Narendra Modi took the oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term on June 9, 2024. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. A total of 71 ministers, including Nitin Gadkari and JP Nadda, took oath alongside Modi.
Nitin Gadkari continues his role as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. JP Nadda, who was previously the BJP chief, returned to the cabinet as a minister. Other notable figures include Rajnath Singh as Defense Minister, Amit Shah as Home Affairs Minister, and Smriti Irani in Education Ministry.
The new cabinet also includes several first-time ministers such as Narayan Rane in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ministry and Mansukh Mandaviya in Health and Family Welfare ministry. HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal Secular was sworn in as Union Minister.
The cabinet reshuffle comes after the BJP-led NDA alliance won a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with 319 seats out of a total of 545. The coalition includes parties like Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal United (JD(U)), Shiv Sena, and others.
The cabinet expansion is significant as it marks the beginning of Modi's third term in office. With a strong mandate from the people, Modi is expected to focus on key areas such as infrastructure development, economic growth, and national security.
Despite some changes in the cabinet, there are no major surprises or unexpected appointments. The overall composition of the cabinet reflects continuity and stability in governance.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The event was also graced by the presence of several chief ministers and political leaders from various parties.