Narendra Modi takes oath as the 15th PM of India

A new era began on Monday as Narendra Damodardas Modi took oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India. Along with the new Prime Minister, 45 ministers including 24 Cabinet Ministers, ten Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 12 Ministers of State, have sworn-in at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The 63-year-old Prime Minister will hold his first cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.

From a tea-seller to Prime Minister of India, Modi’s sworn-in as prime minister was also an example of the strength of the world’s largest democracy. India has given a clear mandate to Modi to fulfill his promise to   bring “a glorious future” for the country.  

The sworn-in ceremony was different in many accounts. Not only Modi kept his promise of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ by downsizing the cabinet, also for the first time all SAARC leaders including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin were present during Modi’s taking ceremony.

In his first message as Prime Minister, Modi said, “On 16th May 2014 the people of India gave their verdict. They delivered a mandate for development, good governance and stability. As we devote ourselves to take India’s development journey to newer heights, we seek your support, blessings and active participation. Together we will script a glorious future for India. Let us together dream of a strong, developed and inclusive India that actively engages with the global community to strengthen the cause of world peace and development.”

BJP president Rajnath Singh who is set to get Home Ministry took oath after Modi, making it clear that he will be the number 2 in the cabinet. Sushma Swaraj is likely going to be the External Affairs Minister and Arun Jaitley, who will take charge Finance Ministry as well as Defence.

Modi’s cabinet is indeed a different from UPA as the cabinet will be represented by 25% women. Six ministers including Sushma Swaraj, Maneka Gandhi, Najma Heptulla, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Uma Bharti and Smriti Irani – have been given cabinet rank. While Nirmala Sitharaman got MoS with independent charge.

Here’s the list of portfolios:

Rajnath Singh — Minister for home affairs
Arun Jaitley — Finance ministry and additional charge of the defence ministry
Sushma Swaraj — Ministry of external affairs
Ananth Kumar — Parliamentary affairs and additional charge of chemicals and fertilizers
Nitin Gadkari — Surface transport ministry and shipping ministry
Sadanand Gowda — Railways ministry
Venkaiah Naidu — Urban development ministry and parliamentary affairs
Ravi Shankar Prasad — Telecom ministry, law and justice ministry
Maneka Gandhi — Women and child development ministry
Najma Heptulla — Ministry of minorities
Smriti Irani – Human resource development ministry
Radha Mohan Singh — Agriculture ministry
Nirmala Sitharaman — Ministry of state for commerce
Piyush Goel – Minister of state power (independent)
Prakash Javadekar — Minister of state information & broadcasting
Ram Vilas Paswan — Food and civil supplies ministry
Uma Bharati — Union minister for water resources and Ganga
Jual Oram — Cabinet minister for tribal affairs

<

►

>

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!