PM Modi to chair key Council of Ministers meeting amid buzz over Cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair a full Council of Ministers meeting on May 21. The review comes amid intensifying speculation over a Cabinet expansion and reshuffle ahead of the government's first anniversary.

In Short

• All Cabinet ministers and ministers of state are expected to attend
• The agenda includes reviewing schemes, programmes, ministries and departmental functioning
• Speculation has risen before Modi 3.0 completes its first year in office

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair an important meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on May 21 amid growing speculation over a possible expansion and reshuffle of the Modi 3.0 Cabinet, official sources said on Thursday.

The meeting is expected to be attended by all Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge and ministers of state. Sources said the meeting will review the implementation of various government schemes and programmes, along with the functioning of ministries and departments.

The meeting assumes added political significance as discussions over a possible Cabinet reshuffle have intensified ahead of the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 government, which was sworn in on June 10, 2024. According to sources, a Cabinet expansion and reshuffle could take place in the second week of June.

The proposed meeting also comes shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam, as well as the return of the National Democratic Alliance government in Puducherry.

Prime Minister Modi has periodically convened meetings of the full Council of Ministers to discuss governance priorities and policy implementation. However, the May 21 meeting is being closely watched in political circles due to the timing and the ongoing speculation over possible changes in the Union Cabinet.

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