Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore is a Cabinet Minister from Rajasthan and a two-time Member of Parliament having represented Jaipur Rural from 2014 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2023 . He served in the Indian Army for 26 years, including in Jammu and Kashmir, where he participated in counter-terrorist operations. He graduated from the National Defence Academy and then the Indian Military Academy at the top of his course and was awarded 'The Sword of Honour'.

He has the honour of having won India's first Olympic Silver Medal in shooting at Athens 2004 Olympics. He also had the honour of being the flag bearer for the Indian contingent at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. He has won back to back Gold Medals at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and a Bronze medal at the Asian Games Doha 2006 apart from winning 26 international medals for the country. He also jointly holds the official WORLD RECORD for the highest score in double trap shooting: 148 out of 150 targets, a 99% hit rate achieved in an international championship.

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore took early retirement and joined BJP in August 2013. In November 2014, he was made the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and was appointed as a minister with Independent charge for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017. He is also the national spokesperson for BJP since 2019. Currently, he holds ministerial positions in the Department of Information Technology and Communications, the Department of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Department of Military Welfare within the Rajasthan government.

More About Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore is a graduate of the 77th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA). After graduating from NDA, he attended the Indian Military Academy, where he was awarded the Sword of Honor for being the best all-round Gentleman Cadet. He was also the recipient of the Sikh Regiment Gold Medal, awarded to the best sports person in the course.

He was commissioned into the 9th Grenadiers (Mewar) Regiment on December 15, 1990. He was promoted to Lieutenant on December 15, 1992, and became a Captain on December 15, 1995. Col Rajyawardhan Rathore fought in the Kargil War and was promoted to the rank of Major on December 15, 2000. During his service in the Indian Army, he served in Jammu and Kashmir, participating in anti-terrorism operations. His regiment was awarded the Chief of Army Staff's Commendation and the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir's Commendation for exemplary work.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Col on December 16, 2004, and to Col on May 1, 2009.

Key Achievements
1990

Sword of Honor (for the best all-round officer cadet at the Indian Military Academy)

1990

Sikh Regiment Gold Medal (for the best sports person at the Indian Military Academy)

1989

"Blazer" (the highest sports award at the National Defence Academy, Pune, India)

2005

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) - military award for exceptional service

2005

Padma Shri - National honour presented by the President of India

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore took early retirement and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in August 2013. In November 2014, he was appointed the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. He was made the minister with independent charge for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017. Since 2019, he has been a national spokesperson for the BJP.

Political Journey
2014 - 2019

Member of Parliament from Jaipur Rural (First Term)

2019 - 2023

Member of Parliament from Jaipur Rural (Second Term)

2023 Onwards

MLA, Jhotwara Constituency

Col Rajyawardhan Rathore jointly holds the world record for the highest score in double trap shooting: 148 out of 150 targets, a 99% hit rate, achieved in an international championship. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won a gold medal and set a new Commonwealth Games record by hitting 192 out of 200 targets, which still stands. He also won the team gold medal. In the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, he won another gold medal and a silver medal in the team event.

In 2004 and 2006, he won gold medals at two World Cup Shooting Championships. Col Rajyawardhan Rathore rose to prominence after winning a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, which was India's first individual silver medal at the Olympics. He was ranked first in the world rankings in 2004 and won 25 international medals in double trap from 2002 to 2006. He won a silver medal for India at the World Championship in 2003 after nearly 40 years. Col Rajyawardhan Rathore was the Asian champion from 2003 to 2004 and won a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games.

Sports Awards & Honors
2004

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (India's highest sports honor)

2003-2004

Arjuna Award - India's second highest sporting honor

2008

Flag bearer for India during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China

2006

Flag bearer for India during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia

2004

Olympic Silver Medal at Athens (India's First Individual Olympic Medal)

Ministries Held by Col Rajyvardhan Rathore