Cabinet Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar Sworn In
Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region were special guests at the function.
(Source: Screengrab)
Cabinet ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took oath on Sunday as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance formed the government.
When S Jaishankar became India's External Affairs Minister in May 2019, he initially was perceived as a political novice despite his extensive expertise in foreign policy. Over the past five years, Jaishankar confidently dispelled this perception, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in shaping India's assertive foreign policy amidst various geopolitical challenges.
The 69-year-old, with a distinguished diplomatic career spanning four decades, took the oath on Sunday as a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet.
Renowned for his sharp intellect and efficiency, Jaishankar garnered significant praise for his clear and decisive articulation of India's foreign policy priorities. His public speeches and interviews gained considerable popularity online, further boosting his profile.
As External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar effectively articulated India's stance on numerous complex global issues. He adeptly countered Western criticism of India's crude oil purchases from Moscow during the Ukraine war and crafted a robust policy to manage an assertive China. His efforts positioned him as one of the leading ministers with a remarkable performance record.
Additionally, Jaishankar was instrumental in bringing foreign policy to the forefront of domestic discourse, notably during India's G20 presidency.
As a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Jaishankar joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977. He served as India's Foreign Secretary during Modi's first term (2015-2018) and held key ambassadorial roles in the United States, China, and the Czech Republic.
He also served as India's High Commissioner to Singapore and held various diplomatic positions in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, Tokyo, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the President's Secretariat.
Before his ministerial role, Jaishankar was President of Global Corporate Affairs at Tata Sons Private Ltd after retiring as Foreign Secretary. He was an alumnus of St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, and held a Master's in Political Science, an M.Phil, and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Awarded the Padma Shri in 2019, Jaishankar is also the author of the best-selling book "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World," which was widely acclaimed.
Sitharaman, who has held the finance portfolio since 2019, has been a key figure in the government's economic strategy, particularly through the challenging periods of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
Born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman's academic background includes a Master's degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. She joined the BJP in 2006 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the party's national spokesperson in 2010.
Sitharaman first entered the Union cabinet in 2014, later becoming the country's first full-time female Defence Minister in 2017. Her tenure as Defence Minister was marked by significant decisions, including the procurement of critical defense equipment and the Balakot Air Strike.
In 2019, Sitharaman was appointed as the Finance Minister. Her budgets have focused on infrastructure development, digital economy, and social welfare schemes, aiming to foster inclusive growth.
Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region -- Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay, and Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif -- were special guests at the function.
With PTI inputs...
Watch the ministers being sworn in here:
(With inputs from PTI)
