OBCs, women, youth: Details of PM Modi's new 'rainbow' Cabinet

NEW DELHI: As many as 43 leaders took oath as ministers on Wednesday in the new and expanded

Union Cabinet

headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 43 ministers who took oath today include seven incumbent ministers who have been elevated as well as 36 new inductees.



The big overhaul, the first since PM Modi took charge for the second term in 2019, was done with an eye on giving due representation to several groups, including OBCs, women and state leaders with strong administrative experience.

Top government sources defined the new Union Cabinet as a "rainbow council" that brings out the vibrancy and colour across India's communities and regions, representing the aspirations of 130 crore Indians.



Sources said the expansion focused on representation from all sections of the society. The revamped Cabinet includes women leaders, leaders from backward classes, young faces as well as professionals. Leaders from several states have also been given adequate representation in the revamped Cabinet.

Here's a quick glance at the new Union Cabinet:
OBC, Dalit imprint
* The Cabinet has a record 27 ministers from Other Backward Castes, out of which five will be of Cabinet rank. The ministers represent various castes including Yadav, Gurjar, Jat, Thakor, Lodh, etc.

* The Cabinet also has as many as 12 ministers belonging to the

Scheduled Castes

. The 12 ministers represent various Dalit communities such as Chamar-Ramdassia, Khatik, Pasi, Kori, Madiga, Mahar, Arundathiyar, Meghwal, Rajbonshi, Matua-Namashudra, Dhangar, Dusadh.

* It will also have eight ministers belonging to the

Scheduled Tribes

, coming from states like Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam and representing communities like Gond, Santal, Miji, Munda, Tea tribe, Kokana and Sonowal-Kachari

* Two SC and two

ST

ministers will be of Cabinet rank, sources said.



Minorities and other communities
* The Cabinet will also have representation from minorities like Sikh and Muslims. Three leaders belonging to the minorities will be of Cabinet rank.

* As many as 29 ministers belong to various other communities such as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Baniya, Bhumihar, Kayasth, Lingayat, Khatri, Kadva and Leuva Patel, Maratha, Reddy.

Women representation
* The new Cabinet has 11 women ministers from nine different states.

* Two of them were sworn in as Cabinet ministers.

Mix of young and old
* The Cabinet has a strong mix of young leaders as well as those with experience.

* The Cabinet has several youngsters with the mean age now down to 58 compared the outgoing Cabinet's 61.

* As many as 14 ministers are below the age of 50, including six who will be Cabinet ministers.

* The Cabinet also has several seasoned administrators and legislators.

* As many as 46 leaders have previously served as ministers in the central government.

* Four former chief ministers are also part of the new Cabinet. As many as 18 have served as ministers in various state governments and 39 are former MLAs.

Professionals

* The Cabinet also includes leaders with professional expertise.

* It has 13 lawyers, six doctors, five engineers and seven civil servants. Seven new ministers have PhDs, three hold MBA degrees.

* In all, 68 ministers have graduate degrees.

Pan-India

representation
* The Cabinet now includes ministers from 25 states and Union Territories.

* Even within states, the ministers represent various different regions.

* The Cabinet also has new faces from West Bengal, the state where BJP made major gains in the recent assembly elections.

* As many as five ministers belong to four northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.

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