At a glance: Sushma Swaraj, India's first woman 'foreign minister'

New Delhi: Sushma Swaraj has taken over as India's first woman External Affairs Minister, in yet another first for the 62-year-old BJP leader.Apart from having the distinction of becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana government at the age of 25, Swaraj has also many other firsts such as being the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi and woman spokesperson for any political party in the country.Swaraj has also been given the charge of Overseas Indian Affairs.Swaraj is assuming the charge of the Foreign Ministry, one of the senior-most offices in the Union Cabinet, at a time when India's growing international influence gives it a prominent voice in global affairs even aWith her marvelous debating and oratory skills, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has left a prominent trail in the corridors of Indian polity.She has created a distinctive charm and appeal amongst the Indian public with her powerful words and persona.Born in Ambala, Haryana in 1953 Sushma had politics running in her blood. Her father was a prominent RSS member. She attended S.D. College in Ambala and graduated with her majors in Sanskrit and Political Science. Later, she also pursued her L.L.B from Punjab University and started practising as an advocate in 1973.Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad gave her a platform to launch her career in politics in 1970s.Sushma was the first woman chief minister of Delhi. Awarded as the best orator in Haryana Assembly for three times, she got elected to Rajya Sabha in 1990 and six years later in 1996, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from South Delhi.In 1996, she served as the information and broadcasting minister at the Centre. Sushma was nominated by her party in 1999 to contest elections against Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi from Bellary constituency in Karnataka. However, as Bellary had been garnering votes for Congress since independence, Sushma was not able to bag victory.Sushma married Swaraj Kaushal, a lawyer by profession, in the year 1975. Both hold two noteworthy positions; Sushma became the youngest Cabinet Minister in Haryana and Swaraj holds the record of being the youngest Governor in India. The couple also made a place in the Limca Book of Records for being the most `Distinguished Couple`.The couple is blessed with a daughter who is an Oxford graduate and a Barrister at law from Inner Temple.Sushma with Hillary ClintonSushma with Pranab MukherjeeSushma with her daughterSushma with Sonia GandhiSushma with Sheila Dikshit and Sonia GandhiSushma with Pranab and Sonia GandhiSushma with Amitabh BachchanSushma with Thackeray familySushma with Hillary ClintonSushma with Modi, Rajnath and AdvaniSushma with Modi

At a glance: Sushma Swaraj, India's first woman 'foreign minister'

New Delhi: Sushma Swaraj has taken over as India's first woman External Affairs Minister, in yet another first for the 62-year-old BJP leader.Apart from having the distinction of becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana

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