Meet the new Indian cabinet: Who's got what
Several members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were sworn in at the presidential palace to replace them in the first cabinet reshuffle since Modi was re-elected in 2019 on a promise to transform India into a political and economic power
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revamped his council of ministers on Wednesday in a first since assuming charges for a second term. The Union council of ministers, which will be expanded with the swearing-in of new entrants this evening, is expected to have more representation from socially and economically backward communities, of women and people with administrative and legislative experience, people aware of the matter said.
As many as 43 new ministers were sworn in Wednesday evening in the Prime Minister's new cabinet. In another pointer to the imminent Cabinet reshuffle, social justice and empowerment minister Thaawarchand Gehlot's appointment as Karnataka governor caused another ministerial vacancy.
Ahead of the rejig, several ministers resigned from their posts, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan was one of them. Union ministers Babul Supriyo, Santosh Gangwar, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Sadananda Gowda among others stepped down from their office on Wednesday.
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The much-awaited expansion came on the heels of the completion of the Modi's government's seven years in office. Currently, there are 21 cabinet ministers, nine ministers with independent charge, and 23 ministers of state in the union council of ministers. According to people aware of the details since the council can have up to 81 ministers, at least a dozen inclusions are expected.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha will be the new minister of Railways as well minister of IT and communication.
Mansukh Mandaviya inducted as new India's health minister on Wednesday.
Ministry of health, & chemicals and fertilizers will be clubbed. Hardeep Puri got urban development, housing ministry clubbed with petroleum.
Jyotiraditya Scindia was appointed the minister for civil aviation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge of ministry of science and technology, while, home minister Amit Shah will monitor ministry of cooperation.
'All possible efforts will be made to fulfil the duties': Anurag Thakur
Union cabinet minister Anurag Thakur thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah for the opportunity in the cabinet. "I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah for giving me this chance. All possible efforts will be made to fulfil the duties," ANI quoted Thakur as saying.
The Union cabinet is scheduled to meet tentatively on Thursday at 5pm, while the council of ministers are scheduled to meet on the same day at 7pm.
