Suresh Prabhu completed his schooling from Sharadashram Vidya Mandir, Dadar, Mumbai, followed by a Bachelor in Commerce with Honours from M. L. Dahanukar College, Vile Parle, Mumbai.[9] He received a Bachelor in Law degree from the New Law College (Ruparel College campus), Mumbai.[10] Prabhu is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was All India 11th (eleventh) rank holder in CA exams.[9][11][12]
Prabhu has held several government and semi government positions, which includes the Chairmanship of Maharashtra State Finance Commission, Saraswat Co-operative Bank, National Cooperation Policy[13] Member of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Board, among others. He is a part of 16 global organizations and 9 strategic dialogues which include:
As Industries Minister, brought about greater transparency in functioning and fuel clearance of pending works.[18]
Union Minister For Environment and Forests (1998-99)
Union Power Minister (2000-02)
As the Union Minister for Power, he won praise for his performance from The Indian Express.[19] As Minister of Power, he ushered in transformational policies in Power sector with thrust on rural-electrification, T&D reforms; encouraged big ticket investments and batted for Sustainable Power Development, etc.
Chairperson, Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (2002-04)
Union Railway Minister (2014-17)
Prabhu taking charge as the Union Minister for Railways, in New Delhi on 10 November 2014
On 9 November 2014, he was sworn in as Cabinet minister in the Narendra Modi government. He was the Union Railway Minister of India from November 2014 to September 2017.[20][21]
Union Commerce & Industry Minister (2017-19)
Prabhu taking charge as the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi on 4 September 2017
He has been the minister of Commerce and Industry since September 2017. He was elected as Rajya Sabha member from the state of Andhra Pradesh on 3 June 2016.[22] During his tenure, he took several steps to boost manufacturing in India. Details of few major reforms are as under:
Union Civil Aviation Minister (2018-19)
Policy Making
Initiator of Investments in Aviation
Awards and recognition
In 2024, Suresh Prabhu won and accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at EPG's 16th Annual Political & Public Life Awards at the House of Commons.[23]
Suresh Prabhu received the Goud Saraswat Brahmin Samaj Maharatha Award on 18 August 2016.[24][25]
He has constantly featured in the list of top five ministers in India from 2014 to 2017 in terms of both performance and accessibility in nationwide surveys conducted by various institutions.[26][27]
Declared "Best Member of Parliament in 13th Lok Sabha" in April 2004 by Aaj Tak, a leading TV Channel in India.
Featured amongst top three Indian leaders of the future in the cover story, "Giant on the Move" (Sept 2000 issue) of the Hong Kong-based Asiaweek Magazine.
Ranked as the 2nd best performing Minister in India Today's report (dated 27 August 2001) on the performance of key ministers of Government of India.