India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a third consecutive term, announcing his Cabinet lineup that includes key ministers from his previous administration, despite his party's unexpected loss of majority in the recent election.
The top four ministries remain unchanged, with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar returning as the External Affairs Minister, Amit Shah as Home Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister, and Rajnath Singh as Defense Minister.
Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell short of securing a majority on its own in the six-week-long election, but his National Democratic Alliance coalition garnered enough seats to form the government, with Modi at the helm.
This marks the first time in a decade that the BJP has needed support from regional allies to govern, with the coalition winning 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament.
Despite winning 240 seats, below the 272 needed for a majority, Modi's BJP remains in power with the backing of key regional allies, the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United).
Modi's government, which includes 71 ministers, was sworn in at India's presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan, with a majority from the BJP and its NDA allies. Notably, only seven women ministers were appointed, with no representation from the Muslim community.
The election results, contrary to exit polls, have left Modi's coalition reliant on regional allies to maintain power, potentially requiring a shift in governance style for the Prime Minister.
Modi, known for his Hindu nationalist stance, has been praised for economic growth and global diplomacy, but critics accuse him of eroding India's secular values and democratic principles, particularly through actions against minority groups and restrictions on dissent.
His opponents capitalized on economic concerns, highlighting issues like unemployment and inequality despite overall growth, resonating with voters and challenging Modi's leadership.
