Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson NAC
![chairperson[at]nac[dot]nic[dot]in](../images/soniamail.jpg "chairperson[at]nac[dot]nic[dot]in")
Smt. Sonia Gandhi heads the National Advisory Council [NAC] re-constituted on 29 March, 2010. She is the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance [UPA].
Smt. Gandhi was first elected Member of Parliament from Amethi in 1999, following which she became Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. As President of the Indian National Congress Party, she led her Party’s electoral campaign in the 2004 General Elections and secured the largest number of seats. This enabled the Congress Party to lead a coalition government [UPA] with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. In this election, she was elected Member of Parliament from Rae Bareli.
Smt. Gandhi has given the highest priority to issues relating to the eradication of poverty and the empowerment of the disadvantaged, especially women and children. As Chairperson, Smt. Gandhi steered the first NAC during 2004 - 2006, which led to the enactment of two landmark legislations, the Right to Information Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The NAC also played a key role in providing impetus to the Government’s flagship programmes in rural health, nutrition, education, infrastructure and urban renewal.
In the General Elections in April and May 2009, Smt. Gandhi once again led the Congress Party, which increased its strength in the Lok Sabha, enabling the coalition government to return to office for a second term.
Smt. Gandhi chairs a number of trusts and foundations. Her interests include classical music, contemporary and tribal art, Indian handicrafts and traditional textiles, the preservation of our national heritage and the conservation of the environment.
Smt. Gandhi has authored two books, ‘Rajiv’ and ‘Rajiv’s World’, and has edited two volumes of letters exchanged between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi between 1922 and 1964, titled ‘Freedom’s Daughter’ and ‘Two Alone, Two Together’.