Table of Contents
The Cabinet includes senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Amit Shah, party president J.P. Nadda, and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
With enough support to establish the government, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the oath of office on June 9. Here, we outline the declared policy goals and backgrounds of the new Council of Ministers.
1. Amit Shah
Amit Shah, who previously served as the Union Home Minister, will join the Cabinet on June 9. He played a key role in implementing bold policies, like changes to Article 370. During the elections, Shah was a prominent campaigner for the BJP and won his seat by a large margin of about 7.4 lakh votes.
In a May interview with The Hindu, the former Home Minister of the government mentioned that the NDA had given a strong, stable government for the past 10 years. This enabled them to make significant historic decisions and speed up growth.
The Gandhinagar MP has been vocal about the party’s stance on critical issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC), both in and out of Parliament. In the mentioned interview, Mr. Shah stated, “There are various opinions on the NRC, and the BJP thinks it’s important to have a comprehensive discussion with everyone. We’ll address it at the right time.”
2. Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh, the former Defence Minister in the government, won the Lucknow seat by a significant margin of over 1.35 lakh votes against his closest competitor from the Samajwadi Party. He holds an M.Sc. degree in Physics from Gorakhpur University (U.P.) and is one of the senior leaders of the party. During the elections, he campaigned extensively, including a rally in Jammalamadugu, Andhra Pradesh, where he emphasized the importance of the ‘one nation-one election’ policy if the government won again.
As Defence Minister, Singh addressed criticism of the Agniveer scheme and the Indo-China border situation. In an interview in April at the Times Now Summit, he dismissed such criticism, stating it had “no standing.”
Singh maintained that questions about the Indo-China border situation from the opposition did not make him uncomfortable. He reassured the nation to trust the Army and security forces. “Regarding the country’s interests, I share what I can with them [Opposition]. However, certain things are strategic and cannot be disclosed publicly. We avoid discussing them, whether it’s about the northern, western, or eastern sectors,” he explained.
3. J.P. Nadda
With the BJP’s national president expected to join the NDA 3.0 cabinet, changes are expected in the party’s organization. J.P. Nadda’s term as national president was extended for six months in January so he could oversee the general elections, which now ends in June. He first became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and secured another term in April. During Prime Minister Modi’s first term, Nadda served as the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Earlier, he was a cabinet minister in the Himachal Pradesh Government from 1998 to 2010, holding various portfolios such as Forest, Environment, Science and Technology, Parliamentary Affairs, and Health and Family Welfare.
Originally from Himachal Pradesh but born in Patna, Bihar, Nadda completed his B.A. from Patna College (Patna University) and LL.B. from Himachal Pradesh University.
4. Nitin Gadkari
Among the ministers from the previous government, Nitin Gadkari, the incoming MP from Nagpur, is likely to find a favorable audience even among the Opposition. Continuing his tenure as a minister, Gadkari has been closely associated with highway expansions and vehicle reforms during his time as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. In June last year, he highlighted that world-class roads are crucial to achieving Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a $5 trillion economy. In February, he aimed to implement a satellite-based toll system before the election code of conduct came into effect. Gadkari has also focused on job creation, increasing green-fuelled public mobility services, and reducing logistics costs.
Notable initiatives include promoting ethanol-powered vehicles and introducing air-conditioned cabins in trucks, set to be implemented by October 2025.
Gadkari won the Nagpur seat by more than 1.37 lakh votes over his closest Congress rival, Vikas Thakre. He studied at G.S. Commerce College (Nagpur University) and holds a law degree from the University College of Law (Nagpur).
5. Nirmala Sitharaman
The incumbent Finance Minister is a member of the Upper House from Karnataka. Before taking on this role in May 2019, Ms. Sitharaman served as the Defence Minister from September 2017 to May 2019. She has also held positions as the Minister of State for Finance, Corporate Affairs, and Commerce and Industry at various times since May 2014. She was first elected to the Upper House in 2014, re-elected in 2016, and secured a third term in July 2022.
Ms. Sitharaman chose not to contest the general elections, concerned about meeting the “winnability criteria” in southern states like Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh, where she might have considered running. She was also apprehensive about the financial resources required for the campaign.
The Finance Minister studied economics at Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College in Tiruchirapalli and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.
6. Piyush Goyal
A chartered accountant and management professional by expertise, Mr. Goyal is set to continue his role in the NDA 3.0 Cabinet. Since the NDA returned to power with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Goyal has handled several portfolios, including Railways, Finance, Corporate Affairs, Commerce, Textiles, and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. The former member of the Upper House won from the North Mumbai constituency by a margin of approximately 3.6 lakh votes. Mr. Goyal is the son of the late Vedprakash Goyal, a Rajya Sabha member who served as the Cabinet Minister for Shipping in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and was also the national treasurer of the party.
7. Hardeep Singh Puri
Re-elected to the Upper House in 2020, Mr. Puri has served as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and held the Housing and Urban Affairs portfolio. Before entering politics in 2018, he was India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The retired diplomat also worked as a history lecturer at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. Mr. Puri earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Hindu College, Delhi University.
8. Pralhad Joshi
The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coal and Mines in the previous government, Mr. Joshi, secured his fifth term in the Lower House, representing Dharwad (Karnataka). He holds a Bachelor of Arts from K.S. Arts College (Hubli, Karnataka) and attended Karnataka University.
As the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Joshi played a key role in defending the treasury against disciplinary actions initiated against Opposition MPs for disrupting proceedings. During the Winter Session of Parliament, a record 146 MPs were suspended for protests demanding a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on a security breach in Parliament. Responding to media queries, Mr. Joshi said, “We did not want to suspend MPs, we requested them. However, after we suspended a few MPs, several of their colleagues came with requests for suspension from us. This is the level the Congress stoops to.”
As the Coal Minister, Mr. Joshi assured the country that there would be no coal shortages following the “unexpected situation” in 2022. In a 2022 interview with The Hindu, he emphasized the importance of using coal in an environmentally friendly manner, such as through coal gasification and tree planting.
His latest campaign faced challenges from some Veerashaiva Lingayat seers who wanted him replaced and threatened to enter the poll race. Mr. Joshi had to make multiple visits to the community’s temple to assure them of his commitment.
9. Arjun Meghwal
The former Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Culture won the Bikaner Lok Sabha constituency by over 55,000 votes. First elected to the House of the People in 2009, Mr. Meghwal is seeking his fourth consecutive term in Delhi.
The Bikaner MP holds a master’s degree in political science and an MBA. He attended Sri Dungar College (Bikaner) and the University of the Philippines.
10. Bhupendra Yadav
Bhupender Yadav, a member of the Upper House and Minister for Labour & Employment as well as Environment, Forest & Climate Change, successfully contested from the Alwar constituency in Rajasthan. He has long served as the campaign observer for the party in key states, including Bihar during the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections and Madhya Pradesh in 2023. He attended Government Law College in Ajmer.
11. Suresh Gopi
The action star who made history by securing BJP’s first victory in Left-administered Kerala has been inducted into the NDA 3.0 ministerial council. He won the Thrissur constituency by approximately 75,000 votes over his closest rival, Advocate V.S. Sunilkumar of the Communist Party of India. Mr. Gopi entered politics in 2016 as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
12. H.D. Kumaraswamy
The two-time Chief Minister of Karnataka is also among the inductees in the NDA Cabinet 3.0. He secured his third term in the Lok Sabha by winning the Mandya seat with a margin of over 8.5 lakh votes. The son of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, his previous tenures in the Lower House were in 1996 and 2009. His time in Karnataka’s top administrative office was brief and unstable. He first served as Chief Minister from February 2006 to October 2007 and then again in 2018 with the support of the Congress. However, this second tenure also lasted only a year.
13. Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and the MP-elect from Dibrugarh, Sarbananda Sonowal, is set to continue his tenure in the Lok Sabha and the ministerial council. The former Chief Minister of Assam first contested a Lok Sabha election in 2004 as an Asom Gana Parishad candidate, defeating former Union Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar in Dibrugarh. Sonowal joined the BJP in 2011 and was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Lakhimpur. Starting as a student leader in 1992, he served as Assam’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 before returning to Delhi.
In the 2024 elections, he defeated his nearest rival, Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), by about 2.8 lakh votes.
14. Ram Mohan Naidu
Ram Mohan Naidu, representing Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), secured his third consecutive victory in the general elections. With a master’s in business administration from Island University (New York, U.S.), the incoming TDP MP expressed confidence in the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance’s ability to win the elections, citing dissatisfaction with the policies and administration of the YSRCP Government.
Mr. Naidu has been vocal about Andhra Pradesh issues. In his previous tenure in the Lower House, he raised concerns about the drought situation, called for an audit of SC/ST sub-plan funds utilization since 2020-21, and addressed issues like school mergers and the liquor mafia.
According to PRS Legislative Research, Mr. Naidu had an 84% attendance record in the 17th Lok Sabha. At 36 years old, he is set to become the youngest-ever union minister.
15. Manohar Lal Khattar
The former Chief Minister of Haryana has joined the ministerial council of NDA 3.0. He won from the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency with a lead of over 2.3 lakh votes. Earlier in March, he and his entire cabinet stepped down due to disagreements with the state government’s alliance partner, JJP, over seat sharing for elections. Mr. Khattar’s inclusion in the cabinet puts him among elected members with former chief ministerial experience, such as H.D. Kumaraswamy of Karnataka and Shivraj Chouhan of Madhya Pradesh.
16. Pemmasani Chandrashekhar
The NRI doctor turned industrialist, now representing Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), is the second person from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join the NDA Cabinet. Pemmasani Chandrashekhar graduated from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
In an interview with The Hindu in April, Mr. Chandrashekhar compared the election promises made in the United States and India. He mentioned that Indian political parties believe increasing welfare programs would enhance their chances of winning. He stressed the importance of balancing welfare with development. Additionally, he expressed his goal of attracting more global companies to Guntur to create jobs, boost economic activity, and contribute to the region’s development.
It’s worth noting that both Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu and Mr. Chandrashekhar have expressed concerns about the alleged opposition from the YSRCP, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, towards Amaravati after coming to power.
17. Jayant Chaudhary
Jayant Chaudhary, the grandson of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and a member of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), has been appointed as a Minister of State in Prime Minister Modi’s NDA 3.0 cabinet. Mr. Chaudhary previously served as a member of parliament representing Mathura in 2009. However, he lost to BJP’s Hema Malini, a former actor, in the 2014 election. Mr. Chaudhary formally became the RLD chief in March this year. In the recent elections, the RLD achieved victories in Bijnor and Baghpat.
18. Ramdas Athawale
Ramdas Athawale, the only representative from the Republican Party of India (RPI), will continue his role in the NDA’s ministerial council. Previously, he served as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the now-former government. Mr. Athawale joined the NDA after leaving the NCP-Congress alliance in 2011. He currently represents Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha and has been elected as a Member of Parliament three times. Described as a prominent Dalit leader from Maharashtra, his inclusion in the Modi Government aimed to connect with this important segment before Assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. Known for his straightforward comments and humorous speeches, Mr. Athawale has a background in trade unionism.
19. Gajendra Shekhawat
Mr. Shekhawat won the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat by more than 1.15 lakh votes, securing his third term in office. During his second term, he became a minister, initially serving as the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare from September 2017 to May 2019. Later, in May 2019, he was promoted to the Minister of Jal Shakti.
He has expressed concerns about the former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s actions, criticizing Gehlot’s announcement of a caste survey as a political tactic. Mr. Shekhawat has also been involved in discussions about seat sharing on behalf of his party. In March of this year, he led talks with Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan in Vijayawada.
Mr. Shekhawat holds an M.Phil. in Philosophy from JNV University in Jodhpur.
20. Ramnath Thakur
The Janata Dal (United) MP from Bihar, Mr. Thakur, will be joining the NDA Cabinet. He is the son of the late Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpuri Thakur, who was honored with the Bharat Ratna. In January this year, there was a competition among political parties in Bihar to claim the legacy of the state’s socialist icon. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighted his party’s promotion of his son Ramnath Thakur, while the RJD celebrated Karpuri Thakur’s birth centenary with party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav recalling their past association. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had acknowledged Karpuri Thakur’s vision of social justice as an inspiration for their governance model.
Mr. Thakur has shown a high attendance record of 96% in the Upper House since the Budget Session of 2014. During his tenure, he has raised important issues such as the need for uniform pricing of gas cylinders at ₹500/- per cylinder nationwide. He also presented the Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour Bill, 2023. This bill aimed to prevent crimes committed in the name of honor and protect individual liberty, providing justice, compensation, and rehabilitation for victims.
21. Rajiv Ranjan Singh
One of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s long-standing allies, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, has been appointed to the NDA 3.0 Cabinet. He has previously represented Begusarai (in 2004) and Munger (in 2009 and 2019). Singh will now represent Munger for the third time in the 18th Lok Sabha, having won against his nearest rival from the RJD, Anita Kumari.
Popularly known as Lallan Singh, he belongs to the upper-caste Bhumihar community and has been a loyal ally of the Bihar Chief Minister, especially during times of transition.
The JD(U) has advocated for a caste census as part of their participation in the government. Singh notably criticized the BJP for alleging irregularities in their caste census survey data collection process. The RJD-JD(U) Government in Bihar saw this as a move to influence the national agenda ahead of the 2024 General Election.
22. Ashwini Vaishnaw
Hailing from Jodhpur, Ashwini Vaishnaw serves as a member of the Upper House, representing Odisha. He was first elected to this position in June 2019 and assumed the Ministry of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology in July 2021. Vaishnaw, an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur, was re-elected to the Upper House in April of this year. Despite the BJP not having sufficient numbers for his victory, he received backing from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which deemed it beneficial for the state’s welfare.
Additionally, Mr. Vaishnaw pursued an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School in Pennsylvania (U.S.).
23. S. Jaishankar
Before entering politics, Mr. Jaishankar served as the foreign secretary from January 2015 to 2018. He then took on the role of Minister of External Affairs in May 2019. Throughout his diplomatic career, he held key positions such as Ambassador of India to the U.S., Singapore, and China, as well as High Commissioner of India to Singapore.
During his tenure as Foreign Affairs Minister, he oversaw the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from conflict zones like Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan, and more recently, Israel.
Mr. Jaishankar pursued his education in political science and international relations at Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
24. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The longest-serving Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is gearing up for his sixth term in Delhi after nearly two decades. With a master’s degree in philosophy, he held the position of Chief Minister in the central Indian state for nearly 18 years, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh’s history. After last year’s successful Assembly elections, he passed the baton to Mohan Lal Yadav, a three-time MLA, as the new Chief Minister of Bhopal. As a key figure in the BJP’s campaign, he played a significant role in leading the party to victory in the recent general elections in the state. He himself won the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency by a massive margin of approximately 8.2 lakh votes.
25. Jyotiraditya Scindia
Formerly the Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, secured victory in his first election after joining the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in 2020. He won his family stronghold of Guna by a margin of over 5.4 lakh votes, marking a significant comeback. Before switching sides, Mr. Scindia had been elected as a member of the lower house four times while representing the Congress party.
In addition to Civil Aviation, he was appointed as the Minister of Steel in July 2022.
Mr. Scindia pursued education at Harvard University and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in the United States.
26. Chirag Paswan
The two-time Member of Parliament from Hajipur representing the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is poised to join the NDA 3.0 cabinet. His party emerged victorious in all five seats it contested: Jamui, Khagaria, Samastipur, Vaishali, and Hajipur. Before formally aligning with the NDA in July last year, he emphasized his party’s consistent support for BJP’s initiatives and pledged to continue doing so.
27. Jitan Ram Manjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi, the founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), will join the NDA 3.0 cabinet. He won the Gaya Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.
Despite being an ally, Mr. Manjhi supports the idea of conducting a caste census nationally. In an interview with The Hindu in April, he mentioned flaws in the caste census conducted by the Nitish Kumar-led government but overall found it acceptable. Stressing the need for a national-level caste census, he expressed optimism about resolving issues with the Central Government.
28. Dharamendra Pradhan
After fifteen years, Mr. Pradhan returned to contest a direct election. He previously served as the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development in the now-former government. Before this, he represented Madhya Pradesh in the Upper House. Mr. Pradhan, originally from Talcher, Odisha, won the Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency by a margin of about 1.2 lakh votes.
29. Mansukh Mandviya
After serving two terms in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare won in the recent general elections. He secured victory in the Porbandar constituency with a significant margin of 3.8 lakh votes. Mr. Mandviya holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science and has a doctorate focusing on the role of rural schools in community development and future challenges. He began his political journey at the age of 20 with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP.
30. Kiren Rijiju
Ready for his fourth term in the Lok Sabha, the former Union Cabinet Minister for Law and Justice clinched victory in the Arunachal Pradesh West constituency by a margin exceeding 1 lakh votes. Mr. Rijiju previously served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs during the first term of the Modi government from 2014 to 2019. In their subsequent tenure, he held various portfolios, such as Food Processing, Earth Sciences, and Youth Affairs and Sports.
Conclusion
These 30 Cabinet Ministers collectively bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles, embodying the government’s commitment to addressing a wide range of issues and driving progress across different sectors. Their leadership will be instrumental in shaping India’s path forward and advancing its development agenda.
FAQs
Q1: Who are the Cabinet Ministers in the new Modi government?
Ans: The list includes Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, S Jaishankar, Harsh Vardhan, Mansukh Mandaviya, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bhupender Yadav, Anurag Thakur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Narayan Rane, Kiran Rijiju, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Singh Thakur, Ajay Bhatt, Pralhad Joshi, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Giriraj Singh, Jitendra Singh, and Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
Q2: What are the portfolios assigned to each Cabinet Minister?
Ans: The portfolios range from key ministries such as Finance, Defence, Education, Health, External Affairs, to other important sectors like Communications, Environment, Labour, and more.
Q3: What is the significance of these Cabinet Ministers?
Ans: These Ministers hold crucial roles in shaping policies, implementing government initiatives, and driving progress in various sectors of the economy and society.
Q4: How were these Cabinet Ministers selected?
Ans: Cabinet Ministers are typically chosen based on their experience, expertise, and political acumen. The Prime Minister, in consultation with the party leadership, determines the final composition of the Cabinet.
Q5: What challenges do these Cabinet Ministers face in their roles?
Ans: Challenges may include addressing economic issues, managing diplomatic relations, implementing social welfare schemes effectively, and navigating political dynamics both domestically and internationally.
Q6: What impact are these Cabinet Ministers expected to have on India’s governance?
Ans: These Ministers are expected to contribute to the government’s efforts to promote economic growth, social welfare, and national security, thereby shaping the trajectory of India’s development.
Q7: How do Cabinet Ministers contribute to policymaking and governance?
Ans: Cabinet Ministers play a central role in formulating policies, drafting legislation, and overseeing their implementation. They provide strategic direction to their respective ministries, ensuring that government initiatives align with the broader goals of the administration.
Q8: What are the expectations from Cabinet Ministers in terms of accountability and transparency?
Ans: Cabinet Ministers are expected to uphold high standards of accountability and transparency in their actions and decisions. They are accountable to the Parliament and the public for the outcomes of their ministries and are often required to provide explanations and updates on their performance.
Q9: How do Cabinet Ministers collaborate with other stakeholders, including state governments and international partners?
Ans: Collaboration is essential for effective governance. Cabinet Ministers work closely with state governments to coordinate efforts and address regional issues. They also engage with international partners to foster diplomatic relations, promote trade and investment, and address global challenges such as climate change and security threats.
Q10: What role do Cabinet Ministers play in promoting inclusive development and social justice?
Ans: Cabinet Ministers have a responsibility to ensure that government policies and programs are inclusive and address the needs of all sections of society, including marginalized and vulnerable groups. They work towards reducing inequalities, expanding access to opportunities, and promoting social justice through targeted interventions and welfare schemes.
