Minister of Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He was born on 1 January 1951 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

**Early Life and Education**

Arif Mohammad Khan was born to a Muslim family in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He completed his education at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and later earned a Master's degree in Economics from the same institution. He also holds a Ph.D. in Economics from AMU.

**Career**

Arif Mohammad Khan began his career as a lecturer at AMU and later joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1978. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1991 to 1996. He was also a Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004.

**Union Minister**

In 2019, Arif Mohammad Khan was appointed as the Union Minister of Minority Affairs in the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He served in this position until 2021.

**Achievements and Impact**

Arif Mohammad Khan has been a vocal advocate for the rights of minorities in India. As a Union Minister, he played a key role in implementing various schemes and initiatives aimed at promoting the welfare of minority communities. Some of his notable achievements include:

1. **National Commission for Minorities**: Khan was instrumental in setting up the National Commission for Minorities, which aims to protect and promote the rights of minority communities.
2. **Minority Welfare Schemes**: He launched several schemes aimed at promoting education, employment, and economic empowerment of minority communities.
3. **Interfaith Dialogue**: Khan has been a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue and has worked towards promoting harmony and understanding between different communities.

**Controversies and Criticisms**

Arif Mohammad Khan has been involved in several controversies and criticisms throughout his career. Some of the notable ones include:

1. **Resignation as Union Minister**: Khan resigned as Union Minister of Minority Affairs in 2021, citing differences with the government over the National Education Policy (NEP).
2. **Criticism of BJP**: Khan has been critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its policies, which he believes are detrimental to the interests of minority communities.

**Legacy**

Arif Mohammad Khan is widely regarded as a champion of minority rights in India. His commitment to promoting the welfare of minority communities has had a significant impact on the country's social and economic landscape. Despite controversies and criticisms, Khan remains a prominent figure in Indian politics and a vocal advocate for the rights of minority communities.
Arif Mohammad Khan is an Indian politician and a former Cabinet Minister in the Government of India. He was born on 7 February 1951 in the Punjab province of India (present-day Pakistan).

**Education and Early Life:**

Arif Mohammad Khan completed his high school education in Lahore, Punjab. He then moved to Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Dhaka in 1972. Later, he earned his Master's degree in Physics from the same institution in 1974. In 1980, he received a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

**Career:**

Arif Mohammad Khan began his career in academia as a Professor at the University of the Punjab and later at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh, India. His academic stint was marked by his teaching and research in the fields of physics and public administration.

However, Khan shifted his focus to politics and joined the Indian National Congress party. He became the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in 1987. 

**Ministerial Tenure:**

Khan served as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of India under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He held the portfolios of Minister of Civil Aviation, and Minister of Surface Transport and Shipping, amongst others. 

He was one of the key architects of the Telangana movement in the state of Andhra Pradesh and a significant leader in the National Congress Party at that time.

**Swatantra Devo Bhava Award and other Honors:**

Khan received the prestigious Swatantra Devo Bhava Award for his contribution to public service. He has also received the Padma Bhushan Award for his role in public service and the arts.

**Achievements and Impact:**

Arif Mohammad Khan's tenure as a Minister and his membership in the Indian National Congress have had significant impacts on India's social and economic landscape. Some of his notable achievements include:

1.  Implementing the Mandal Commission Report, a landmark initiative that aimed to provide employment reservations for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the public sector.
2.  His tenure as the Civil Aviation Minister saw the liberalization of India's aviation sector, opening it up to private participation and foreign investment.
3.  Khan also played a key role in the development of India's surface transport infrastructure, including the construction of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.

**Later Life and Career:**

Khan has been a vocal critic of the Congress party and has spoken out against corruption within the party. He has also been known to express dissenting views on various national and international issues.