Table of Contents
- Cabinet Ministers include senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Amit Shah, along with party president J.P. Nadda and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- With sufficient support to form the government, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the oath of office on June 9. In this article, we outline the declared policy goals and the backgrounds of the newly appointed Council of Ministers.
1. Amit Shah
Amit Shah, who previously served as the Union Home Minister, will rejoin the Cabinet on June 9. He played a pivotal role in executing bold policies, including the changes to Article 370. During the elections, Shah emerged as a leading campaigner for the BJP, securing his seat with a significant margin of approximately 7.4 lakh votes.
In a May interview with The Hindu, the former Home Minister highlighted that the NDA had provided a strong, stable government over the past 10 years, enabling them to make landmark decisions and accelerate the nation’s growth.
The Gandhinagar MP has consistently been outspoken about the party’s stance on key issues such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC), both inside and outside of Parliament. In the same interview, Mr. Shah stated, “There are various opinions on the NRC, and the BJP believes it’s important to engage in a comprehensive discussion with all stakeholders. We will address it at the appropriate time.”
2. Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh, the former Defence Minister, secured the Lucknow seat with a commanding lead 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 a senior leader within the BJP. During the elections, he campaigned extensively, including a rally in Jammalamadugu, Andhra Pradesh, where he stressed the importance of the ‘one nation-one election’ policy if the government secured another term.
As Defence Minister, Singh addressed concerns regarding the Agniveer scheme and the Indo-China border situation. In an April interview at the Times Now Summit, he dismissed the criticism, stating it had “no standing.”
Singh further explained that questions from the Opposition regarding the Indo-China border did not make him uneasy. He assured the nation to place trust in the Army and security forces, adding, “Regarding the country’s interests, I share what I can with them [Opposition]. However, certain matters are strategic and cannot be disclosed publicly. We avoid discussing them, whether it’s about the northern, western, or eastern sectors.”
3. J.P. Nadda
With the BJP’s national president set to join the NDA 3.0 Cabinet, significant changes are anticipated within the party’s organisation. J.P. Nadda’s term as national president was extended for six months in January to oversee the general elections, which conclude in June. He first became a Rajya Sabha member 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. Before this, he was a cabinet minister in the Himachal Pradesh Government from 1998 to 2010, holding key portfolios such as Forest, Environment, Science and Technology, Parliamentary Affairs, and Health and Family Welfare.
Though originally from Himachal Pradesh, Nadda was born in Patna, Bihar. He completed his B.A. from Patna College (Patna University) and earned his 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 gain support even from the Opposition. Continuing his tenure as a minister, Gadkari has been instrumental in highway expansions and vehicle reforms during his time as Minister of Road Transport and Highways. In June last year, he emphasised that world-class roads are essential to realising Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a $5 trillion economy. In February, he announced plans to implement a satellite-based toll system before the election code of conduct came into effect. Gadkari has also focused on job creation, boosting green-fuelled public mobility services, and reducing logistics costs.
Key initiatives under his leadership 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 current Finance Minister, a member of the Upper House from Karnataka, has had a distinguished career in public service. Before assuming this role in May 2019, Ms. Sitharaman served as the Defence Minister from September 2017 to May 2019. She has also held several key positions, including Minister of State for Finance, Corporate Affairs, and Commerce and Industry at different 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, citing concerns about meeting the “winnability criteria” in southern states like Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh, where she might have considered running. She was also wary of 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, 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 managed several key portfolios, including Railways, Finance, Corporate Affairs, Commerce, Textiles, and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. The former Upper House member won the North Mumbai constituency by a significant 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
Mr. Puri, re-elected to the Upper House in 2020, has served as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and has also held the Housing and Urban Affairs portfolio. Before entering politics in 2018, he was India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. A retired diplomat, Mr. Puri also served as a history lecturer at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. He holds both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Hindu College, University.
8. Pralhad Joshi
Mr. Joshi, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coal and Mines in the previous government, 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 Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Joshi played a key role in defending the treasury against disciplinary actions taken against Opposition MPS who disrupted proceedings. During the Winter Session of Parliament, a record 146 MPs were suspended for protesting and demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on a security breach in Parliament. In response to media questions, Mr. Joshi remarked, “We did not want to suspend MPs, we only made requests. However, after suspending a few MPs, several of their colleagues approached us with requests for suspension. This is the level the Congress stoops to.”
As Coal Minister, Mr. Joshi reassured the nation that there would be no coal shortages following the “unexpected situation” in 2022. In a 2022 interview with The Hindu, he highlighted the need for environmentally friendly uses of coal, including coal gasification and tree planting initiatives.
His recent campaign faced opposition from some Veerashaiva Lingayat seers, who called for his replacement and even threatened to contest the election themselves. Mr. Joshi had to make several visits to the community’s temple to assure them of his unwavering commitment.
9. Arjun Meghwal
The former Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Meghwal, secured a win in the Bikaner Lok Sabha constituency by over 55,000 votes. First elected to the House of the People in 2009, Mr. Meghwal is now vying for his fourth consecutive term in Delhi.
The Bikaner MP holds a master’s degree in political science and an MBA. He completed his education at 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 the Alwar constituency seat in Rajasthan. He has long played a crucial role as the campaign observer for the party in key states, including Bihar during the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections and Madhya Pradesh in 2023. Mr. Yadav studied at the Government Law College in Ajmer.
11. Suresh Gopi
The action star, who made history by securing the BJP’s first victory in Left-administered Kerala, has now been inducted into the NDA 3.0 ministerial council. He won the Thrissur constituency by a margin of approximately 75,000 votes, defeating 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 new 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 terms in the Lower House were in 1996 and 2009. His time in Karnataka’s top administrative office was brief and turbulent. He first served as Chief Minister from February 2006 to October 2007 and again in 2018 with the support of the Congress, but this second tenure also lasted only a year.
13. Sarbananda Sonowal
Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and MP-elect from Dibrugarh, is set to continue his tenure in both 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 his political journey 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 triumphed over his closest rival, Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), by a significant margin of 2.8 lakh votes.
14. Ram Mohan Naidu
Ram Mohan Naidu, representing Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), secured his third consecutive victory in the general elections. Holding 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 secure a win, citing widespread dissatisfaction with the policies and administration of the YSRCP Government.
Mr. Naidu has been outspoken on various Andhra Pradesh issues. During his previous tenure in the Lower House, he raised concerns about the drought situation, called for an audit of SC/ST sub-plan funds utilisation since 2020-21, and addressed issues such as school mergers and the liquor mafia.
According to PRS Legislative Research, Mr. Naidu had an impressive 84% attendance record in the 17th Lok Sabha. At just 36 years old, he is poised to become the youngest-ever union minister.
15. Manohar Lal Khattar
The former Chief Minister of Haryana has now joined the ministerial council of NDA 3.0. He won the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency with a significant lead of over 2.3 lakh votes. Earlier in March, he and his entire cabinet resigned following disagreements with the state government’s alliance partner, JJP, over seat-sharing for elections. Mr. Khattar’s inclusion in the cabinet places him alongside 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 member from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join the NDA Cabinet. Pemmasani Chandrashekhar graduated from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad and completed his residency in internal medicine at Geisinger Medical Centre in Danville, Pennsylvania.
In an April interview with The Hindu, Mr. Chandrashekhar compared the election promises in the United States and India. He noted that Indian political parties often believe that increasing welfare programs will boost their chances of winning. However, he emphasised the need to balance welfare with development. He also expressed his goal of attracting more global companies to Guntur, aiming to create jobs, enhance economic activity, and drive the region’s growth.
Notably, both Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu and Mr. Chandrashekhar have raised 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 prominent 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, but lost to BJP’s Hema Malini, a former actor, in the 2014 elections. Mr. Chaudhary officially became the RLD chief in March this year. In the recent elections, the RLD secured victories in Bijnor and Baghpat, further strengthening its position.
18. Ramdas Athawale
Ramdas Athawale, the sole representative from the Republican Party of India (RPI), will continue his role in the NDA’s ministerial council. Formerly the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. Athawale joined the NDA in 2011 after parting ways with the NCP-Congress alliance. Representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, he has been elected as a Member of Parliament three times. A prominent Dalit leader from Maharashtra, his inclusion in the Modi Government was a strategic move to connect with this key demographic, especially ahead of the Assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. Known for his straightforward remarks and humorous speeches, Mr. Athawale also has a strong background in trade unionism.
19. Gajendra Shekhawat
Mr. Shekhawat secured his third term in office by winning the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat with a margin of over 1.15 lakh votes. During his second term, he became a minister, first serving as the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare from September 2017 to May 2019, before being promoted to Minister of Jal Shakti in May 2019.
He has voiced concerns about the actions of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, criticising Gehlot’s announcement of a caste survey as a political tactic. Mr. Shekhawat has also played a key role in seat-sharing discussions 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, is set to join the NDA Cabinet. He is the son of the late Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpuri Thakur, who was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna. In January this year, political parties in Bihar competed to claim the legacy of the state’s socialist icon. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasised his party’s promotion of 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 acknowledged Karpuri Thakur’s vision of social justice as a source of inspiration for the NDA government’s governance model.
Mr. Thakur boasts an impressive 96% attendance record in the Upper House since the Budget Session of 2014. During his tenure, he has raised critical issues, including the call for uniform pricing of gas cylinders at ₹500 per cylinder nationwide. He also introduced the Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour Bill, 2023, which aims to prevent crimes committed in the name of honour, protect individual liberty, and provide 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 closest rival from the RJD, Anita Kumari.
Popularly known as Lallan Singh, he hails from the upper-caste Bhumihar community and has been a steadfast ally of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, especially during periods of transition.
The JD(U) has been a strong advocate for a caste census as part of their role in the government. Singh notably criticised the BJP for alleging irregularities in the caste census survey data collection process. The RJD-JD(U) government in Bihar viewed this as an attempt 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 took over the Ministry of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology in July 2021. An alumnus of IIT-Kanpur, Vaishnaw was re-elected to the Upper House in April this year. Despite the BJP lacking the numbers for his victory, he secured support from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which considered his win beneficial for the state’s welfare.
In addition to his engineering background, 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 Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to 2018. He assumed the role of Minister of External Affairs in May 2019. Over his distinguished diplomatic career, he held significant positions, including Ambassador of India to the U.S., Singapore, and China, as well as High Commissioner of India to Singapore.
As Foreign Affairs Minister, he led the successful evacuation of Indian citizens from conflict zones such as 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 set to begin his sixth term in Delhi after nearly two decades. With a master’s degree in philosophy, he served as Chief Minister of the central Indian state for nearly 18 years, making him the longest-serving 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. A key figure in the BJP’s campaign, he played a crucial role in leading the party to victory in the recent general elections in the state, securing a massive win in the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency by approximately 8.2 lakh votes.
25. Jyotiraditya Scindia
Formerly the Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia achieved victory in his first election after joining the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020. He won the family stronghold of Guna by a margin of over 5.4 lakh votes, marking a remarkable comeback. Before switching sides, Mr. Scindia had been elected to the Lower House four times as a representative of the Congress party.
In addition to his role in Civil Aviation, he was appointed Minister of Steel in July 2022.
Mr. Scindia pursued his education at Harvard University and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in the United States.
26. Chirag Paswan
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, Chirag Paswan emphasised his party’s consistent support for the BJP’s initiatives and pledged to continue doing so.
27. Jitan Ram Manjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi, the founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), is set to join the NDA 3.0 cabinet. He secured the Gaya Lok Sabha seat with a margin of over 1 lakh votes.
Despite being an ally, Mr. Manjhi advocates for a national-level caste census. In an interview with The Hindu in April, he pointed out flaws in the caste census conducted by the Nitish Kumar-led government, but overall found it acceptable. Emphasising the importance of a national caste census, he expressed optimism about resolving related 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 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 approximately 1.2 lakh votes.
29. Mansukh Mandviya
After serving two terms in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Mandviya, emerged victorious in the recent general elections. He secured a decisive win in the Porbandar constituency, with a significant margin of 3.8 lakh votes. Mr. Mandviya holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science and a doctorate focusing on the role of rural schools in community development and their 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, Mr. Rijiju, secured a victory in the Arunachal Pradesh West constituency with a margin of over 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 multiple key portfolios, including Food Processing, Earth Sciences, and Youth Affairs and Sports.
Conclusion
These 30 Cabinet Ministers bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles, reflecting the government’s dedication to tackling a broad spectrum of issues and driving progress across various sectors. Their leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping India’s future and advancing its development agenda.
