Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new cabinet was sworn in for a historic third term on Sunday, June 9, 2024 in New Delhi.
The ceremony was attended by leaders from India’s neighborhood and the Indian Ocean region, including the Presidents of Maldives and Seychelles, and Prime Ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, securing a majority to form the government. While this was a decisive victory, it represented a slimmer majority compared to the BJP’s previous wins in 2014 and 2019, which could pose some challenges for the government’s reform agenda.
The swearing-in ceremony was a grand affair, with extensive preparations made to ensure a smooth event for the approximately 8,000 guests, including professionals, dignitaries, leaders, and officials.
The event was seen as a celebration of India’s vibrant democracy and the aspirations of its people.
Modi was formally named to lead the NDA coalition at a meeting of 15 alliance partners on Wednesday, June 5th.
The ceremony also featured some unique touches, such as the invitation extended to Surekha Yadav, the pilot of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Solapur Vande Bharat train, along with 10 other loco pilots of the Indian Railways.
