Who is Sunetra Pawar? Check Biography, Education, and Career!

Sunetra Ajit Pawar is an Indian politician and social leader from the state of Maharashtra. She is now serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and is the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, who was the six-time Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Through this article, learn more about her early life, education, political career and more.

Who is Sunetra Pawar?

Sunetra Pawar comes from the influential Pawar political family. Not only this, but she has also made a name for herself in social work, business, and environmental activism.

Towards the end of January 2026, she was appointed Deputy CM due to the sudden death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash. 

This is a historic event because she is set to become the first woman to occupy this position in the state. Sunetra has also been a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra as part of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). She underscored her growing political role beyond her family ties.

Sunetra Pawar's Early Life

Sunetra Pawar was born on 18 October 1963 in Osmanabad (now Dharashiv). She was born in a family that was already engaged with public life.

Her father, Padamsinh Patil, was a former Maharashtra state minister and Lok Sabha MP. This meant public service was part of her upbringing.

Sunetra Pawar Education 

For her education, she completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from a college in Aurangabad. Though not rooted in politics initially, her early life was shaped by social concerns, entrepreneurship and community development. This laid a foundation for her later political and civic work.

Career

Long before she stepped into mainstream politics, Sunetra made a name for herself as an environmentalist, social worker and entrepreneur:

• She founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI) in 2010, an NGO focused on organic farming, eco-village models and environmental conservation.

• Under her leadership, the EFOI helped pioneer sustainable rural practices in Maharashtra and earned her awards like the Green Warrior Award for environmental work.

• She has served as a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan. It was a major educational institution serving over 25,000 students, and as a member of the Senate at Savitribai Phule Pune University since 2017.
  
  

• Professionally, she’s been involved with the Baramati High-Tech Textile Park Ltd and other business interests that complement her commitment to community and economic development.

How Did She Enter Politics?

Sunetra’s formal entry into active electoral politics came later than many leaders. In 2024, she was nominated as a Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati. 

Though she lost to her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule of the competing NCP faction. Shortly after, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, thus beginning her career in politics.

Her appointment as Deputy Chief Minister in January 2026 is a significant turning point in her political career, as she takes up a crucial leadership position in Maharashtra after the unfortunate death of her husband.

Who is the Deputy CM of Maharashtra?

The Deputy Chief Minister's role in Maharashtra is shared, in Sunetra’s case, with party allies under the state government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Dy CM supports governance across portfolios and often represents coalition interests.

Was Sharad Pawar the CM of Maharashtra?

Yes, Sharad Pawar, a senior Indian politician and founder of the Nationalist Congress Party, served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra four times between the late 1970s and mid-1990s and has had a long, influential career in both state and national politics.

Check Out: List of Deputy CM Of Maharashtra Updated Till 2026! 

Who is Anantrao Pawar?

Sunetra’s late husband, Ajit Anantrao Pawar, was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics, serving multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister and leading his faction of the NCP. His sudden death in January 2026 left a significant leadership gap that Sunetra is stepping in to fill. 

Therefore, this blend of environmental campaigning, educational leadership and local industry involvement gave her a public profile distinct from her family’s political legacy.