Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over a comprehensive Council of Ministers meeting this Thursday at 4 PM in Delhi's Seva Teerth. This marks his first significant government engagement following a recent foreign tour. All Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge, and ministers of state have been instructed to be present in the national capital for the crucial discussions.
West Asia Crisis Dominates Discussion
The timing and mandatory attendance underscore the gravity of the agenda, with two primary issues expected to take precedence. The ongoing conflict in West Asia and its economic repercussions for India are slated for prominent discussion. The government has been closely monitoring global oil prices, fuel supply chains, and domestic inflation amidst escalating regional tensions.
A high-powered informal group of ministers, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has already been established to continuously assess the crisis and recommend strategies to insulate India from potential disruptions. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Hardeep Singh Puri are key members of this monitoring group.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently affirmed, "Whether it is crude oil, energy, or LPG even today, we have enough stocks. There is no particular problem," providing the government's most recent public assessment of the supply situation.
PM Modi is expected to conduct a direct review of the evolving situation, with Thursday’s meeting serving as the formal platform for this assessment.
Cabinet Reshuffle Speculation Intensifies
Adding to its political weight, the meeting also fuels growing speculation about a potential cabinet reshuffle. Sources indicate that discussions regarding an expansion and reorganization of the Union Council of Ministers have gained momentum. Changes could reportedly occur in the second week of June, coinciding with the Modi 3.0 government's first anniversary on June 10.
Government leadership has been engaged in reviewing ministerial performance and assessing organizational functionality as preparatory groundwork for any such exercise. The timing of this all-ministers meeting, called just weeks before the anticipated reshuffle window, intensifies the belief that these conversations are moving from informal discussions to formal considerations.