On Sunday, Narendra Modi made history by taking oath as India's Prime Minister for a third consecutive term, matching the record set by the first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The new Council of Ministers consists of 72 members, including eleven from the Rajya Sabha. This makes up around 15% of the Council of Ministers, with 31 cabinet ministers, 5 Ministers of State (Independent charge), and 36 ministers of state, including 6 members from the Rajya Sabha. Among the new cabinet ministers are Jagat Prakash Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Hardeep Singh Puri. Additionally, six Rajya Sabha members have been appointed as Ministers of State, including Ramdas Athawale, Ramnath Thakur, B L Verma, L Murugan, Satish Chandra Dubey, and Pabitra Margherita.
Council of Ministers: A Historical Perspective
The Council of Ministers, also known as the Cabinet, plays a pivotal role in the governance of India. It is a body of senior ministers appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Council is responsible for formulating and implementing policies, and for the overall administration of the country.
Historical Background
The Council of Ministers has its origins in the Governor-General's Council, established under the British Raj in 1858. After India's independence in 1947, the Council of Ministers was established under the Constitution of India as the principal advisory body to the President.
The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, served the longest consecutive term in office, from 1947 to 1964, and his Council of Ministers included notable figures such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Current Council of Ministers
On May 30, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath as India's Prime Minister for a third consecutive term. The new Council of Ministers consists of 72 members, including eleven from the Rajya Sabha. The Council includes 31 cabinet ministers, 5 Ministers of State (Independent charge), and 36 ministers of state, including 6 members from the Rajya Sabha.
Notable new cabinet ministers include Jagat Prakash Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Hardeep Singh Puri. Six Rajya Sabha members have been appointed as Ministers of State: Ramdas Athawale, Ramnath Thakur, B L Verma, L Murugan, Satish Chandra Dubey, and Pabitra Margherita.
Top 5 FAQs about the Council of Ministers
What is the role of the Council of Ministers?
Who appoints the Council of Ministers?
How long does the Council of Ministers serve?
What are the different types of ministers in the Council of Ministers?
Who are some of the notable past members of the Council of Ministers?
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is expected to visit Ahmedabad on July 6 to meet and motivate Congress workers. This comes after a clash occurred between BJP and Congress workers outside the Congress office in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil has accused the police of not taking action against BJP workers, and has warned of a protest if action is not taken. The police have finally registered an FIR against BJP workers and a mob of 100-150 people, hours after Gohil's threat.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a major setback in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, winning only 33 out of 80 seats in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. This dealt a blow to the party's hopes of securing a majority in the national parliament, and pushed the Samajwadi Party to the second position with 37 seats. The BJP's underwhelming performance has sparked discussions within the party regarding its campaign strategies and leadership.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister for the third time on July 4, 2024, amidst high tension. He had resigned as CM in January after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Soren's father and JMM supremo Shibu Soren, mother Rupi Soren, and other senior leaders of the JMM-led alliance were present at the ceremony along with former CM Chamapi Soren, who resigned on Wednesday.
Hemant Soren, Executive President of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time on Thursday at a ceremony attended by top political leaders. This comes after Soren was granted bail in a money laundering case, just seven days after his arrest. This political development marks an end to the five-month-long tenure of outgoing Chief Minister Champai Soren.
According to a recent report, Lewis Hamilton's aggressive driving style has been causing issues with Mercedes' tires, preventing him from performing at his best. With the 2024 Pirelli tires being more sensitive, Hamilton's braking and accelerating tactics have been putting too much strain on them. This has led to struggles for the reigning world champion at the start of the 2024 season, with his last race win in 2021.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged victorious in all five seats in Uttarakhand, thanks to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's efficient election strategy and management. This clean sweep victory was made possible by the hard work of party workers and the strong support of the people, who have shown their trust in the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's affection for Uttarakhand and Devbhoomi has been a key factor in this historic win, with over two lakh crores worth of schemes being approved for the state.
The UK's ongoing general election could bring an end to 14 years of Conservative rule as predictions show the Labour Party on track for a historic victory. Amidst infighting and scandals within the Conservative Party and a cost-of-living crisis affecting the nation, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cast his vote on Thursday with fears of losing his own seat. With a record number of ethnic minority MPs expected to be voted into Parliament, the election's outcome could reflect the diversity of the British electorate.
Senior BJP leader and Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena has resigned from the state cabinet, following through on his promise to step down if the party lost any of the seven Lok Sabha seats in the recent polls. The results, announced on June 4, saw the party lose in Meena's hometown of Dausa. The 72-year-old leader had made the pledge during the election campaign.
Amidst the coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha speech in the Motion of Thanks, leading news channels were accused of showing indifference to the Hathras stampede where over 100 people lost their lives. Insensitive reporting and government's lack of empathy towards the incident is being criticized. It is found that the incident took place before 3 pm, yet it took TV news channels nearly three hours to make it the headline. This has sparked a debate on media priorities and government accountability.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha has called for the harshest action against those involved in organizing the Hathras Satsang event, stating that the edited video circulating showed the blatant disregard for COVID-19 protocols. The Enforcement Directorate has also revealed that a key person involved in the AAP's alleged excise policy scam was a cash handler for the party in the upcoming Goa elections. Meanwhile, security outside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Delhi residence has been heightened after intelligence inputs of possible disturbance from right-wing groups.