In a historic event, Narendra Modi took the oath of office for a record third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India on Sunday. The grand ceremony, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, saw President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath to Modi and his new Council of Ministers, marking the beginning of Modi’s third tenure at the helm of the Indian government.
At 73, Narendra Modi has equaled the record of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, who also won three consecutive terms. However, unlike his previous tenures where the BJP enjoyed a majority, Modi will now lead a coalition government after a fiercely contested election saw the BJP falling short of an outright majority in the Lok Sabha.
Reflecting the spirit of ‘coalition dharma’, the new Council of Ministers comprises 72 members, including 11 from NDA allies. The Modi 3.0 team features 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State. The allocation of portfolios will be announced in due course.
The Council of Ministers represents a broad spectrum of Indian society, including 27 Other Backward Classes (OBC), ten Scheduled Castes (SC), five Scheduled Tribes (ST), and five minorities. Notably, a record 18 senior Ministers will be heading major ministries.
Among the prominent new entrants in Modi’s Cabinet are BJP chief JP Nadda, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, six-time Sundargarh MP Jual Oram, and BJP Gujarat unit chief CR Patil. Additionally, Jitin Prasada, a Cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, and former Karnataka minister V Somanna were sworn in as Ministers of State.
The swearing-in ceremony, held on the lush lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan, marks a significant moment in Indian political history as Modi steps into his third term with a renewed mandate and the challenge of leading a coalition government.
