Shripad Naik

Some Lesser Known Facts About Shripad Naik

• During his school and college days, Shripad Naik participated in the National Cadet Corps (N.C.C.). He holds a `C` certificate and was once declared the best N.C.C. candidate.

• During his college days, he was a kabaddi and volleyball player and used to participate in many state-level championships.

• In college, he won the Southern States championship in swimming and won a gold medal in the 400-meter race and a silver medal in shooting.

• From 1994 to 1999, Shripad Naik worked as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Goa and held the Public Accounts Committee.

• He worked in the Committee on Delegated Legislation in Goa Legislative Assembly from 1995 to 1996.

• In 1999, Shripad Naik was elected as a Member of Parliament to the 13th Lok Sabha from the North Goa constituency in Goa. He defeated his opponent Ramakant Khalap by a margin of 36,000 votes.

  

• From 1999 to 2000, he served as a Member of the Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House, and Member of Consultative Committee on Ministry of Rural Development.

• Shripad Naik served as a Union Minister of State (Agriculture) from 30 September 2000 to 2 November 2001.

• On 2 November 2001, he was appointed as a Union Minister of State (Shipping). He held the position till 14 May 2002.

• From 2002 to 2003, Shripad Naik served as a Union Minister of State (Civil Aviation).

• He worked as a Union Minister of State (Finance) from 8 September 2003 to 22 May 2004.

• In 2004, Shripad Naik was re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha and served as a Member of the Committee on Papers Laid on the Table Member, Member of the Standing Committee on Urban Development, and Member of Consultative Committee on Ministry of Tourism.

• On 7 August 2007, he was appointed as a Member of the Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

• In 2009, Shripad Naik was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for the third time. In this election, he defeated his opponent and Indian National Congress candidate Jitendra Deshprabhu by more than 6,000 votes.

• On 31 August 2009, he was appointed as a Member of the Standing Committee on Energy.

• On 7 October 2009, he was appointed as a Member of MPLADS and a Member of the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Urban Poverty Alleviation.

• From 2012 to 2013, Shripad Naik served as a Member of the Public Accounts Committee.

• In May 2014, he was re-elected as a Member of Parliament to the 16th Lok Sabha for the fourth time. He won the election with a margin of 105,000 votes.

  

• On 9 November 2014, Shripad Naik was appointed as a Union Minister of State and held the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

• On the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President appointed Shripad Naik as Minister for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) in the 16th Lok Sabha.

• On 25 March 2016, he stated in a media interview that he had research proving that diseases like cancer could be cured by yoga. Naik said that his Ministry was about a year away from approving such techniques and research.

  

• Later, some medical researchers, scholars, and doctors challenged his statement and warned him to claim a cure for cancer without scientific evidence.

• Shripad Naik remained the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and was also appointed Minister of State for Defence on 31 May 2019.

• On the evening of 11 January 2021, Shripad Naik had a car accident in Ankola, district Karwar, Karnataka. His driver lost control in a ghat area, causing the car to flip into a ditch.

• Naik’s wife and personal secretary were severely injured in the accident. Both succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

• He has retained his Lok Sabha seat, winning in 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections.

  

• Shripad Naik is actively associated with many social and cultural activities in Goa as a President. These activities are often organised by Vidyarthi Nidhi, Goa, and Sai Prarthana Mandir Trust, Ribandar, Goa.

• He is the chairman of Shikshan Prasarak Sangh, Dhurpat, Sharda English High School, Dhurpat, Ponda, Goa, Sumangal Urban Credit Cooperative Society, Durbhat, Ponda, Goa, and Ratnagiri Education Society in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

• Shripad Naik is a member of managing committees of various educational institutions including Mandovi Education Society, Betim, Old Goa Education Society, Old Goa, and Prabodhan Education Society in Porvorim Goa.

• He likes travelling to distant places, reading books, singing songs, swimming, and shooting in his leisure time.

• Shripad Naik is a fitness enthusiast and regularly practices yoga and meditation. He often shares pictures of his fitness sessions on social media.

  

• He is the chairman of the Goa Rifle Association and Mandon Athletic Club in Goa.

• Shripad Naik is the President of the Goa Olympic Association.

• Playing cricket is his favourite recreational activity.