On June 9th, Sunday, the Narendra Modi-led NDA coalition government took oath for its third term. This cabinet includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State. In this election, many bureaucrats turned into politicians, and some secured seats in the cabinet. Here’s the full list of bureaucrats turned politicians who are part of the ministries and the ministries allocated to them in Modi Cabinet 3.0:
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Arjun Ram Meghwal
Arjun Ram Meghwal is known for his simplicity and distinctive style. Despite being a Union Minister, he still cycles to Parliament. A former Rajasthan Administrative Services officer promoted to the IAS, Meghwal holds degrees in Political Science, Law, and an MBA. His political journey began after he took voluntary retirement ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections to contest from the Bikaner parliamentary constituency on a BJP ticket. Meghwal will hold the positions of:
- Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice
- Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Meghwal’s transition into politics was driven by his run-ins with the Congress party. Transferred multiple times during the 2008 Assembly elections, he decided to enter politics to contest the Bikaner seat, which was declared SC-reserved following delimitation.
Dr. S. Jaishankar
A distinguished diplomat, Dr. S. Jaishankar’s career in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is marked by pivotal roles, including serving as the Foreign Secretary of India from 2015 to 2018. Jaishankar did not contest the Lok Sabha polls; his entry into the cabinet is through the Rajya Sabha. He served as the Minister for External Affairs, where he led India through complex international negotiations. However, his tenure has not been without criticism. Some argue that India’s foreign policy has become overly assertive, potentially straining relations with neighboring countries. Jaishankar will continue as the External Affairs Minister.
Also Watch: https://youtu.be/ZB3IwRtOpf0?si=qZ1tvAS2m0AGZM2e
Hardeep Singh Puri
Hardeep Singh Puri, another seasoned diplomat from the Indian Foreign Service and a member of the Rajya Sabha, has been instrumental in urban development and civil aviation. His tenure has seen initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and the UDAN scheme. Puri will hold the position of Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Also Watch: https://youtu.be/mvWgKiWbrWw?si=CuS09lgalz5tZo7V
Ashwini Vaishnav
Another entry from the Rajya Sabha is Ashwini Vaishnav, an IAS officer of the 1994 batch from the Odisha cadre. Vaishnav is known for his technological and administrative acumen, having held significant positions, including as the private secretary to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His efforts to modernize the railways and enhance digital infrastructure have been notable. Vaishnav will hold the positions of:
- Minister of Railways
- Minister of Information and Broadcasting
- Minister of Electronics and Information Technology
