Modi Cabinet Reshuffle Enters Final Phase; Major Shakeup Likely Within Days
PM Narendra Modi chairs Cabinet Committee on Security amid US-Iran war (Image PIB)
By MANISH ANAND
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated Cabinet reshuffle has entered a decisive phase, with indications of significant changes in the Union Council of Ministers. The exercise is expected to combine governance priorities, political messaging and preparations for upcoming electoral challenges.
New Delhi, June 24, 2026 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday has set the ball rolling for an impending shakeup in the council of ministers. The Prime Minister is likely to shed at least half a dozen ministers for organisational roles within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sources said the Prime Minister with the shakeup in the council of ministers seeks to “jolt the ministers out of inertia.” “The Cabinet reshuffle will be a major exercise. A sense has been felt within the government that some of the ministers have delivered far below performances. Many of such ministers will be dropped,” said a senior BJP functionary.
A senior government official said that the impending Cabinet reshuffle is widely being discussed in ministries, with some of the ministers “looking tensed and uncertain about their respective future.” “The PMO monitoring of the ministries had intensified from the beginning of the third term of this government. The PMO among other cues also has data sets on the file pendency in ministries, which besides secretaries will also weigh on ministers,” said a senior official.
Pending vacancies in positions of the BJP presidents in a few states will be filled by some of the ministers who will be released from the government, said informed sources. Lateral entry for domain experts in the council of ministers, though only a few, is also not ruled out.
While age, region, and poll-bound states are likely to be some of the factors impacting the decisions for the Cabinet reshuffle, informed sources said that the Prime Minister will seek to “infuse energy in some of the ministries which have shown lacklustre performances in recent years.”
The Modi government is apparently making efforts to be seen positively with GenZ, the youngsters, and a few faces from lower age segments may become beneficiaries of the trends to the disadvantage of elders in the government.
Within the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security), minor tweaks are not ruled out. With Piyush Goyal already having spent much of his time interacting with Americans for the ongoing talks on bilateral trade deal, he’s likely to persist with the Ministry of Commerce even while speculations are running rife that he may replace Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
FAQs
1. Why is the Modi government considering a Cabinet reshuffle?
Cabinet reshuffles are typically undertaken to improve governance, reward performance, strengthen political representation and prepare for future electoral challenges.
2. When is the Cabinet reshuffle expected?
While no official date has been announced, political signals suggest the exercise could take place in the coming days or weeks.
3. Will new faces be inducted into the Cabinet?
Cabinet reshuffles often involve a mix of new inductions, portfolio changes and the exit of some ministers.
4. Which ministries could see changes?
Speculation usually centers on ministries where performance, political considerations or strategic priorities warrant a review, though official decisions remain confidential until announced.
5. How significant could this reshuffle be?
Reports and political assessments indicate it could be one of the more consequential reshuffles of Modi’s third term, potentially affecting several key portfolios.
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