Shivraj V Patil is an Indian politician and the Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh. He is also the present Governor of Punjab. He even worked in the Manmohan Singh Government as Union Minister of Home Affairs. Patil also worked with Indira Gandhi, as well as Rajiv Gandhi, as Defence Minister. After the Mumbai Terror attacks on November 30, 2008, Shivraj V Patil resigned from the designation of Home-Minister, due to much criticism.

Early Life of Shivraj V Patil
Shivraj Vishwanath Patil was born on 12th October 1935, in the Lingayat community, in Chakur village of Latur district in the State of Maharashtra. Before studying Law at the Bombay University, he attended to the Osmania University, Hyderabad, earning a graduation degree in Science. Patil took up the Job of a lecturer and taught for about 6 months, after receiving Master`s degree in Laws. However, he decided to practice law in his hometown. He was elected as the President of the Latur Municipality in 1967, and held that position till 1969 and again from 1971 to 1972. Then Patil chaired the post of the President of Latur Municipality. As the President of Latur Municipality, Patil introduced many innovations in the municipal administration, like primary and secondary education, hospitals and underground drainage system, water supply scheme, town planning, etc.

Political Career of Shivraj V Patil
Shivraj V Patil began his legislative and parliamentary career with his selection to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1972. He persevered as a member of the State Legislative Assembly from 1972 to 1977 and again from 1977 to 1979. During 1974-1975, he has served as the Chairman, Committee on Public Undertakings. Patil became Deputy Minister of Law and Judiciary, Irrigation and Protocol in 1975. He continued in office till 1976. On 5 July 1977, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly and held the position till 13 March 1978.

In 1980, Patil was unanimously selected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from the Latur parliamentary constituency as a candidate of the Indian National Congress (I). In 1980, Shivraj V Patil was made a Minister of State in the Union Council of Ministers. He had won 7 successive Lok Sabha elections in 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Patil was member, Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament from 12 May 1980 to7 September 1980 and Chairman of this Committee from 8 September 1980 to 18 October 1980.

Patil left an ineffaceable impression of his personality as the Minister of Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development and Biotechnology. Shivraj Patil mainly emphasised on the modernisation feature of administration, application of new technologies and contriving of new processes, besides establishing latest equipment to amplify production, competence and efficiency.

Shivraj V Patil also held important positions in the Union Council of Ministers in the next decade. Patil was made a Minister of State in the Union Council of Ministers on 19 October, 1980 and held the following portfolios:
Defence-19 October 1980 to 14 January 1982,
Commerce (Independent Charge)-15 January 1982 to 29 January 1983
Science and Technology
Atomic Energy
Electronics
Space and Ocean Development
Bio-Technology-29 January 1983 to 21 October 1986
Defence Production and Supplies-22 October 1986 to 24 June 1988
Civil Aviation and Tourism (Independent Charge)-25 June 1988 to 2 December 1989

Shivraj V Patil became Home Minister in 2004. On 30th November 2008, just two months after Delhi blasts, Shivraj Patil resigned from his position of Home Minister in Union Cabinet taking moral responsibility of the security lapse that lead to the November 2008 Terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Later he was appointed as the Governor of Punjab state.

Personal Life of Shivraj V Patil
Shivraj V Patil got married to Smt. Vijaya Patil in the year 1963.