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Cabinet Reshuffle Highlights: After weeks of speculation over a Cabinet reshuffle and expansion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers was rejigged today. A total of 43 political leaders have been sworn-in as union ministers, and some have been promoted. On the other hand, a number of ministers including Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prakash Javadekar have resigned. The reshuffle comes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and with an eye on the five state assembly elections scheduled for early next year. Many new faces have been inducted into the Union Cabinet. Prominent leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and partners from the governing National Democratic Alliance (NDA), being inducted into the Cabinet, met PM Modi earlier today ahead of the Cabinet rejig exercise. These include senior leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sarbananda Sonowal and Narayan Rane. Some political leaders from other NDA parties, such as LJP's Pashupati Kumar Paras, have also been inducted as union ministers. This is the first rejig of the second Modi Ministry. In his first stint as the prime minister, Modi had reshuffled his ministerial team at least thrice between 2014 and 2019.
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Kiren Rijiju has been appointed as the new Culture Minister, whereas, Sarbananda Sonowal would be heading the Ministries of AYUSH and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry.
Senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav has been appointed as the new Labour Minister, replacing Santosh Gangwar. Party veteran Giriraj Singh would head the Ministry of Rural Development.
Anurag Thakur has been assigned asthe new Information and Broadcasting Minister. He will also be the Sports Minister. Earlier today, he took oath as the Union Cabinet Minister.
LJP breakaway faction leader Pashupati Paras has been appointed as the Union Minister for Food Processing. The ministry was earlier headed by his brother and late LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan.
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi has been appointed as the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture. She was among the new faces to be inducted into the Council of Ministers.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would be heading the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Earlier today, incumbent Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank submitted his resignation.
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The ministries of Health and Chemical & Fertilisers have been clubbed. The new combined ministry would be headed by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. He was earlier heading the Ministry of Chemical & Fertilisers.
The Ministry of Science & Technology, which was held by Dr Harsh Vardhan who resigned as the minister earlier today, would now be monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was appointed as the Minister for Civil Aviation, whereas, Piyush Goyal would be heading the new Textile Ministry, in addition to the existing charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Hardeep Singh Puri, the incumbent Minister for Civil Aviation and Urban Planning, has been appointed as the new Petroleum Minister, replacing the incumbent Dharmendra Pradhan.
Ashwini Vaishnav has been appointed as the new Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology and Communication.
