Narendra Modi govt 2.0 Updates: Union Budget to be presented on 5 July, Parliament session to be held from 17 June to 26 July

Union Budget to be presented on 5 July: Prakash Javadekar

ANI further quoted sources as saying that the Parliament session for the budget will be held from 17 June to 26 July. The election for the Speaker will be held on 19 June.

Nearly 14.5 crore farmers will benefit from PM-Kisan Yojana: Narendra Singh Tomar

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar: Cabinet has approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri-Kisan yojana to all farmers. Nearly 14.5 crore farmers will benefit from the scheme. pic.twitter.com/a20kEzwhxS

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2019

Government announces universalisation of PM-KISAN Yojana

“A total of Rs 87,000 crore will be provided to farmers under the PM-KISAN Yojana,” Narendra Singh Tomar, agriculture minister, said at a press conference in New Delhi.

The annual benefit of Rs 6,000 has now been extended to all farmers.

Farmers to get Rs 6,000 a year under PM-KISAN

All farmers will get Rs 6,000 a year under PM-KISAN. Cabinet has okayed extension of this scheme.

Scholarship hiked under National Defence Fund

The first decision taken by the NDA 2 was a hike in the scholarships under the National Defence Fund. The scholarship for boys in the NDF has been increased to Rs 2,500 per month from Rs 2,000 per month.

And the same for girls has been increased to Rs 3,000 per month from the current Rs 2,250.

Our Government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India!

Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks. https://t.co/Vm90BD77hm pic.twitter.com/iXhFNlBCIc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2019

Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani arrive for cabinet meeting

Delhi: Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and Arvind Sawant arrive for the #UnionCabinet meeting. pic.twitter.com/1tuJoJRHHZ

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2019

First cabinet meeting to begin shortly

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the #UnionCabinet meeting. pic.twitter.com/PGFJ3VS8ge

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2019

HRD Ministry submits draft of new education policy

New education policy is part of government’s 100-day plan. The new policy will focus on revamping the primary education system.

Amit Shah takes charge as home minister

The first meeting of the new cabinet will take place soon.

Mehbooba Mufti congratulates Nirmala Sitharaman

Congratulations to @nsitharaman on her new role as Finance Minister. As the first woman to helm this crucial portfolio full time, she’s shattered the glass ceiling by all means.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 31, 2019

Australian foreign minister congratulates new External Affairs Minister

Congratulations @DrSJaishankar on your appointment as India’s External Affairs Minister. Looking forward to working with you to further strengthen the 🇮🇳-🇦🇺 relationship, including through our India Economic Strategy, & supporting a resilient & prosperous region.@MEAIndia

— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) May 31, 2019

S Jaishankar takes charge as External Affairs Minister

Delhi: Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar takes charge as Minister of External Affairs. #UnionCabinet pic.twitter.com/qFfslTKQis

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2019

Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge as first full-time woman finance minister

Nirmala Sitharaman created history again when she became the first full-time woman Finance Minister of India, and now will have to steer the country out of an imminent economic slowdown and address challenges like job creation, mounting bad loans and stimulating investment.

Sitharaman in the Modi 1.0 government became the first full-time woman defence minister and in the second term, she is now the first full-time woman Finance Minister.

Prior to this, Indira Gandhi, as prime minister, held additional charge of finance ministry in 1970-71.

Sitharaman, 60, succeeds Arun Jaitley, who earlier this week wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he does not want to continue in ministerial position in the government due to health reasons.

She joins the finance ministry at a time when the economy is facing challenges of slowing growth, dipping exports and mounting non-performing loans. — PTI

Piyush Goyal takes charge of commerce and industry ministry at a time when global protectionism is on the rise

Piyush Goyal took charge of the commerce and industry ministry at a time when global protectionism is rising at trade front and the need to push India’s exports is pressing.

Goyal, who also got the railway ministry, said, “I would like to thank Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) for the trust he has reposed in me by giving me this opportunity to look after the commerce and industry ministry”.

Goyal came to the ministry accompanied by former commerce minister Suresh Prabhu.

“I have a lot to learn from my senior colleague Prabhu Ji. I would continue to take his guidance and support,” he told reporters in New Delhi. — PTI

PM shuffles top four berths; inducts 24 new faces, keeps average age of Council under 60

Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought in 24 new faces to the council of ministers, striking a balance in regional representation while also taking care of the states that are set to go to polls in the near future. In doing so, the prime minister also managed to bring down the overall average age of the council of ministers to a little under 60 years, a shade younger than the previous lot, who had an average of 62 years. Another notable point of the Cabinet berth allotment is the major shakeup in the top four ranks, caused primarily by the absence of Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj and the induction of Amit Shah and S Jaishankar. Rajnath has been shifted from home to defence ministry with Shah filling up that space. Nirmala Sitharaman has been shifted to finance and S Jaishankar will take over the ministry of external affairs after working in the ministry as India’s foreign secretary.

Meanwhile… Bhutan’s PM criticises Indian media for getting the country’s premier’s image wrong 

Former Bhutan premier Tshering Tobgay has criticised some Indian TV channels for “insulting” his country by using the wrong photographs of current Prime Minister Lotay Tshering in their coverage of his arrival to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 

Covering his arrival, a news channel displayed the picture of Tshering Wangchuk, chief advisor of Bhutan’s interim government, with Tshering’s name, while another channel telecast Tobgay’s image, addressing him as the current Bhutanese premier. 

India’s media would be up in arms if any other country got the picture of their PM wrong. Yet they continue to embarrass themselves and insult us when it comes to identifying our PM. Bhutan may be small, but she is India’s close neighbour and a very close friend. pic.twitter.com/AwBHF6WKqQ

— Tshering Tobgay (@tsheringtobgay) May 30, 2019

Modi to visit Maldives, Sri Lanka in first overseas visit 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi could make a short visit to Sri Lanka on his way to or back from the Maldives in early June, during his first visit overseas in his second term.

While his visit to the Maldives would underline the primacy of neighbours and India’s neighbourhood in foreign policy during Modi’s second term in office, the brief stop in Colombo is expected to convey India’s solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings in April. 

The development comes after Modi held a 30-minute meeting with Maithripala Sirisena today, which is when the Sri Lankan president reportedly extended the invite to Modi. Sirisena reacted to the development and said, “PM Modi’s visit is very important to us, we are neighbors and friends, this relationship between India and Sri Lanka dates back over 2,600 years. We’re eagerly awaiting for his arrival, it’s a great honor for the people of Sri Lanka.”

Govt forms ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry by merging Water Resources and Drinking Water Ministries

A new ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry, in which the erstwhile ministries of Water Resources and Drinking Water and Sanitation will be merged, has been formed with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at its helm.

Shekhawat took charge of the ministry on Friday, a day after he was sworn in as minister. During the election campaign, Modi had promised to form an integrated ministry dealing with water issues.

“All the water related works will be merged under one ministry,” Shekhawat said after taking the charge. The ambit of the ministry will encompass issues ranging from international and inter-states water disputes, the byzantine Namami Gange project, the flagship initiative to clean the Ganges, its tributaries and sub-tributaries and provide clean drinking water.

As Raosaheb Danve moves to Centre, BJP looks for new Maharashtra president

With Maharashtra BJP president​ Raosaheb Danve joining the Union Council of Ministers, the state unit of the ruling party is likely to get a new face to lead it in the Assembly elections scheduled later this year.​ BJP sources said a meeting of the state unit is likely to be held soon to decide Danve’s successor. 

Danve, re-elected from Jalna in North Maharashtra for a fifth term, was Thursday inducted in the new Modi team as a Minister of State. He has been given the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution portfolio, which he handled earlier also as part of the first Modi government. The 64-year-old BJP MP served as Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution from May 27, 2014 to March 5, 2015. He quit his ministerial post after being appointed state BJP president.

State ministers Chandrakant Patil (Revenue), Subhash Deshmukh (Co-operation) and Ranjit Patil (MoS Home), all hailing from the politically-significant Maratha community, are among the names being talked about in party circles as possible successor to Danve.

Piyush Goyal retains Railways, likely to explore non-fare revenue sources to get old workhorse back on track

Piyush Goyal, reassigned the charge of the crucial railway ministry, is likely to focus on safety, generation of non-fare revenue, track renewal, modernisation and increase in the production of state-of-the-art coaches in his second stint at the helm of the national transporter, official sources said Friday.  Goyal, who had pushed for generating resources through non-fare revenue, had hit a stonewall during his last stint, but the minister is likely to drive this idea as he believes that this will bring in additional funds to boost the beleaguered railways’ finances.

S Jaishankar ‘welcomed back’ into MEA, this time as minister in charge 

Welcome back!

We are proud to have @DrSJaishankar as the new External Affairs Minister of India. #CabinetAnnouncement2019 pic.twitter.com/FyfTNYhGgO

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 31, 2019

Will work to forward PM’s vision, says Giriraj Singh 

“Whatever responsibility I have been given I will work to take it forward following prime minister’s road map. I have already managed this portfolio in Bihar then I will like working in this portfolio once again,” Giriraj Singh told ANI after being appointed as Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

Nirmala Sitharaman back to her field of expertise, new FM’s academic background, experience may come in handy for top job

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday named Nirmala Sitharaman, previously the country’s defence minister, as the next finance minister. Her, appointment may have come as a surprise to many as the rumour mill had it that Amit Shah would be the likely successor of Arun Jaitley. However, her induction seems to be rooted in firm reason. 

Born on 18 August, 1959 in the temple town of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, she did her schooling and her graduation in Economics, from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College in Tiruchirapalli. She went on to do her Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. 

Sitharaman served as an assistant to Economist in the Agricultural Engineers Association, UK in London. She subsequently worked as Senior Manager (Research and Analysis) with Price Waterhouse, London. During this time she also briefly worked with BBC World Service. On her return to India, she served as Deputy Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies at Hyderabad. 

Earlier in the Modi Cabinet too, she was serving as the minister of commerce and industry.

Ramesh Pokhriyal gets HRD ministry 

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ gets the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which was earlier held by Prakash Javadekar​.

Dharmendra Pradhan retains petroleum, gets steel too

Rajya Sabha member and BJP candidate from Odisha Dharmendra Pradhan will have an expanded role in the new Modi government with the former Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister retaining this key Ministry while given additional charge of the Steel Ministry.

Pradhan, known as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s face in Odisha also held the portfolio of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the last government. While skill development has been given a new face, Pradhan has been given additional responsibility of the steel sector that requires special nurturing from the new minister given sluggish market conditions and an onslaught of cheap steel imports.

Pradhan, 50, is serving his second consecutive term in the Rajya Sabha to which he was first elected in 2010. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh, Odisha in 2004.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi appointed Minister of Minority Affairs

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas’ mantra, his cabinet’s lone Muslim face Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will have the responsibility of winning the hearts of minorities and taking forward the ‘development without appeasement’ policy.

Naqvi, who took oath as a cabinet minister on Thursday, has retained the Minority Affairs Ministry. In the previous dispensation, he was credited with major reforms in the Haj policy.  During his tenure, the Haj subsidy was done away with under a new policy and women were allowed to go on the pilgrimage without Mehram or a male companion.

Narendra Modi  keeps public grievances, atomic energy, space with self  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be in-charge of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, apart from all important policy issues and all other portfolios not allocated to any minister.

S Jaishankar replaces Sushma Swaraj as Minister of External Affairs    

Former foreign secretary, S. Jaishankar, replaced Sushma Swaraj as the Minister of External Affairs. A former ambassador to the United States and China, Jaishankar led India’s diplomatic corps during Modi’s first term before retiring in early 2018 and subsequently joining the Tata Group conglomerate. 

The former foreign secretary, a surprise pick in the Modi government, carries with him more than three decades of diplomatic experience. A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar is the son of late K Subrahmanyam, one of India’s leading strategic analysts. ​Jaishankar was also a key member of the Indian team which negotiated the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.

  Ravi Shankar Prasad bags three key portfolios, to be incharge of Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics and IT

From a counsel holding the brief for the deity ‘Ram Lalla’ in the Ayodhya title suit to a moderniser spearheading the ‘Digital India’ initiative and clamping down on contentious practices like instant triple talaq, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has worn many hats.

Winning his maiden election against colleague-turned opponent Shatrughan Sinha from Patna Sahib seat in Bihar by more than 2.84 lakh votes, 65-year-old Prasad is among the few BJP leaders who have been a minister in every NDA government that came to power at the Centre in last two decades.

He has retained the two important ministries in the Modi cabinet that he held charge of — Law and Justice and Electronics and IT — with the addition of Communications as well.

Narendra Singh Tomar replaces Radha Mohan Singh as Agriculture minister, also gets charge of rural development of panchayti raj

Narendra Singh Tomar has been appointed as the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Tomar will also retain his Rural Development and Panchayati Raj ministries. 

After a brief stint as a Rajya Sabha member, Tomar was elected to the Lok Sabha from Morena in 2009.

In 2014, he won the Lok Sabha election from Gwalior and was made a cabinet minister, heading several ministries including mines, steel, labour and employment and rural development and panchayati raj. He returned to Morena in the 2019 election, winning by a margin of over 1.13 lakh votes.

Harsh Vardhan, a doctor by profession, replaces JP Nadda as health minister

Har Vardhan has replaced JP Nadda as Minister of Health and Family Welfare amid speculations that the latter will replace Amit Shah as BJP national president with his induction into the Cabinet. Harsh Vardhan has also retained his earlier protfolios: Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences.

Before taking the national centre stage, he was active in Delhi politics and was even touted to be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the Assembly elections of 2014. Qualified as an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, Harsh Vardhan was also briefly in charge of the health ministry in the Delhi government.

He was also the education minister of Delhi. He represents Chandni Chowk in Delhi as a Member of Parliament.

Smriti Irani gets Women and Child Development, Textiles

Union minister Smriti Irani will retain her old portfolio of textiles, apart from which she has been awarded additional charge of the women and child development ministry, a charge which was earlier held by eight-time MP Maneka Gandhi.

NDA allies Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Ram Vilas Paswan retain old protfolios

Lok janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan has retained his old portfolio, that is Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Likewise, Harsimrat Kaur Badal will also continue as the Minister for Food Processing industries.

Amit Shah takes up home ministry in new Modi Cabinet

 Amit Shah has taken up the Ministry of Home Affairs, a portfolio he held in Gujarat Cabinet as well. Before him, Rajnath Singh held the key protfolio which is essentially responsible for internal security and the general law and order situation in the Union of India.

Rajnath Singh gets Defence Ministry, Nirmala Sitharaman gets finance

The list of portfolios allocated to the various ministers is finally out. There is a major shake up in the top Capinet ranks. Rajnath Singh who held the Home Ministry earlier has now got the defence ministry. Nirmala Sitharaman, the former defence minister will succeed Arun Jaitley as the finance minister. Meanwhile, Amit Shah has taken up the Ministry of Home Affairs, a portfolio he held in Gujarat Cabinet as well.

Don’t need symbolic representation, will think if BJP makes offer proportional to strength, says Nitish Kumar 

Bihar chief minister said his party was and will remain with the NDA and hold no grudges over the Cabinet berths. However, in all subtlety the key NDA ally did say that they conveyed to the party that his party doesn’t need any ‘symbolic representation’ in the government. If the BJP makes an offer which is proportionate to our strength then the JD(U) will think about it.

PM Modi holds wide-ranging talks with Kyrgyzstan president Jeenbekov

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday held wide-ranging talks with Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov who was here to attend the swearing in ceremony of the new government. 

“Getting down to work after the oath-taking ceremony…PM @narendramodi held wide-ranging talks with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic,” the prime minister’s office tweeted. 

The two leaders held deliberations on diversifying cooperation for the mutual benefit of citizens of both the nations, it said.

Getting down to work after the oath-taking ceremony...PM @narendramodi held wide-ranging talks with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic. The two leaders held deliberations on diversifying cooperation for the mutual benefit of citizens of both nations. pic.twitter.com/JQM741BxSk

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 30, 2019

Narendra Modi meets Prime Minister of Mauritius 

A personal connect.

Prime Minister of #Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth had a good meeting with PM @narendramodi. Exchanged views on a range of bilateral issues, including development cooperation. PM Jugnauth was the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/8CmWjdKTkq

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 31, 2019

Privileged to have served in Modi’s council of ministers, says Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore 

**"**Many congratulations to the Council of Ministers who took oath today under the leadership of Hon. PM @narendramodi Ji. May you all have a remarkable tenure in the forthcoming years and work towards strengthening our democracy," Rathore tweeted. 

It was a great privilege and honour to serve as a member of PM @narendramodi Ji’s council of ministers. Every single moment spent with him was a testimony to his vision, energy and commitment to our great nation. My gratitude to PM Modi ji 🙏. Jai Hind 🇮🇳

— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) May 31, 2019

PM Modi holds meets Maithripala Sirirsena, engages with with BIMSTEC leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisensa, who met today, “discussed various aspects of improving India-Sri Lanka cooperation.” 

Strengthening ties with Sri Lanka.

PM @narendramodi and President @MaithripalaS held talks at Hyderabad House.

The two leaders discussed various aspects of improving India-Sri Lanka cooperation. pic.twitter.com/Bs6OfSBtzn

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 31, 2019

Piyush Goyal thanks Narendra Modi in tweet, vows to fulfil responsibility with honesty

कल माननीय प्रधानमंत्री @NarendraModi जी के नेतृत्व में देश के कैबिनेट मंत्री के रूप में शपथ ग्रहण की।

मेरा पूरा प्रयास रहेगा कि दी गयी जिम्मेदारियों का पूरी ईमानदारी, निष्ठा और सामर्थ्य के अनुसार निर्वाहन करूं, और देश को विश्वगुरु बनाने के इस यज्ञ में अपना योगदान दे सकूं। pic.twitter.com/8YsKATQYXB

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 31, 2019

Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi thanks PM for his trust, vows to serve people through politics

“I am fortunate that PM Modi has placed his trust in me and I consider politics as a medium to serve the nation. Our party stands for — nation first, party second and self last. I will try my best to win the trust of Modi ji and common people,” said Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi.

He recently shot to fame due to his extremely simple life style. A bachelor, Sarangi is said to be spending the major portion of his MLA pension to support education of poor children in his area.

Sushma Swaraj thanks Modi, hopes new govt functions with glory

Sushma Swaraj, who was a notable omission in the new NDA government, Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her an opportunity to serve people of India as External Affairs Minister. Taking to Twitter over an hour after the swearing-in ceremony ended, Swaraj prayed that the Modi government in its second term functions with glory.

Swaraj leaves a legacy of an easily-accessible external affairs minister who helped Indian diaspora in distress with her quick response on Twitter to requests for help. Her interaction with the diaspora on social media, established her as someone who can be reached in distress with just the click of a mouse. Several path-breaking measures such as the passport infrastructure expansion and enhanced engagement with the East were the highlight of her tenure.

Big Bang reforms likely in NDA II rule, NITI Ayog official tells Reuters

n the first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term, a slew of ‘big-bang’ economic reforms that should please foreign investors are likely to be pursued, according to a top official at the government’s main think tank. 

The reforms will include changes in labour laws, privatisation moves, and creation of land banks for new industrial development, said Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman of NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India), who reports directly to Modi.

“They (foreign investors) will have reasons to be happy. You will see a slew of reforms I can assure you of that. We are going to pretty much hit the ground running,” Kumar told Reuters in an interview.

Sensex rises as PM Modi’s cabinet takes shape; oil marketers lead gains

The share market rose on Friday boosted by optimism from a newly formed cabinet with investors awaiting portfolio distribution due later in the day, while weak oil prices pushed up oil marketing companies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath of office on Thursday for his second innings along with his ministers, with several media reports suggesting that his key aide Amit shah is set to be the new finance minister. 

Investors are also awaiting key gross domestic product data due later in the day. The broader Nifty was up 0.56% at 12,012.20 as of 0513 GMT, while the benchmark Sensex rose 0.53% to 40,041.25. “Market movement is more sentiment driven today. The contemplation around Amit Shah getting finance ministry is boosting market sentiment,” said Siddharth Sedani, equity advisory head at brokerage Anand Rathi. 

Reuters

Loudest cheers for Pratap Chandra Sarangi, minister number 56 

He lives in a thatched house, rides a bicycle and spends a major portion of his MLA pension to support education of poor children. For 64-year-old Pratap Sarangi, who once nurtured the desire to be a monk and lives an austere life, his hard work and dedication to people appear to have earned him a berth in the new Narendra Modi Government.

The BJP leader, who has had a long associating with the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, made his maiden entry to Lok Sabha by winning from Odisha’s Balasore constituency defeating sitting BJD MP and industrialist Rabindra Kumar Jena by 12,956 votes in the recent Lok Sabha polls. 

However, Sarangi’s association with active politics and electoral victories has not affected his lifestyle as he continues to live in a mud and bamboo house and rides a bicycle to most places, even during his earlier poll campaigns. He has dedicated his life to social work and uplift of the poor and lives like an ascetic. 

The first-time parliamentarian, who is being fondly called as ‘Odisha’s Modi’, has already created a buzz in social media where photos show him in his modest house and bathing at the village well.

Narendra Modi’s new government takes care of regional balance

The second Narendra Modi-led government has the maximum representation of 10 faces from the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, followed by seven from Maharashtra and six from Bihar. The Modi government 2.0 also has three ministers each from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka followed by two each from West Bengal, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

West Bengal, where Assembly polls are due in 2021, gave the saffron party 18 MPs. However, it is being represented by only two ministers– Babul Supriyo and Debasree Chaudhuri. 

The new Council of Ministers has representation from almost all the states, except Andhra Pradesh and the north-eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura.

First meeting of new Union Cabinet likely Friday evening

The first meeting of the new Union Cabinet is likely to be held Friday evening around 5.30 pm, official sources said. They said as of now there is no fixed agenda. The possible date of convening the Parliament session could be decided, they added. The newly-elected Lok Sabha members have to be administered oath.

In the coming days, the prime minister would also decided on the various cabinet committees such as Cabinet Committee on Security, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. The Union Council of Ministers was sworn-in Thursday evening.

Modi to hold bilateral meetings with BIMSTEC leaders

Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral meetings with representatives of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation member nations on Friday. The meetings will be held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Modi is likely to begin his day by meeting Mohammed Abdul Hamid, President of People’s Republic of Bangladesh at 10:30 am. Following this he will meet Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena at 10:50 am. At 11:10 am he will meet Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius. The prime minister will then meet Nepal prime minister KP Sharma Oli at 11.30 am. At 11:50 am the prime minister will hold the last of the meetings with BIMSTEC leaders. He will hold discussions with Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

S Jaishankar likely to replace Sushma Swaraj as Minister of External Affairs  

A potential replacement for Sushma Swaraj could be former foreign secretary, S. Jaishankar, who took an oath as a cabinet minister. A former ambassador to the United States and China, Jaishankar led India’s diplomatic corps during Modi’s first term before retiring in early 2018 and subsequently joining the Tata Group conglomerate. 

The former foreign secretary, a surprise pick in the Modi government, carries with him more than three decades of diplomatic experience. A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar is the son of late K Subrahmanyam, one of India’s leading strategic analysts. ​Jaishankar was also a key member of the Indian team which negotiated the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.

Go getter, or inexperienced: Investors give mixed reactions on speculations that Amit Shah could be next FM

Several investors and traders said they did not expect Indian markets to react much if Shah’s appointment was confirmed, believing his ability to get things done would offset his lack of financial experience.

“The hallmark of this government is that there’s more PMO (prime minister’s office)-driven strategy and guidance,” said Jayesh Shroff, co-founder of investment advisory firm Cask Capital. “So, to that extent, you don’t need a proper technocrat to run the finance ministry – you need someone who can get things done.”

Others were more wary.

“We have no clue of what this guy knows or his financial knowledge,” said a trader at a private bank, who declined to be identified. “The market will take some time to understand his views.”

Reuters

Speculations rife that Amit Shah will get finance portfolio 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to name Amit Shah, the chief of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the country’s new finance minister after taking his oath of office for the second time on Thursday, according to several media reports. As Modi’s right-hand man and long-time strategist, Shah would be in a powerful position to direct financial policy in Asia’s third-largest economy in his first role as a federal lawmaker. 

Shah would be taking over the finance portfolio at a sensitive time. He will probably need to move quickly to stimulate an economy beset by weak farm incomes, slow jobs growth and falling sales of key consumer goods including cars and motorbikes.

This week, two major industrial bodies called on the new government to take steps to bolster a growth rate that slowed to 6.6% in the three months to December – the lowest in five quarters – and is expected to have dropped further to 6.3 percent between January and March.

PM expected to send details of portfolio allocation to Raisina Hills shortly

The prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with BIMSTEC leaders from 10.30 am onwards so it is expected that before leaving for Hyderabad House, where the meetings will take place, he will send the portfolios communication to President House for formal notification of the same.

Markets soar as rumours of Amit Shah getting finance portfolio do rounds

Speculations about Amit Shah getting the next finance ministry portfolio may have caused the markets to react positively. Perhaps this the extension of a warm welcome to its own member. Amit Shah’s official profession, according to his affidavit, is share trading and even his father was a stock trader who had his own terminal.

PM does a balancing act in picking Union Cabinet; poll-bound states find representation

The names included in the Council of Ministers show that the BJP tried to pull a balancing act as far as regional representation was concerned. The second Narendra Modi-led government has the maximum representation of 10 faces from the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, followed by seven from Maharashtra and six from Bihar. Modi gave representation to members from Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand as the states will be going to polls later this year.

PM does a balancing act in picking Union Cabinet; poll-bound states find representation

The names included in the Council of Ministers show that the BJP tried to pull a balancing act as far as regional representation was concerned. The second Narendra Modi-led government has the maximum representation of 10 faces from the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, followed by seven from Maharashtra and six from Bihar. Modi gave representation to members from Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand as the states will be going to polls later this year.