Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi in 2025
Born	19 June 1970 (age 55) New Delhi, India
Nationality	Indian
Education	Home-schooled (The Doon School earlier)
Alma mater	Rollins College (B.A.), University of Cambridge (M.Phil.)
Occupation	Politician
Years active	2004–present
Known for	Member of the Nehru–Gandhi family, 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
Notable works	Bharat Jodo Yatra, Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
Awards	—
Spouse(s)	Unmarried
Parents	Rajiv Gandhi (father), Sonia Gandhi (mother)
Religion	Hinduism
Website	rahulgandhi.in

Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (born 19 June 1970) is an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress (INC). Since June 2024, he has been serving as the 12th Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and represents the Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, he was the Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Kerala (2019–2024) and Amethi, Uttar Pradesh (2004–2019). He also served as the President of the Congress Party from December 2017 to July 2019.

Belonging to the Nehru–Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi spent his early years in Delhi and Dehradun. He studied at The Doon School but was later home-schooled due to security concerns. He began his undergraduate studies at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, later attended Harvard University, and finally completed his degree at Rollins College, Florida, in 1994 after his father’s assassination. He went on to earn an M.Phil. from Cambridge University. Professionally, he worked with the Monitor Group in London before returning to India to set up a technology outsourcing firm in Mumbai.

Rahul Gandhi formally entered politics in the 2000s, taking charge of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). He has also been a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.

He led the Congress Party during the 2014 and 2019 general elections, though the party suffered major defeats, winning only 44 seats in 2014 and 52 in 2019. In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, Rahul Gandhi launched the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which helped revive the Congress, winning 99 seats and regaining the status of the Official Opposition after 10 years. He himself won Rae Bareli and was chosen as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Early Life & Education

Rahul Gandhi was born on 19th June 1970 to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. He spent his formative years in New Delhi, studying at St. Columba's School. He went on to study at the Doon School in Dehradun. Around this time, his father, Rajiv Gandhi, entered politics and became Prime Minister after the assassination of Rahul’s grandmother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Due to constant security threats, Rahul and his sister, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi were also home schooled.

A year after attending St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, for his undergraduate studies he moved to the US to attend Harvard University. Following the assassination of his father and the security concerns that surfaced, Rahul Gandhi shifted to Rollins College in Florida. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1994. Thereafter, he went on to pursue and complete his M.Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge (Trinity College) in 1995.

Upon graduation, Rahul started his professional journey at the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm in London. Once he returned to India, he set up a technology outsourcing firm - Backops Services Private Ltd. in Mumbai, where he served as a director.

Career

In 2004, Rahul Gandhi announced his entry into Indian politics. He contested his first election from Amethi, in Uttar Pradesh – the same seat his late father represented – where he won by an overwhelming margin of almost three lakh votes. He has been a champion of people’s rights, and has chosen to espouse the politics which brings together all communities and has been a strong opponent of divisive forces.

On September 24th, 2007, Rahul Gandhi was appointed General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). In his new role he was incharge of the party’s two important frontals - Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India - the cradle of leadership and the nursery of Congress’ foundation. Under his leadership, the NSUI and IYC witnessed an exponential growth in membership - from 2 to 25 lakhs. He has been a strong advocate of greater representation of students, youth and women in the decision-making process.

He has consistently pressed for rural development, educational opportunities, women empowerment, and greater youth participation in politics. During the last two decades of being in active electoral politics, Rahul Gandhi has been a strong advocate for the underprivileged and economically disadvantaged sections of society and consistently strives hard for ensuring plurality and diversity in mainstream politics. On May 11, 2011, he was arrested in Bhatta Parsaul village in Uttar Pradesh for supporting farmers who were protesting for fair compensation for their land, which authorities had acquired for a highway project.

In January 2013, he was appointed Vice President of the Indian National Congress.

Presidency of the Indian National Congress

Rahul Gandhi assumed the Presidency of the Indian National Congress on December 16, 2017. As the president of India’s oldest party, which valiantly fought for and won the war of Indian independence, he spearheaded the voice of people from all across the country. He held the government accountable and emerged as the most formidable critic of the anti-people policies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Rahul Gandhi has been the voice of the voiceless and has worked hard to alleviate the hardships borne by the people over the last decade of misgovernance, economic mismanagement and crony capitalism.

Political journey post-Presidency

Rahul Gandhi stepped down as President of the Indian National Congress in May 2019.

Since then, he has continued to pursue his political vision of a more democratic, prosperous, egalitarian, and just India. Among the key issues that he has consistently championed is the cause of social harmony and social justice for all of India’s people, regardless of their race, caste, class, ethnicity, gender, or religion.

In a historic move in September 2022, Rahul took the INC’s message of tolerance, unity, compassion and love directly to the people by embarking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY). This monumental padyatra of 4080 kilometres was undertaken on September 7, 2022 from Kanyakumari in the South and culminated on January 30, 2023 in Kashmir in the North.

The Yatra was a tremendous success, with millions of people participating and showing their support for the message of love, justice, and tolerance. One of Rahul Gandhi’s most admirable strengths, honed during the Yatra, is the art of listening. He believes to represent India, one must first learn to listen to India. Along this unprecedented journey on foot, Rahul met people from across age groups, regions, religion, professions, people who spoke different languages but who were all united by the idea of India. Following Rahul Gandhi’s example, many state units of the INC took out similar yatras in their own states as well. The BJY heralded a revolution in Indian political discourse by placing the politics of love and harmony at its core - and insisting upon uniting the nation at a time when forces of division are at work.

Following his relentless pursuit for justice, in January 2024, Rahul Gandhi embarked upon the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY). The BJNY - a journey from Manipur in the North East of India to Mumbai on our West coast began on January 14, 2024 and culminated on March 16, 2024. This 6,700 km long yatra focuses on bringing comprehensive social, economic, and political justice to the people of India.

Through BJNY, Rahul Gandhi has transformed and unveiled the transformative paradigm of justice by announcing the Paanch Nyay Agenda. The ‘Paanch Nyay’ are five pillars of justice for youth, women, farmers, workers and the marginalised communities. Yuva Nyay, Nari Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay lay the blueprint for the future of India. Rahul Gandhi's steadfast perseverance and commitment to justice, unity, and equity capture the spirit of an India where people have equal opportunities to prosper, rise and be heard. His vision embodies the true Indian spirit - one brimming with hope, prosperity, kindness, and justice for everyone.

Notable Works

Bharat Jodo Yatra (2022–2023)

The Bharat Jodo Yatra was initiated by Rahul Gandhi on September 7, 2022, from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and ended on January 29, 2023, in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Over 3,500 kilometers were traversed by the march through 12 states and two union territories. Promoting national unity and combating the rise in social inequality, unemployment, inflation, and hatred were the primary goals. Actor Kamal Haasan and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan were among the political and social figures who took part in this movement.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (2024)

On January 14, 2024, Rahul Gandhi began the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the Thoubal district of Manipur, and it ended in Mumbai on March 16, 2024. The campaign, which spanned about 6,700 km across 15 states and 110 districts, aimed to increase public awareness of the injustices that the poor, farmers, women, youth, marginalized castes, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities must contend with.

Voter Adhikar Yatra (2025)

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, launched the Voter Adhikar Yatra, a major political initiative, in Sasaram, Bihar, on August 17, 2025. The grand rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on September 1, 2025, will mark the end of this 16-day, 1,300-kilometer journey that passes through 30 districts. The main goal of the yatra is to express opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which has resulted in the removal of thousands of voter names, allegedly harming marginalized communities in particular.

Vision

Rahul Gandhi fiercely believes that governments ought to be accountable and must serve the people. He believes that policy making should focus on equitable distribution of resources, it should help bridge the widening economic divide, it must protect and provide for India’s farmers, the youth, workers, women, and marginalised communities. He champions greater representation of the oppressed Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC communities through policies that will help alleviate multi-dimensional poverty, create employment, and address income disparity.

He envisions transforming the business environment in India by empowering small businesses to grow and scale. His vision for India's growing economy involves transforming it into a production powerhouse, where wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few.

Additionally, he strongly supports decentralisation and emphasises on the importance of state and local governance. In Rahul Gandhi’s vision, India unites to honour and celebrate its rich diversity, heritage, and ambition, promoting a language of love.

Key Positions

Party President of the Indian National Congress from 2017-19 - 84th AICC Plenary Session, New Delhi

Rahul Gandhi is a four-term Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, and has represented the people of Wayanad, Kerala since 2019. Previously, he was the Member of Parliament from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh from 2004 to 2019.

He is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. In the past years, he has held several significant offices of responsibility including:

• General Secretary - All-India Congress Committee (AICC)
• Vice-President - Indian National Congress (INC)
• General Secretary (Incharge) - Indian Youth Congress (IYC)
• General Secretary (Incharge) - National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)
• Member - Parliamentary Standing Committee, Home Affairs
• Member - Parliamentary Standing Committee, External Affairs
• Member - Parliamentary Standing Committee, Human Resource *Development
• Member - Consultative Committee, Civil Aviation

Rahul Gandhi's political journey is rooted in pro-people policies, justice for the marginalised, equitable growth and his deep belief in truth and the power of love.