Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister, accompanied by 71 ministers comprising 30 Cabinet Ministers, five with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State. The allocation of portfolios will be disclosed later. The oath took place yesterday.
At the age of 73, PM Modi leads a coalition government for his third term, often referred to as Modi 3.0, marking a significant milestone since his ascent to power in 2014, following a substantial electoral victory propelled by the “Brand Modi” phenomenon, succeeding the ten-year tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
He now joins Jawaharlal Nehru as the only other Prime Minister to secure three consecutive terms in office.
The oath-taking ceremony unfolded on the lawns of the Rashtrapati Bhavan amidst scorching temperatures, with the weather office projecting a high of 42 degrees Celsius in the national capital.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Prime Minister Modi, followed by Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah. Nitin Gadkari was then sworn in as the fourth leader by the President. Subsequently, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, and Manohar Lal Khattar took their oaths of office.
Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who followed Mr. Khattar, marked the first representation from any of the BJP’s allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to take the oath. Shortly after, Janata Dal (United) leader Lalan Singh, a trusted associate of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also assumed office.
The ceremony witnessed Sarbananda Sonowal as the inaugural leader from the northeast to take the oath, with Kiren Rijiju following suit shortly thereafter.
Virendra Kumar, a prominent figure representing Scheduled Castes within the BJP and an eight-time MP, joined the Narendra Modi government following his victory in Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh reserved constituency.
As leaders approached the stage to take their oaths, supporters erupted in applause and cheers, witnessing their representatives step up to the mic for the ceremony conducted by the President.
Jyotiraditya Scindia’s inclusion in the Modi 3.0 cabinet underscores his growing significance within the BJP since his departure from the Congress four years ago, marking his return to the Union cabinet.
Hardeep Singh Puri, the former diplomat renowned for navigating India through consecutive oil crises, was among the ministers sworn in during today’s proceedings.
Chirag Paswan, the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party and the political successor of his late father Ram Vilas Paswan, further solidified his position within Bihar’s dynamic political landscape upon his induction into the Narendra Modi government, marking a notable resurgence.
