Nine new faces were sworn-in by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 10.30 this morning as part ofNarendra Modi-led NDA government's cabinet reshuffle. This is the third, and probably the last such rejig ahead of the 2019 General Elections.
At least half a dozen Union ministers were asked to quit earlier, to allow Mr. Modi headroom for this massive rejig.
Important ministries like Defence, environment, information and broadcasting and urban development are being held as additional charges.
Live updates
12.20 p.m: The first confirmation that has come our way is that Arun Jaitley will retain his portfolios of Finance and Defence. No full-time Defence Minister after all.
Meanwhile, as we write, Narendra Modi boards the flight for Xiamen, China for the BRICS Summit. A sign that the remaining portfolios will be announced soon?
11.40 a.m: Piyush Goyal is most likely to get the Railways ministry. We're still waiting for the portfolios to be announced. Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to retain Commerce and Industry. Mr. Goyal and Ms. Sitharaman were promoted to Cabinet rank today.
Will there be a full-time defence minister? Military circles are hoping for one. Read on.
11.35 a.m: The portfolios are yet to be announced. What's in store for Suresh Prabhu, currently the Railways Minister? His tweet didn't offer any clues but he's bidding farewell to his portfolio: "Thanks to all 13 Lacs+ rail family for their support,love,goodwill.I will always cherish these memories with me.Wishing u all a great life."
11.30 a.m: Here's what Narendra Modi tweeted: "I congratulate all those who have taken oath today. Their experience & wisdom will add immense value to the Council of Ministers."
11.10 a.m: Uma Bharti, Water Resources Minister, was absent at the ceremony today. Here's what she tweeted: "I am not in Varanasi. I am in my constituency Jhansi-Lalitpur for participating in some pre-scheduled event."
11.04 a.m: 13 Ministers have taken oath today. All rise for the National anthem.
11.02 a.m: Alphons Kannanthanam takes oath as Minister of State. He takes oath in English.
Alphons Kannanthanam is a former IAS officer of the 1979 batch, Kerala cadre. He is also a practicing advocate. He became famous as Delhi's Demolition Man when he was Commissioner of the Delhi Development Authority, having cleared DDA areas of encroachment removing around 15,000 illegal buildings. This got him listed in Time Magazine's list of 100 Young Global Leaders in 1994.
11.00 a.m: Satya Pal Singh takes oath as Minister of State.
Satya Pal Singh is a Lok Sabha MP from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit.
10.59 a.m: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat takes oath as Minister of State.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and Chairperson of the Fellowship Committee. As a technology-savvy, progressive farmer; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is a role model for the rural community.
10.56: Hardeep Singh Puri takes oath as Minister of State. He takes oath in English.
Hardeep Puri is a decorated former IFS officer of the 1974 batch, known for his experience and expertise in foreign policy and national security. He is the President and Chairman of Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) think tank, and was the Vice President of International Peace Institute, New York.
10.55: Raj Kumar Singh takes oath as Minister of State.
Raj Kumar Singh is a Lok Sabha MP from Arrah, Bihar. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Health and Family Welfare, Personnel, Pensions and Public Grievances and Law & Justice. Raj Kumar Singh is a former IAS officer of the 1975 batch, Bihar cadre.
10.52 a.m: Ananth Kumar Hegde takes oath as Minister of State.
Anantkumar Hegde is a Lok Sabha MP from Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and Human Resource Development.
10.50 a.m: Virendra Kumar gets sworn in as Minister of State.
Virendra Kumar is a Lok Sabha MP from Tikamgah, Madhya Pradesh. He has had a distinguished career in Public Service as a 6 term Lok Sabha MP. He is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, and has been Chairman of the Joint Committee on Office of Profit and a Member of National Social Security Board.
10.48 a.m: Ashwini Kumar Chaubey takes oath as Minister of State.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey is a Lok Sabha MP from Buxar, Bihar. He is member of the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates and Standing Committee on Energy. He is also a Member of Central Silk Board. Elected for 5 consecutive terms to the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He has held important portfolios including Health, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering as a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Bihar for 8 years.
10.46 a.m: Shiv Pratap Shukla takes oath as Minister of State.
Shiv Pratap Shukla is a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development. Elected a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for 4 consecutive times in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1996. Served as a Cabinet Minister in the Uttar Pradesh government for 8 years, and is known for his work in Rural Development, Education and Prison reform during his tenure.
10.44 a.m: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi takes oath. He gets a promotion to Cabinet rank.
10.42 a.m: Nirmala Sitharaman steps forward. She takes oath in English. She gets a promotion.
10.40 a.m: Piyush Goyal takes oath. He gets a promotion.
10.38 a.m: Dharmendra Pradhan takes oath. He is elevated to Cabinet rank.
10.35 a.m: Should have begun five minutes ago. Slight delay by the looks of it. All rise again. President Ramnath Kovind makes his way in. The national anthem plays.
10.22 a.m: People are taking their seats at Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Who'll get Railways? Who'll get Defence? The suspense is on.
Narendra Modi makes his arrival. All rise.
10.05 a.m: K. C. Tyagi, spokesperson of the Janata Dal (United) has said that no-one from his party is taking oath today, or attending the ceremony, for that matter. "Not attending the swearing in ceremony does not mean there is any difference between us and BJP," Mr Tyagi said.
The ceremony begins at 10.30 a.m. The ministers will take oath at Durbar Hall, Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
9.50 a.m: Amit Shah has left Mr. Modi's residence. It's a busy Sunday for the Prime Minister as he leaves later today for Xiamen, China, for the BRICS summit on September 4.
9.15 a.m: BJP President Amit Shah arrives at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to meet the new ministers about to take oath. As we edge closer to the ceremony, word going around is these four ministers - Nirmala Sitharaman, M.A Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan - are likely to be promoted to the cabinet.
(Inputs from Nistula Hebbar)