Soon after affecting a major Cabinet reshuffle and easing out several senior ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over key ministries to new entrants and former junior ministers. The Health ministry, crucial in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, was given to Mansukh Mandaviya from Gujarat, the important law ministry went to Kiren Rijiju and Jyotiraditya Scindia bagged Civil aviation, the ministry his father Madhavrao Scindia headed once.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, apart from retaining Home, will also handle the newly-minted Ministry of Cooperation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will monitor Ministry of Science & Technology.
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Another MoS promoted to cabinet rank was Hardeep Singh Puri, who will head the Urban Development and Petroleum as the two ministries will be clubbed. Mansukh Mandaviya will also be in-charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers as it will be clubbed with Health Ministry.
Anurag Thakur has been asked to shoulder the responsibilty of two key ministeries — the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting. The former Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju has been named the Minister of Law and Justice.
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Jyotiraditya Scindia, who split the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and brought down the Kamal Nath government, has been rewarded with the Civil Aviation Ministry, the post his father Madhavrao Scindia held in the Congress government led by Pv Narasimha Rao.
Meanwhile, Ashwini Vaishnaw has made the Railways Minister and will also take charge of the Information and Communication Ministry, reports said.
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Dharmendra Pradhan, who was the in-charge of the Petroleum ministry, has now got the Ministry of Education and Skill Development, which have been clubbed together.
Meanwhile, Smriti Irani will be named the Woman and Child Development Minister, and she will also after look after Swacch Bharat Mission. Piyush Goyal has now got the Ministry of Textile and the Ministry of Consumer Welfare.
Narayan Talu Rane has been named the new Minister of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises while Sarbananda Sonowal is the new Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; and Minister of AYUSH