The new Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an imprint of continuity and caution that has been the hallmark of Modi’s leadership.

The continuity is visible in the decision to retain Nitin Gadkari, Ramvilas Paswan, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan in the portfolios held by them in the outgoing government.

By deputing his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah to the home ministry, PM Modi aims at leveraging the party president’s experience as home minister of Gujarat. The shifting of Nirmala Sitharaman from defence to finance is recognition of her stout defence of the Rafale deal in face of onslaught from Congress party president Rahul Gandhi.

Nirmala Sitharaman will be the second woman finance minister of the country after a gap of nearly half a century. She is not a stranger to North Block, having been the minister of state under Arun Jaitley in the early days of the first Modi government. Her mettle would be tested as the economy faces turbulent time ahead on jobs and liquidity crisis in the non banking financial companies.

Rajnath Singh’s shift to defence ministry is recognition of his seniority and the importance of Uttar Pradesh in the political set up. Narendra Singh Tomar will play an important role as agriculture at this time in large parts of country faces near drought condition and economic distress.

S Jaishankar’s appointment will enable the Prime Minister to draw on his experience as a known China expert, who was India’s envoy to US in the initial days of Modi at the helm of the country. The rising tensions between US and China as the two are locked in a trade war provides a mature hand to guide India’s foreign policy forays with an economic focus.

The surprise elevation of Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ as HRD minister is a major boost for the former Uttarakhand Chief Minister. Smriti Z. Irani has been given charge of women and child development ministry along with textiles that she held in the outgoing government.

Piyush Goyal, who held fort at the finance ministry during Jaitley’s absence on health grounds twice in the past, apart from retaining railways has also been made in charge of the commerce ministry. There will be pressure to raise India’s exports in choppy world trade.

Prakash Javadekar, who was the HRD minister, gets to retain the ministry of environment, forest and climate change and will be the new information and broadcasting minister.

Hardeep Puri inspite of defeat in Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, has been given charge of civil aviation ministry along with urban development ministry he held in the last government. Will Puri pull off the disinvestment of Air India? Only time will tell.

Coming days will put the mettle of Modi to test.

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