Several new ministers assume office

Several new ministers in the Narendra Modi government today took charge of their ministries while heavyweights like Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will do so tomorrow.
Shiv Sena's senior leader Anant Geete did not assume the charge of the Heavy Industries Ministry today as he was believed to be unhappy over his portfolio.
Getting down to business a day after he was sworn in along with 45 others in the new government, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley pledged to contain price rise, restore confidence of investors in the economy and promote growth while keeping the fiscal deficit under check.

Jaitley, who also dons the mantle as Defence minister, said the process of acquiring weapon needs to be accelerated while ensuring that there are no "avoidable controversies".
Though Rajnath will assume charge as Home Minister tomorrow, he directed Home Secretary Anil Goswami to prepare a detailed presentation on the country's internal security situation and other key issues.
He was briefed by the Home Secretary on various issues concerning the ministry.
Swaraj will formally take charge as External Affairs Minister tomorrow but she had a hectiv day today being aprt of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delegation during his meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other SAARC leaders.

Senior BJP leader and former party president Gadkari, the new minister for Road Transport & Highways (RTH) and Shipping will also assume office on Wednesday after returning from Nagpur.