Amit Shah becomes longest-serving Union Home Minister

New Delhi, August 5: Union Minister Amit Shah has officially become the longest-serving Home Minister of India, completing 2,258 days in office as of Tuesday. He assumed the role on May 30, 2019, and has now surpassed the previous record held by senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani.

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With this milestone, Shah also overtakes the tenure of Congress stalwart Govind Ballabh Pant, firmly establishing himself as a central figure in the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Remarkably, Shah achieved this record on August 5—the same date in 2019 when he announced the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament, effectively ending Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under the Constitution.

Before Shah, Lal Krishna Advani held the record for the longest tenure as Union Home Minister, serving 2,256 days from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. Govind Ballabh Pant served from January 10, 1955, to March 7, 1961, totaling 6 years and 56 days.

Shah’s tenure began on May 30, 2019. He continued in the role until June 9, 2024, and was reappointed on June 10, 2024. In addition to the Home Ministry, he currently holds the portfolio of Minister of Cooperation, making him the first to lead this newly created ministry. Previously, he also served as Gujarat’s Home Minister and as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During his time as Home Minister, Shah has overseen several transformative developments in India’s internal security framework. The abrogation of Article 370 remains one of his most historic achievements, followed by a significant improvement in the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir—where incidents of stone pelting have nearly ceased.

Nationwide, the Ministry has reported a steep decline in areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism, Naxalism, and Maoist insurgency, marking a substantial shift in India’s internal security dynamics.

(With agency inputs)