C. R. Chaudhary
Chhotu Ram Chaudhary better known as C.R. Chaudhary is an Indian politician and a retired IAS officer who served as member of 16th Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He won 2014 Indian general elections from the Nagaur Constituency in Rajasthan. He is currently president of Rajasthan Kisan Aayog since March 2024. He served as Minister of State of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. In the cabinet expansion of September 2017, he was also named Minister of State for the Ministry of Commence and Industry. He started career as College Lecturer in Government College Sirohi, Dausa and Ajmer from 1971–1977. He is also a Retd. IAS and Ex- Chairman of Rajasthan Public Service Commission from 2006–2010.
Early life and education
Chaudhary was born in a traditional Marwari family on 1 March 1948 in Dhandhalas, Nagaur, Rajasthan to Late Shri. R.L Chaudhary and Smt. Gavri Devi. He married Smt. Mala Chaudhary on 1 May 1958. He pursued his education at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur and received a Master of Arts degree in Geography.Early professional career
After completing his education, Chaudhary started his professional career as a college lecturer in 1971. He had an enriching experience of teaching in Govt. College Sirohi, Dausa and Ajmer from 1971–1977.Administrative career
Chaudhary was selected in the prestigious Rajasthan Administrative Service in 1978 and he left his job as a Lecturer to pursue the career of an administrator. During his tenure in Rajasthan Government he served as S.D.M., Additional Collector & Additional Magistrate at various locations in the state. In recognition of his persistent and committed effort towards corruption free government and good governance he was awarded Merit Certificate in 1988 by the Government of Rajasthan in state level function of 15 August by Chief Minister of Rajasthan.Later, he worked as Head of Department & Director in Lotteries, Government of Rajasthan from 1996-1997; Head of department and Executive Director Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation from 2000 to 2011; and Head of department and Director in Agricultural Marketing from 2001 to 2002. Upon his promotion as an Indian Administrative Service officer, he was nominated as member of Rajasthan Public Service Commission in 2002. He served as member in RPSC till 2006. In 2006 he was made chairman of RPSC and served the commission till 2010.
Member of Parliament
Chaudhary was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha of Indian Parliament as a Member of Parliament from Nagaur Constituency, Rajasthan. As a member of parliament he served as Member of the following committees:Committee on Subordinate Legislation
Standing Committee on Human Resource development
Consultative Committee, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway & Shipping.
As a parliamentarian he had attendance record of 97%, participated in 133 debates, and asked 322 questions. He was one of the foremost of all the parliamentarians in terms of these performance parameters.
Minister of State, Commerce and Industry (Additional Charge)
In September 2017 Chaudhary was given additional charge of Minister of State, Commerce and Industry. While he was in office the Foreign Direct Investments of India increased from $152 billion in year 2010-2014 to $218 billion in 2014- Feb 2018. 25 Sectors covering 100 areas of FDI policy have undergone reforms. The process of granting FDI approval has been erased with dissolution of FIPB. During his tenure India rank improved from 142 to 100 on world Banks Doing Business Assessment. In a boost to Make in India Campaign of Government of India a jump of 15 places was seen by India in Global Innovation Index. While in Logistic Performance index a jump of 19 places was seen. On global competitiveness index a jump of 32 places was seen.Personal life
Chaudhary describes himself as a compassionate and sensitive person with deep conviction of providing benefit of governance to the last person. He is vegetarian by diet, religious by faith and a strong believer of symbiotic relation between art of spiritualism and science of governance. He has been associated with girl child education and has served as Honorary Chairman of Veer Teja Mahila Shikshan & Shoudh Sansthan Marwar Mundwa. In these institutions girls are provided education from class VI to B.Ed. at a very affordable cost. Very poor and orphaned girls are provided free education.His favorite pastimes include reading, writing, travelling, yoga and sports. He played volleyball at school, college and university level.