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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's newly formed Cabinet, often referred to as "Modi 3.0," is a combination of familiar faces and fresh appointments. The Cabinet reflects a balance between continuity and change, as several senior leaders from the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government have retained their important portfolios.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), responsible for handling critical national security issues, remains largely unchanged. Key figures such as Rajnath Singh (Defense), Amit Shah (Home), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), and S Jaishankar (External Affairs) continue to hold their respective positions. Nitin Gadkari has also been retained as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
Among the new appointments, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been given charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Another notable appointment is that of BJP President J.P. Nadda, who returns to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a position he held before taking over the party leadership.
Other newly inducted ministers include Manohar Lal Khattar (Housing and Urban Affairs, Power), Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology), Mansukh Mandaviya (Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports), and Pralhad Joshi (Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, New and Renewable Energy).
The Modi 3.0 Cabinet also includes representatives from NDA allies. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) takes on the role of Minister of Civil Aviation, while Chirag Paswan from the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) becomes the Minister of Food Processing Industries.
Overall, the Modi 3.0 Cabinet presents a mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces, with a focus on maintaining stability while also introducing new perspectives and ideas into the government.
In a significant move, Prime Minister Modi will directly oversee the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Space, and all other policy issues not specifically assigned to other ministers. This indicates his intention to retain a strong grip on key decision-making processes.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new Cabinet was held on Sunday, with a total of 71 ministers taking their oaths. As the Modi government embarks on its third term, the composition of the Cabinet and the allocation of portfolios will undoubtedly shape the direction of the country's policies and governance in the years to come.
Source: Narendra Modi 3.0 Cabinet Live: Top portfolios retained, JP Nadda returns as health minister