Smt.  Patil assumed office as the 12th President of India on July 25, 2007. She was the first woman to have been elected to the office.

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil was born on December 19, 1934 in Nadgaon village of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra. Smt. Patil received her early education from RR Vidyalaya, Jalgaon and later obtained her Master’s degree in Political Science and Economics from the Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon. Later, she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from  Government Law College, Bombay (Mumbai). 

Smt. Patil started her professional career as a practicing lawyer at the Jalgaon District Court.  At only 27, she successfully won her first election to the Maharashtra State Legislature from the Jalgaon Assembly constituency, and served in the role from 1962 to 1985. During her time in the Maharashtra, she held a number of positions in the Government and the Legislative Assembly. Those positions were:

• Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing, and Parliamentary Affairs (1967 - 1972)

• Cabinet Minister of Social Welfare (1972 - 1974)

• Cabinet Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare (1974 - 1975)

• Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs (1975 - 1976) 

• Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra (1977 - 1978) 

• Leader of the Opposition (1979 - 1980)

• Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing (1982 - 1983)

• Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare (1983 - 1985)

From 1985 to 1990 Smt. Patil served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and from 1991 to 1996 in the Lok Sabha. She was the Deputy Chairwoman of the Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1988. 

Smt. Patil also served as the Chairpersonof the Rajya Sabha in 1987. She was also the Chairperson, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha and Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1988. While in the Lok Sabha, Smt. Patil was the Chairperson of the House Committee. Prior to her election as the President of India, Smt. Patil was the Governor of Rajasthan from November 8, 2004 until June 21, 2007. 

In her long public life, she has been associated with several institutions in wide ranging capacities. She served as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Water Pollution Control Board from 1982 to 1985, and as the Presidentof the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) from 1988 to 1990. Additionally, she held the position of Director and Vice-Chairperson, National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies, and served as Memberof the Governing Council, National Cooperative Union of India and Chairperson, 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee.

Smt. Patil has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to working toward the welfare of women and children and the underprivileged sections of society. She has established several institutions for their benefit - such as theShram Sadhana Trust and a number of educational opportunities, including schools, classes and an engineering college.. She played a pioneering role in setting up the Mahila Vikas Mahamandal, a Maharashtra State Government undertaking for the development of women.

 Smt. Patil also organized the Women’s Home Guard in Jalgaon District and was their Commandant in 1962.