Virendra Kumar Khatik

Virendra Kumar Khatik (born 27 February 1954; Hindi pronunciation: [ʋiːɾeːn̪d̪ɾə kʊmaːɾ kʰəʈiːk]) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 29th Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment since 2024. He is a Member of Parliament in the 17th Lok Sabha from Tikamgarh.

He was also the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour and a Member of the General Purpose Committee. He was chosen as the Pro-tem speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha in June 2019.

Khatik was born in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on 27 February 1954 to Amar Singh and Sumat Rani. From fifth standard onwards, he studied at Sagar and did his higher studies at Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, from where he did his MA (Economics), followed by PhD (Child Labour) in 2007.

He married Kamal Khatik on 21 February 1987, with whom he has a son and three daughters. Former cabinet minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar is his brother-in-law.

In the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Lok Sabha, he represented the Sagar constituency of Madhya Pradesh between 1996 and 2009. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th Lok Sabha, he represented the Tikamgarh constituency of Madhya Pradesh. He held different posts in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and the political party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He became Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment in Second Modi ministry when cabinet overhaul happened.