SPECIAL: NEW MINISTERS, NEW AGENDA

Ministers indicate how they wish to go about doing their work

With the induction of 22 new ministers in the Cabinet and changes in the portfolios of several others, the face of the UPA-II has received a complete makeover. The news ministers seem to have come with a clear objective: give the government the image of being effective and reform-oriented. On Day-II of their jobs, some ministers got cracking, making no bones about the fact that they mean business

Power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia plans to sort out fuel issues with coal minstry

New power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, while assuming charge of the ministry today, said he wants to sort out “fuel issues” with the coal ministry. This, however, is set to be an uphill task for the Guna Member of Parliament (MP). While the quantum of fresh power capacity languishing for want of coal is at an all-time high, the coal sector is itself going through a policy upheaval unprecedented in recent history. Read more

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal bats for fare hike

Passenger fares might see an increase as Pawan Kumar Bansal, the newly appointed railway Minister, batted for a hike in railway fares, as soon as he assumed office in Rail Bhawan today. Bansal is the fifth minister in little over three years to have assumed charge of the Railways that is currently passing through one of its toughest period. Read more

No intention to regulate media: Manish Tewari

Manish Tewari, who today took charge as Information and Broadcasting minister, said his ministry's job was not to regulate the media, but to ensure a level-playing field for everyone and highlight the policies of the central government. "I think at the end of the day, as I earlier pointed out, that this ministry or given the nature of the medium, we don't really have a regulatory remit. We have a remit which is essentially to see that the ground rules are properly laid out," Tewari said. Read more

Oil Minister Moily vows speedy decisions

New oil minister Veerappa Moily has promised to speed decision making in an effort to attract foreign investment, and will push domestic oil companies to aggressively bid for foreign oil and gas assets to meet growing energy demand. Moily was appointed as the country's new Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, replacing Jaipal Reddy, as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle unveiled on Sunday. Read more

 

Minority Affairs Minister favours reservation for backward Muslims

New Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan strongly favours reservation for backward Muslims as well as for Dalits among Christians and Muslims notwithstanding the Supreme Court's observation on the sub-quota issue.The minister also intends to carry forward reforms in the administration of Wakfs across the country and bring a revised bill for this in the Winter Session of Parliament. Read more