India’s first female President, the 73 year old Pratibha Patil was inaugurated on July 25,2007.  Supported by Sonia Gandhi, she is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC), and was nominated by the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left. A trained lawyer, she was the first woman Governor of Rajasthan (2004-2007).  She began her political career in 1962 at the age of 27 when she became minister of education. She set up an educational institute, which runs a chain of schools and colleges. She also set up a Trust that runs hostels for working women in New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. She has founded a sugar factory and a cooperative bank named after herself as Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank. Her election was embroiled in charges of corruption.