Modi 3.0 Cabinet: Continuity and New Faces

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formed his new Cabinet, maintaining key positions for seasoned ministers while introducing new members. Amit Shah continues as Home Minister, Rajnath Singh as Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister, S. Jaishankar as External Affairs Minister, and Nitin Gadkari as Road and Highways Minister. Shivraj Singh Chouhan now oversees Agriculture and Rural Development, while TDP’s Rammohan Naidu takes charge of the Aviation Ministry, replacing Jyotiraditya Scindia. JP Nadda has been appointed Health Minister.The Modi 3.0 administration includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State, making a 72-member Council of Ministers with 11 from NDA allies like TDP, JDU, LJP, Shiv Sena, and others.Among the retained top ministers are Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, S. Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Hardeep Singh Puri. BJP National President JP Nadda, part of Modi 1.0, returns to the Cabinet. Newcomers to the Cabinet include Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Manohar Lal Khattar, and HD Kumaraswamy. Chouhan, a five-time MP from Vidisha, Khattar from Karnal, and Kumaraswamy from Mandya, bring their political experience to the fore.Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who resigned in March after the JJP withdrew support, is now part of the central government. Other first-time ministers from BJP allies include TDP’s Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Chandrasekhar Pemmasani; JDU’s Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur; RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary; LJP’s Chirag Paswan; and HD Kumaraswamy.Jayant Chaudhary, RLD chief, joined the NDA ahead of the 2024 elections, following a posthumous Bharat Ratna award to his grandfather. Chirag Paswan has taken the Hajipur seat, his father’s stronghold, leading his party to win all five contested seats in Bihar. Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur and close associate of Nitish Kumar, joins the Cabinet with significant influence among the most backward classes.This blend of continuity and fresh leadership aims to strengthen the Modi administration as it embarks on its new term.