简体中文
By APD Writer Rishika Chauhan
NEW DELHI, September 4 (APD)-- Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as India’s defence minister as Prime Minister Narendra Modi revamped his team on Sunday. She has become the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold the office since 1947, when India got its independence.
Besides Sitharaman, Modi inducted nine new members and changed important portfolios of some of the existing ministers.
Prime Minister and President with the newly appointed ministers
Suresh Prabhu replaced Piyush Goyal as the railway minister. While Prabhu was appointed as the minister of commerce and industry, the office which Sitharaman previously held.
Hardeep Puri, a former diplomat was chosen as the housing and urban affairs minister. To reward the best performing ministers, the Prime Minister promoted four ministers to cabinet rank and gave independent charge of ministries to three ministers of state — Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Santosh Gangwar and Giriraj Singh.
Textiles minister Smriti Irani retained the information and broadcasting portfolio, as an additional charge.
The Prime Minister also shifted nonperformers to less important ministries. Uma Bharti, the water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister was shifted to the low-profile drinking water and sanitation ministry.
After the shuffle Prime Minister Modi’s council now stands at 76, it includes —27 cabinet rank ministers and 11 ministers of state with independent charge. Four former bureaucrats were also given independent charge of ministries. The previous council shuffle and expansion had taken place in July 2016.
According to a report published in Hindustan Times, the Prime Minister took the decision to bring “dynamism and efficiency in governance.” Experts say that it would be the last major restructuring of Modi’s team before the 2019 general elections. The shuffle was done with an eye on the coming 2019 elections.
Later, through a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, “I congratulate all those who have taken oath today. Their experience & wisdom will add immense value to the Council of Ministers.”
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
