In a grand ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening on June 9, 2024, Narendra Modiji was sworn in as Prime Minister for an unprecedented third consecutive term, marking a historic moment in India's political landscape. Accompanied by 71 ministers, including stalwarts like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Nirmala Sitharaman, the event showcased the formidable lineup of leaders set to steer the nation forward. President Droupadi Murmu presided over the ceremony, administering the oath of office and secrecy to PM Modiji, 30 Cabinet Ministers, five Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State, signifying the diverse composition of the new coalition government.
Narendra Modi (C) signs after taking the oath of office for a third term as the country's Prime Minister during the oath-taking ceremony at presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
The presence of political luminaries, business magnates, celebrities, and actors underscored the significance of the occasion, as Modi embarked on his third term as Prime Minister, a feat unmatched since the era of Jawaharlal Nehru. The event not only marked a personal triumph for Modiji but also signaled a continuation of his vision for India's development and progress, setting the stage for a new chapter in the nation's journey under his leadership.
Key takeaways from the Ceremony
Sonia Gandhi Absent, Kharge Present
Despite initial speculation over opposition leaders being left out of PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, both Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi received invitations. While Kharge graced the occasion, Sonia Gandhi opted to skip it, with Kharge citing his constitutional obligation as the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
It's reported that Kharge was the sole Opposition representative at the event, as other members of the INDIA bloc declined their invitations publicly.
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"I am attending this event because of the constitutional duty. I being the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, this is my duty..." he told reporters.
“If I meet, I will see," he added upon being asked whether he would congratulate the Prime Minister.
“I am the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. I haven't received any invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi nor have the INDIA alliance partners. To turn the ceremony into an international event, Narendra Modi is more interested in inviting foreign guests," he said earlier on Sunday.
TMC Backs Out From Involving
Trinamool Congress (TMC) decided to abstain from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Sudip Bandyopadhyay, the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, revealed that despite an invitation from BJP leader Pralhad Joshi, the party chose not to attend. Similarly, representatives from Samajwadi Party, RJD, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)L, JMM, and RSP also refrained from attending the event.
Oath-Taking of 72-Member Council of Ministers
In addition to PM Modi, 30 cabinet ministers, 5 ministers of state (independent charge), and 36 ministers of state were sworn in on Sunday, marking a significant expansion of the Union Cabinet. Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar; ML Khattar, HD Kumaraswamy, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, Sarbanand Sonowal and Dr Virendra Kumar among others took oath.
New Joiners
Prominent additions to the Union cabinet included former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar, along with debutants like Kerala’s Suresh Gopi and Hindustani Awami Morcha’s Jitan Ram Manjhi. Other new entrants from the BJP included Jitin Prasada, Raksha Khadse, Muralidhar Mohol, and V Somanna.
Retention of Senior Ministers
Several senior BJP figures retained their positions in the Cabinet, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Piyush Goyal. Additionally, Jyotiraditya Scindia made a comeback to the cabinet, this time as a Lok Sabha MP.
Dropped Ministers from Modi 3.0 Cabinet
19 ministers had lost the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha Elections including big names like Smriti Irani, Arjun Munda, RK Singh, and Rajeev Chandrashekhar. They were dropped from the cabinet ministers' list in the third term of the Modi government. Apart from this, former information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur was dropped from the cabinet despite being re-elected from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur.
International Dignitaries in Attendance
Leaders from neighboring countries graced Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, signifying regional cooperation. The list of foreign designates who attended the ceremony included, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay.
Celebs Attended The Ceremony
The Bollywood luminaries Shahrukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Rajinikanth, alongside industrial tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, graced the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet. Also in attendance were actors Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, and Vikrant Massey.
Over 8,000 guests
According to a report by Times of India, more than 8,000 people were present at the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi.
Suresh Gopi denies resigning from Union council
Suresh Gopi, the first MP from Kerala representing the BJP, has refuted any intention of resigning from the Council of Ministers under Modi 3.0.
In a post on X, the BJP MP said, “A few media platforms are spreading the incorrect news that I am going to resign from the Council of Ministers of the Modi Government. This is grossly incorrect."
Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur Not In Modi 3.0?
BJP leaders and former Union Minister Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, and Narayan Rane will not be part of Modi 3.0 cabinet, sources have said. Ms Irani had lost the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi by over 1.6 lakh votes to Congress loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma. She was the Women and Child Development Minister in the second term of the Modi government.
Modi-led NDA govt must tackle the unemployment problem, especially in unorganised sector, says Rajiv Kumar
Former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar highlighted on Monday that in its third term, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government must address the issue of unemployment, particularly in the unorganised sector and small and medium enterprises. Kumar further stressed the urgency for the government to expedite the finalization of the four labour codes, which have been delayed beyond anticipated timelines.
Industry seeks roadmap to cement India's lead in global digital arena, vows support
The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) has affirmed its commitment to backing India's digital and telecom evolution under the new administration. They have called for a definitive plan that would solidify the nation's position as a leader in digital infrastructure. DIPA expressed eagerness for industry-government collaboration and offered its expertise to propel the country's digital advancement.
"Revolutionary policies like Digital India, Gati Shakti, and PM WiFi Access Network have enabled widespread adoption of digital infrastructure, empowering individuals and businesses across sectors, from small vegetable vendors to grocery stores," Tilak Raj Dua, Director General of DIPA said.
Various Chief Ministers Congratulated PM Modi
‘We Are Moving Towards Golden India Under Leadership Of Modi,' Says Assam CM
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday and offered prayers at the Ram Mandir, said, “… I wanted to do Ram Lalla’s ‘darshan’ for many days… Today, I am happy to come here… I prayed that Modi Ji’s next term should be very well, Assam and the whole country should be very well… In the history of India, this is the first time that any prime minister will take the PM’s oath for the third time. This is historic… We are moving towards a golden India under the leadership of Narendra Modi… Congress has no accountability that even after 10 years, why they could not reach even 100… Had I been in Congress, I would have held the Gandhi family accountable… Just to make sure that they are not answerable, some people are running propaganda and celebrating for a party that has lost…”
Chandrababu Naidu congratulates Narendra Modi for third PM term
Andhra Pradesh's chief minister-designate, N. Chandrababu Naidu, extended his congratulations to Narendra Modi as he took the oath for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. Naidu also expressed his hopes for a prosperous and productive tenure aligned with Modi's vision of a developed India.
"On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I congratulate Modi on being sworn in as the prime minister of India for a remarkable third consecutive term," he said in a post on X on Sunday.
Revanth Reddy congratulates new Union Ministers from Telangana
On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy extended his congratulations to G Kishan Reddy, K Ram Mohan Naidu, and other recently inaugurated Union Ministers representing Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He called upon them to prioritize the enforcement of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and to secure funding and projects from the Central government for the development of both states, as stated in a post on X by Revanth Reddy.
Patnaik congratulates Modi for third consecutive term as PM
Naveen Patnaik, the departing chief minister of Odisha and president of BJD, extended congratulations to Narendra Modiji for securing his third consecutive term as prime minister, which equals a record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with 30 Cabinet ministers, five Ministers of State with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State, took the oath of secrecy and office in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening, administered by President Droupadi Murmu.
PM Modi signs 17th installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, says his govt committed to Kisan Kalyan
Prime Minister Modiji, inaugurating his third term on Monday, has signed the initial document for the disbursement of 'PM Kisan Nidhi'. He has approved the release of the 17th installment of PM Kisan Nidhi, aiming to aid 9.3 crore farmers with a distribution totaling approximately ₹20,000 crore.
“Ours is a government fully committed to Kisan Kalyan. It is, therefore, fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to farmer welfare. We want to keep working even more for the farmers and the agriculture sector in the coming times," PM Modi said after signing the file.
Modi 3.0 sends a strong message of political, and economic stability amidst rising geostrategic uncertainty, said USIBC
Atul Keshap, President of USIBC, remarked that the re-election of Narendra Modiji for a third consecutive term as prime minister conveys a resolute assurance of political and economic steadiness amid escalating global uncertainties. Modiji assumed office as prime minister on Sunday, matching a historical record, and now leads a 72-member Union Council of Ministers within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
How Foreign media covered Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Several international media outlets, including the New York Times and the BBC, reported on the inauguration of Narendra Modiji, who became the first Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive terms following two full preceding terms.
New York Times
The news organization based in the US stated that the inauguration of a humble Narendra Modiji has shifted the political atmosphere in New Delhi. It indicated that Modiji has repositioned himself as the unassuming leader that voters indicated they desired.
"As a humbled Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday for a third term as India’s prime minister, the political air in New Delhi appeared transformed. The election that ended last week stripped Mr. Modi of his parliamentary majority and forced him to turn to a diverse set of coalition partners to stay in power. Now, these other parties are enjoying something that for years was singularly Mr. Modi’s: relevance and the spotlight. Above all, the change can be seen in Mr. Modi himself. For now, at least, the messianic air is gone. He pitches himself as the modest administrator that voters showed they wanted," it said in its report.
BBC
The British news organization delivered an extensive coverage of the large-scale event, centering on the attendance of prominent international figures. Additionally, it emphasized Prime Minister Modi's address, during which he delineated his plans for the forthcoming tenure. Nevertheless, the BBC pointed out that the governing coalition secured victory by a narrower margin than anticipated by the exit polls, in an election characterized by the "resurgence of India's opposition."
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera, a news outlet based in the Gulf, highlighted the worldwide responses to Prime Minister Modi's inauguration ceremony, including congratulatory messages from leaders across the globe. The report delved into his leadership approach and how his policies are perceived on a global scale. Additionally, it emphasized the presence of international dignitaries at the grand event, showcasing India's endeavors to bolster regional connections. Moreover, it raised awareness of potential hurdles the alliance might encounter from figures like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, who possess alliances beyond their own parties, implying that opposition parties may seek to court their favor.
The Guardian
The Guardian's report emphasized the socio-political backdrop of Prime Minister Modi's third tenure. It incorporated viewpoints from political experts regarding the ramifications for India's secular ideals and democratic framework. Additionally, it delved into the effects of PM Modi's initiatives on both domestic affairs and the nation's global position.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg spotlighted the splendor of the inauguration ceremony, graced by 8,000 attendees comprising foreign heads of state, business magnates, and Bollywood luminaries. It remarked on the novelty of Prime Minister Modi sharing authority while reaffirming his leadership.
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