Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar is an Indian politician known for his long career in national politics, serving three terms as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and holding cabinet positions as Minister of Defence and Minister of Agriculture. Born on December 12, 1940, in Baramati, Maharashtra, he is the founder and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), established in 1999. Pawar received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2017.
Sharad Pawar Early Life and Family
Sharad Pawar was born on December 12, 1940, in Baramati, Maharashtra, to Govindrao Pawar and Shardabai Pawar. He is one of eleven children born to the couple. Govindrao Pawar had a long career with the Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Sangh, a Baramati Farmers’ Cooperative, and was involved in establishing cooperative sugar mills in the area during the 1950s.
Pawar’s father was elected to the district local board three times between 1937 and 1952. Sharad Pawar completed his education up to the 10th standard (SSC) at Maharashtra Education Society’s High School in Baramati. He later attended Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in Pune, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce.
Sharad Pawar Political Beginnings
Pawar began his political career in 1956, organizing a protest march for Goan Independence in Pravaranagar. He joined the Youth Congress in 1958 and later became the president of the Pune district Youth Congress in 1962. By 1964, he had become one of two secretaries of the Maharashtra Youth Congress.
In 1967, Pawar was nominated as the candidate for Baramati constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by the undivided Congress Party. He won the election and represented the constituency from 1967 to 1990. In March 1972, Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik brought Pawar into his cabinet as state Home Affairs Minister.
Chief Minister Terms
In July 1978, Pawar broke away from the Congress (U) party to form a coalition government with the Janata Party, becoming the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at age 38. This Progressive Democratic Front government was dismissed in February 1980 following Indira Gandhi’s return to power. Pawar returned to Congress (I) in 1987 and was chosen to replace Shankarrao Chavan as Chief Minister in June 1988.
After the 1990 state assembly elections, Congress fell short of an absolute majority but Pawar was sworn in as Chief Minister again on March 4, 1990, with support from independent MLAs. Following the Bombay riots, he was sworn in for his fourth term as Chief Minister on March 6, 1993. His government faced several challenges including the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, corruption allegations, and the 1994 Gowari stampede.
Formation of Nationalist Congress Party
In 1999, Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar demanded that the Congress party propose a native-born prime ministerial candidate instead of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi. This led to their expulsion from the party by the Congress Working Committee. In response, Pawar and Sangma founded the Nationalist Congress Party in June 1999.
Despite the split, the NCP aligned with the Congress party to form a coalition government in Maharashtra after the 1999 state assembly elections. The NCP later joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the national level.
Union Minister Roles
After the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Pawar joined the UPA government as Minister of Agriculture under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He retained this portfolio when the UPA was reelected in 2009. During his tenure, he faced controversies including wheat import allegations, rising agricultural produce prices, and criticism over his handling of farmer suicide issues.
Prior to this, Pawar served as Defence Minister from June 26, 1991, to March 1993 under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He held this portfolio after being elected to the national parliament in 1991.
Recent Political Career
In January 2012, Pawar announced he would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections to make way for young leadership. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2014 for a six-year term and was reelected in June 2020. In May 2023, Pawar announced his decision to step down as NCP chief but withdrew the decision days later after strong reactions from party workers.
In July 2023, his nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled and joined the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, taking a majority of NCP MLAs with him. This resulted in a party split similar to the 2022 Shiv Sena political crisis. Pawar has indicated he may not seek reelection to the Rajya Sabha when his current term ends in April 2026.
Sharad Pawar Age
Sharad Pawar is 85 years old as of February 2026. He was born on December 12, 1940.
Sharad Pawar Family and Son
Sharad Pawar married Pratibhatai Pawar (née Shinde), daughter of test cricketer Sadashiv Shinde, in 1967. They have one daughter named Supriya Sule, who represents the Baramati constituency in the Lok Sabha. Sharad Pawar does not have a son.
Several members of the Pawar family have held political roles in Maharashtra government. His nephew Ajit Pawar served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His grand-nephew Rohit Rajendra Pawar represents the Karjat constituency in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. His younger brother Pratap Pawar is chairman and managing director of the Marathi daily newspaper Sakal.
Sharad Pawar Recent News and Health Issues (2026)
On February 8, 2026, Sharad Pawar was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune after complaining of throat-related problems, coughing, and fever. He was brought to the city from his residence in Baramati for medical evaluation as a precautionary measure. A close aide stated that the NCP founder is suffering from a throat infection and is under treatment at the hospital.
Hospital authorities confirmed that Pawar is being closely monitored by a team of specialists. Ruby Hall Clinic chief cardiologist Dr. Parvez Grant stated that doctors would check him and decide the further course of action accordingly. Prior to this, in January 2025, Pawar cancelled all public engagements for four days on medical advice due to a persistent cough that affected his ability to speak.
Sharad Pawar Previous Health History
In 1999, Pawar was diagnosed with oral cancer and underwent oral surgery in April 2004. In March 2021, he underwent surgery for his gallbladder problem. At 84 years of age, doctors have advised him to take adequate rest during periods of illness.
Sharad Pawar Sports Administration
Pawar has served as head of various sports organizations including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2005 to 2008 and the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 2010 to 2012. He also headed the Mumbai Cricket Association from October 2013 to January 2017. His interests extend to cricket, kabbadi, kho kho, wrestling, and football.
Sharad Pawar Educational Contributions
In 1972, Pawar founded Vidya Pratishthan to serve the educational needs of the rural poor. The organization now runs many schools and colleges specializing in subjects such as information technology and biotechnology in Baramati and other locations. Pawar is associated with several educational institutions including Hon. Sharad Pawar Public School and Sharad Pawar International School. He is the current president of the century-old educational organization Rayat Shikshan Sanstha.