Photos: Modi government’s second term swearing-in at Rashtrapati Bhawan

Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister for a second term on Thursday at the head of a 25-member cabinet in which he enlisted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and close confidant Amit Shah, dropped several key members of the outgoing government and attempted to accommodate most partners in the ruling coalition, but failed to convince key ally Nitish Kumar to join his new ministerial council. A look at the ceremony’s key moments.

Updated on: May 31, 2019 11:51 AM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

The forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, overlooked by the dome of the President’s residence was lit up in the colours of the national flag for the occasion, hosted an audience of around 7000 people including politicians, businessmen and movie personalities for the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi’s second government. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

2/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Among the business leaders who attended the event were Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, Ratan Tata and N Chandrasekaran of the Tata group, Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group, Gautan Adani, Ajay Piramal, Uday Kotak, Bharti Enterprises’ Rajan Mittal, Arcelor Mirral’s LN Mittal, PayTM’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Infosys’s NR Naraya Murthy. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

3/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Leaders or envoys from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, were in attendance at the ceremony. BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand , Nepal and Bhutan. Also present were the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

4/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Although not too many opposition leaders were present at the event, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi came together and sat in the first row. As did former prime Minister Manmohan Singh. BJP leader Uma Bharti could be seen briefly chatting with a smiling Sonia Gandhi. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

5/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

As the sun went behind the dome, the full frame of the council of ministers of the new government came to light. In all, 58 ministers were administered their oaths of office by President Ram Nath Kovind, who gently ticked off one or two for skipping key words and helpfully prompted a few others. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

6/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

First time Member of Parliament, 55-year-old Amit Shah is set to become the second-most powerful person in Narendra Modi’s council of ministers after Thursday’s official swearing in. There had been strong speculation that Shah joining the government as a cabinet minister was inevitable when he fought and won the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. He is slotted to get a top portfolio, perhaps even finance. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

7/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs oaths of office and secrecy affidavits after taking oath. The around 110-minute-long programme was cheered on by Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party supporters with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (which the Telangana MP, G Kishan Reddy, managed to incorporate into his oath), “Har Har Mahadev” and “Modi, Modi.” (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

8/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Six women ministers were inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new Cabinet on Thursday evening. Senior BJP leaders Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani (pictured) and Harsimrat Kaur Badal are some of the prominent women ministers in the newly elected government. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Renuka Singh Saruta and Debashree Chowdhury for the other half. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

9/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Amit Shah, whose inclusion in the cabinet was administered the oaths after Modi and Rajnath Singh, indicating the order of seniority in the new government, which took office exactly a week after results from the 17th general elections were declared. Singh will continue to enjoy the number two status in the Modi government, which means he chairs the meeting of the cabinet in the absence of the prime minister. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

10/10

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on May 31, 2019 11:51 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of his cabinet stand for national anthem after taking oath during swearing-in ceremony. The ceremony ended with a group photo. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)