Modi-Led Government: A Message of Old Momentum on Development, Diplomacy, Defense, Finance, and Security

Narendra Damodardas Modi, the leader of the NDA coalition parliamentary party in India, was sworn in for the third term on Sunday. His party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, could not secure a single majority in the Lok Sabha. However, in the government formed under his leadership, the size and selection of the new Council of Ministers have conveyed a message of maintaining the old speed in India’s development, diplomacy, defense, economy, and security.

Narendra Modi was sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister for a third term on Sunday, alongside 71 other ministers, including 30 Cabinet ministers, five Ministers of State with Independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State. With this, Modi continues to lead the nation for a third consecutive term.

The Cabinet includes representatives from various states and social groups, while the allocation of ministries largely presents a continuation of the leadership in critical portfolios. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his council of ministers during a three-hour glittering ceremony at the forecourt of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The new Cabinet features several notable figures, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Nirmala Sitharaman, who continue to hold critical portfolios.

A surprising addition to the Cabinet is 36-year-old Telugu Desam Party MP Ram Mohan Naidu, who has become the new Civil Aviation Minister, replacing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has been given charge of the Telecom Ministry. The TDP played a key role in ensuring the BJP returns to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Ex-Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who orchestrated the BJP’s thumping win in the Assembly election last year but was stood down from returning in that role, has now made a national debut as the new Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, replacing the BJP’s senior tribal leader Arjun Munda. JD(U) MP Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur, has been appointed MoS in the agriculture ministry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been assigned the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Space, all important policy issues, and all other portfolios not allocated to any other minister.

Here’s the full list of the Cabinet ministers and their respective portfolios:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space

Rajnath Singh: Ministry of Defence

Amit Shah: Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Cooperation

Nitin Gadkari: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

JP Nadda: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Ministry of Rural Development

Nirmala Sitharaman: Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar: Ministry of External Affairs

Manohar Lal Khattar: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Ministry of Power

HD Kumaraswamy (JD(S) leader): Ministry of Heavy Industries; Ministry of Steel

Piyush Goyal: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Dharmendra Pradhan: Ministry of Education

Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM leader): Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

Lalan Singh (JD(U) leader): Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Sarbananda Sonowal: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Virendra Kumar: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP leader): Ministry of Civil Aviation

Prahlad Joshi: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Jual Oram: Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Giriraj Singh: Ministry of Textiles

Ashwini Vaishnaw: Ministry of Railways; Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Jyotiraditya Scindia: Ministry of Communications; Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

Bhupendra Yadav: Ministry of Environment and Forests

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Ministry of Tourism; Ministry of Culture

Annpurna Devi: Ministry of Women & Child Development

Kiren Rijiju: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; Ministry of Minority Affairs

Hardeep Singh Puri: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Mansukh Mandaviya: Ministry of Labour & Employment; Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

G Kishan Reddy: Ministry of Coal; Ministry of Mines

Chirag Paswan (LJP(RV)): Ministry of Food Processing Industries

C R Patil: Ministry of Jal Shakti