15 Facts About Oscar Fernandes

Oscar Fernandes was an Indian politician, a senior Indian National Congress leader and was the Union Cabinet Minister for Transport, Road and Highways and Labour and Employment, Government of India in UPA government.

Oscar Fernandes was one of the closest confidants of the former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and one of the major leaders involved in the decision making process related to Congress Party.

Oscar Fernandes was closely associated with the late Mogaveera community leader Mr Ananda Mendon and both together worked for the social upliftment of rural areas of coastal Karnataka.

Oscar Fernandes was previously the AICC General Secretary, the Minister of State of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Dr Manmohan Singh's first UPA government in India.

Oscar Fernandes was elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980 from Udupi constituency in Karnataka.

Oscar Fernandes was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984,1989,1991 and 1996 from the same constituency.

Oscar Fernandes was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2004.

Oscar Fernandes was a Union Minister from 2004 to 2009, holding a number of portfolios such as Statistics and Programme Implementation, NRI Affairs, Youth and Sports Affairs and Labour and Employment.

Oscar Fernandes served two terms as a member of the Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Name of Oscar Fernandes is figured in the National Harold case.

Oscar Fernandes was one of 12 children in his family, and grew up with a strong Catholic background.

Oscar Fernandes's family belongs to the Fernandes-Prabhu clan, a Mangalorean Catholic clan from Udyavara in Udupi district.

Oscar Fernandes married Blossom Mathias Prabhu on 26 August 1981 and had one son Oshan and one daughter Oshanie.

In 2002 Oscar Fernandes inaugurated the Glowinstar Academy, an integrated development school, in Ambalpady, dedicated to his father, Roque.

Oscar Fernandes died on 13 September 2021 at the age of 80, due to age related ailments at Yenepoya hospital in Mangalore.