Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

The induction of BJP president Amit Shah as Union Home Minister is the centrepiece of the recasting of the Council of Ministers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his second term.

As the undisputed No. 2 in the Modi Cabinet, Shah is set to emerge as possibly the most powerful Home Minister of India since Sardar Patel.

As the Prime Minister's top aide, Shah will be expected to initiate measures to visibly improve the internal security situation in the country. His approach on Jammu and Kashmir militancy and Naxal violence in central India will be very closely watched.

Under Shah's charge, the Union Home Ministry could also be expected to play a role on key political agendas of the ruling BJP. These include the building of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, repeal of Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, implementation of the Citizens Bill. He will also be expected to initiate police reform.

The new Defence Minister will be required to summon his extensive political and administrative experience in not just providing political leadership to the armed forces but also make procurements quicker and put the Make in India agenda for Defence Production on the right track.

The previous Ministers for Home and Defence, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman respectively cross the road on Raisina Hill. Sitharaman moves from South Block to North Block as Finance Minister, while Singh moves from North Block to South Block as Defence Minister.

While Sitharaman is expected to take a more sympathetic view of financial allocations for her erstwhile charge, Defence, for Singh, it will be a steep learning curve in a complex and sensitive ministry with high political stakes and a massive budget.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Civil Aviation Minister

Singh is a political heavyweight, a long time senior leader of the BJP who has been party president three times, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Agriculture Minister in the Vajpayee Government before serving a full term as Home Minister. The new Defence Minister will be required to summon his extensive political and administrative experience in not just providing political leadership to the armed forces but also make procurements quicker and put the Make in India agenda for Defence Production on the right track.

The surprise induction into the Group of the Big Four central ministers is without doubt that of former Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as External Affairs Minister. A Modi favourite from the Indian Foreign Service, Jaishankar will provide professional leadership to the Ministry, and ensure diplomatic nimble footedness to the Prime Minister's initiatives. The Government will leverage his expertise on the US and China. He has served as ambassador in both countries.

His induction is expected to reduce the role of the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in foreign policy. Jaishankar is the second professional diplomat after Natwar Singh to be India's External Affairs Minister.

Ajit Doval's retention as National Security Adviser will provide continuity on security policy.

Another minister with a heavy duty mandate is the other former diplomat, Hardeep Puri. Although a second-tier minister of state, his multiple portfolios covering vital ministries reveal how central he is to the agenda of the Modi Government. He will have independent charge of the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Housing & Urban Affairs. He will also be the No. 2 minister for Commerce and Industry, where he is expected to use his diplomatic expertise to provide leadership in complex international negotiations in trade issues.

As Minister of Civil Aviation, Puri will have to give urgent attention to a supportive policy to prevent airlines from going bankrupt. Jet Airways has been grounded since April, and the Government-owned Air India is bleeding. The Ministry under him will also be expected to take a quick decision on the privatisation of Air India, the reform of the regulatory body, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, and the inclusion of aviation fuel under the GST mandate to give relief to airlines

As Minister of Civil Aviation, Puri will have to give urgent attention to a supportive policy to prevent airlines from going bankrupt. Jet Airways has been grounded since April, and the Government-owned Air India is bleeding. The Ministry under him will also be expected to take a quick decision on the privatisation of Air India, the reform of the regulatory body, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, and the inclusion of aviation fuel under the GST mandate to give relief to airlines.

The Prime Minister's big policy initiative, the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN to make aviation accessible to the common man in smaller towns will also need to be review, leadership and a big push.

The big concern of the Civil Aviation community is that Puri may not be able to give adequate attention to the Ministry due to his very heavy workload in multiple ministries.