Modi Cabinet 3.0: Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, leading a 72-member Union Council of Ministers. The new cabinet, a blend of youth and experience, underscores the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) emphasis on continuity while rewarding key allies. Notably, 34 ministers from his outgoing council of ministers including as many as 19 with Cabinet berths retained their positions.
Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar, all from the Modi 2.0 cabinet, were among those taking the oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of secrecy and office to Modi and 30 Cabinet ministers, five Ministers of State with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State.
The ceremony, held in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was marked by bugles, ceremonial guards, and flowers, creating a grand spectacle that lasted 155 minutes. Approximately 9,000 people attended the event, which commenced at 7.15 pm.
"This team of ministers is a great blend of youth and experience; we will leave no stone unturned in improving people's lives," Modi posted on X, shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. "I look forward to serving 140 crore Indians and working with the Council of Ministers to take India to new heights of progress."
Modi Cabinet 2024: 33 First-Time Ministers Join NDA Govt's Third Term
The new cabinet includes 33 first-time ministers, with six from prominent political families. Notable figures include three former Chief Ministers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), and H.D. Kumaraswamy (Karnataka). Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi made history by becoming the BJP's first Lok Sabha MP from Kerala.
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Modi Cabinet 2024: UP, Bihar Get Highest Representation
Bihar secured significant representation with eight ministers, four of whom hold cabinet ranks. BJP's Dalit allies Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi are included in the cabinet highlighting the NDA's efforts to strengthen ties with the Scheduled Castes. Notable figures include BJP's Dalit allies Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi. Uttar Pradesh, with nine ministers including Rajnath Singh in the cabinet, also holds significant influence. Maharashtra, which faces assembly polls in October, has six MPs in the Council of Ministers.
Modi Cabinet 2024: 7 Women In Cabinet, No Muslim Leader Included
The cabinet includes seven women, representing less than 10 per cent of its total strength. Ministers from the Other Backward Class (OBC), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories total 42. However, the new coalition government has no Muslim representation.
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Modi Cabinet 2024: Political Heavyweights
Prominent BJP leaders retained as ministers include Piyush Goyal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Bhupender Yadav. New faces in the cabinet include former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and C.R. Paatil, among others.
A notable exclusion was Smriti Irani, alongside 36 other ministers who were dropped from the government. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attended the ceremony, though several opposition leaders were absent.
The event was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, and leaders from neighbouring countries, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina, and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.
Modi's third term, though widely anticipated, did not come with the massive mandate previously claimed. The BJP secured 240 seats, necessitating reliance on allies to form the government. The NDA's total of 293 seats out of 543 is the largest success for any pre-poll alliance without a single party majority.
As the new government sets its course, the first meeting of the Modi cabinet is expected to be held on Monday evening at the Prime Minister's Lok Kalyan Marg residence.