 One of the few leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, he was first given minor portfolios, parliamentary secretaries, Union Minister of Communication, Works and Housing and then finally, immediately before the emergency, he became Minister of State for Home Affairs.In 1970, he was given the ministerial rank in the union and in 1971 he became minister of aviation and transport where as in 1973 Department of Development was added to his ministry.During his ministerial tenure, he was given the opportunity to become India's most honored minister.