Subhash Maharia was a union minister of state for rural development and Food & Public Distribution in Government of India. He was minister from 1999 to 2004. He is a leader of Bharatiya Janta Party and was a member of 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha from Sikar in Rajasthan. He joined Indian National Congress in November 2016 and left Indian National Congress in May 2023 to rejoin Bhartiya Janata Party.

The Ministry of Rural Development, a branch of the Government of India, is entrusted with the task of accelerating the socio-economic development of rural India. Its focus is on special rural grants for health and education, piped filtered drinking water programs, public and affordable housing programs, public work programs and grants for rural roads and infrastructure. It also provides special grants to rural local bodies.