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Indian PM expands his cabinet of ministers

Xinhua, July 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday expanded his cabinet, inducting 19 new faces in his Council of Ministers.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office to all the new ministers at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan (his official residence) in the heart of the national capital.

The new entrants included some junior ministers or ministers of state and not of Cabinet rank, though some may get independent charge of their ministries, sources said.

Though there have no changes in the top four ministries -- home, defense, finance and external affairs, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is to shed the charge of Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Sources said six ministers could be dropped as the council can't have more than 82 members as per the Indian Constitution. It currently has 66 ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Endit