The big cabinet: March 2019

• The big cabinet: Narendra Modi was on Thursday sworn in as the country's Prime Minister for a second term in a glittering ceremony at the forecourt of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan. 57 other ministers took oath — 24 cabinet ministers, 9 ministers of state with independent charge and 24 ministers of state. In 2014, Modi had taken oath with 45 ministers (23 cabinet, 10 MoS with independent charge and 12 MoS), sticking to the motto of 'minimum government, maximum governance'. The strength later increased to 70. This time too a similar expansion may be on the cards — a maximum of 81 ministers, 15% of the Lok Sabha strength, is allowed.