Arvind Kejriwal Biography
Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, former civil servant and social activist who founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and served as Chief Minister of Delhi for three terms. He emerged in national politics through the anti-corruption movement of the early 2010s and went on to build AAP into a political party with a presence beyond Delhi.
Kejriwal was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Hisar district, Haryana. He studied mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur before entering the Indian Revenue Service. After leaving government service, he became involved in social activism, particularly campaigns connected with transparency, the Right to Information and anti-corruption.
Early Life and Family
Arvind Kejriwal was born to Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi. He spent part of his early life in Haryana before moving through different stages of education and professional training.
His interest in public affairs developed alongside his professional career. Before entering electoral politics, he worked on initiatives intended to help citizens address problems involving public services and government departments.
Kejriwal is married to Sunita Kejriwal, a former Indian Revenue Service officer. They have two children, Harshita and Pulkit. Sunita Kejriwal has also been involved in public political activities, particularly after her husband’s entry into electoral politics.
Education
Kejriwal studied mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur and completed his B.Tech degree in 1989. His educational background later led to his selection for the Indian Revenue Service.
His career path was unusual in that he moved from engineering into government administration and then into social activism and electoral politics.
Indian Revenue Service Career
Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service in 1993 and worked in the Income Tax Department.
During his time in government service, he became interested in improving transparency in public administration. His work increasingly focused on helping ordinary citizens understand and use mechanisms through which they could seek information from government authorities.
He eventually left the Income Tax Department in 2006. According to AAP’s official biography, he used the prize money from his 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award to establish the Public Cause Research Foundation.
Activism and the Right to Information
Before becoming a politician, Kejriwal was associated with grassroots campaigns for greater transparency in government.
He founded Parivartan, an organization that worked on complaints involving areas such as public distribution, electricity, income tax, public works and welfare schemes. His activism became particularly associated with the use of the Right to Information as a means of examining government functioning.
His work in this period brought him wider public attention and eventually led to his involvement in the India Against Corruption movement.
Ramon Magsaysay Award
In 2006, Kejriwal received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership. The award recognized his work in empowering citizens to use the Right to Information to hold public authorities accountable.
The recognition came several years before he entered electoral politics and became one of India’s most prominent opposition politicians.
Entry Into Politics
Kejriwal’s transition from activism to politics followed the India Against Corruption movement, which became a major national campaign around corruption and the proposed Jan Lokpal legislation.
On October 2, 2012, he formally launched the Aam Aadmi Party. The party subsequently contested the 2013 Delhi Assembly election.
Kejriwal won the New Delhi constituency and defeated three-term Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by more than 22,000 votes, according to AAP’s official biography.
First Term as Delhi Chief Minister
Kejriwal became Chief Minister of Delhi on December 28, 2013. At 45, he was the youngest person to hold the office at that time.
His first administration lasted only 49 days. His government resigned in February 2014 after failing to secure passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly.
The resignation became one of the defining events of his early political career and preceded a much larger electoral victory for AAP in the 2015 Delhi Assembly election.
Second Term as Chief Minister
Kejriwal returned as Delhi Chief Minister on February 14, 2015, after AAP won a large majority in the Delhi Assembly.
During this period, his administration focused on areas including education, healthcare, electricity, water supply, public transport and government services. AAP’s official account highlights policies such as free water within specified limits, electricity subsidies, free bus travel for women and support for senior citizens’ pilgrimages.
His government also promoted reforms in Delhi’s government schools and expanded the network of government healthcare facilities.
Third Term as Delhi Chief Minister
AAP again won the Delhi Assembly election in 2020, allowing Kejriwal to begin a third consecutive term on February 16, 2020.
His third term coincided with major national political developments, including the COVID-19 pandemic and continued disputes between the Delhi government and the Union government over administrative powers.
Kejriwal remained Chief Minister until September 16, 2024, according to the PRS Legislative Research profile.
Resignation as Delhi Chief Minister
Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister in September 2024. Atishi subsequently became Chief Minister of Delhi.
The change marked the end of Kejriwal’s more than ten years of leadership of the Delhi government, although he continued as AAP’s national leader.
In the February 2025 Delhi Assembly election, AAP did not retain the Delhi government. Kejriwal contested the New Delhi constituency but did not win the seat, ending his tenure as a Delhi legislator as well.
AAP National Convenor
Kejriwal has remained the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party since its formation in 2012.
On September 10, 2026, AAP announced that its National Council had unanimously re-elected Kejriwal as national convenor. The party also constituted a new 23-member National Executive.
This means that although he is no longer Delhi’s Chief Minister, he continues to occupy the party’s top organizational position.
Political Activities in 2026
Kejriwal has remained active in national political debates during 2026.
In August, he campaigned against the Centre’s E20 petrol policy and announced a proposed march to the Prime Minister’s residence over concerns raised by AAP regarding ethanol blending and vehicle performance. These were political positions advanced by Kejriwal and AAP.
In September 2026, Kejriwal also became involved in the political debate surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
On September 23, he called for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded that several recent state elections be cancelled and held again. These were Kejriwal’s political allegations and demands, following an Indian Express investigation concerning the functioning of the Election Commission.
Kejriwal himself was also among prominent Delhi voters reported to have received a notice during the ongoing electoral-roll revision because of discrepancies in his enumeration information. Receiving such a notice does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
Legal and Political Controversies
Kejriwal’s political career has included several legal controversies, particularly relating to the Delhi excise policy case and other disputes involving government administration.
In 2026, the Delhi High Court also continued contempt proceedings involving Kejriwal and other AAP leaders over an alleged social-media campaign concerning Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The court proceedings concern allegations and should not be treated as a finding of guilt.
These legal developments have formed part of the broader political conflict between AAP and institutions of government and the judiciary.
Arvind Kejriwal’s Political Career
Kejriwal’s career has moved through several distinct phases:
- Indian Revenue Service officer
- Right to Information activist
- Founder of Parivartan
- Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient
- Founder of the Aam Aadmi Party
- Delhi Chief Minister from 2013 to 2014
- Delhi Chief Minister from 2015 to 2024
- AAP national convenor
- Three-time Delhi Chief Minister
- National opposition political figure
His career has combined government administration, grassroots activism and electoral politics, making him one of the most recognizable leaders to emerge in Indian politics during the 2010s.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arvind Kejriwal
Who is Arvind Kejriwal?
Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, former Indian Revenue Service officer and founder of the Aam Aadmi Party. He served as Delhi Chief Minister three times and remains AAP’s national convenor.
How old is Arvind Kejriwal?
Arvind Kejriwal was born on August 16, 1968. He is 58 years old in September 2026.
Who is Arvind Kejriwal’s wife?
Arvind Kejriwal is married to Sunita Kejriwal, a former Indian Revenue Service officer. They have two children, Harshita and Pulkit.
What did Arvind Kejriwal study?
Kejriwal studied mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur and completed his B.Tech in 1989.
When did Arvind Kejriwal become Chief Minister of Delhi?
He first became Delhi Chief Minister on December 28, 2013. He returned to office on February 14, 2015, and began his third term on February 16, 2020.
When did Arvind Kejriwal resign as Delhi Chief Minister?
Kejriwal resigned from the position on September 16, 2024. Atishi subsequently served as Delhi Chief Minister.
Is Arvind Kejriwal still the AAP national convenor?
Yes. AAP announced on September 10, 2026, that Kejriwal had been unanimously re-elected as the party’s national convenor.
What is Arvind Kejriwal doing in 2026?
In 2026, Kejriwal remains active as AAP national convenor and has been involved in national political issues, including the E20 fuel policy and the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision.