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Why PM Modi chose Nirmala Sitharaman for the finance ministry job

The top job in the finance ministry opened up as Arun Jaitley, who held the position during Modi's first five-year term, made himself unavailable for health reasons

Newly appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge at South Block, in New Delhi
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Newly appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge at South Block, in New Delhi

Andy Mukherjee | Bloomberg
Partly by default, and partly by design, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has managed to assemble a newish-looking team for his second term. Hopefully, the freshness will carry over to ideas.

The top job in the finance ministry opened up as Arun Jaitley, who held the position during Modi’s first five-year term, made himself unavailable for health reasons. 
 
The prime minister picked Nirmala Sitharaman to become India's first full-time female finance minister. (1) Sitharaman previously handled defense and commerce but lacks the experience typical for what's traditionally considered the cabinet's No. 2 job, having been a member of parliament for only five