S Jaishankar, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was sworn in as a Union Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He previously held the position of External Affairs Minister during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term (2019-2024) and has been a BJP Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since 2019.
S Jaishankar takes oath as Union Minister in PM Modi’s cabinet
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Before the official ceremony, the Prime Minister-designate hosted a traditional high tea at his residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital. During this gathering, he engaged with Parliament members expected to join his Cabinet and Council of Ministers, with S Jaishankar in attendance. Known for his sharp wit and eloquence, Jaishankar has played a significant role in shaping India’s foreign policy for the past decade.
Before becoming the External Affairs Minister in 2019, he served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018 and notably became the first person to transition from Foreign Secretary to External Affairs Minister. His tenure as India’s EAM in 2019 was marked by global uncertainties and conflicts.
During his tenure, India prioritized ‘Nation First’ amidst events like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas war, and the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting both India’s economy and the global stage.
India condemned civilian killings in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, advocating for a peaceful resolution, while continuing to purchase Russian oil despite Western pressure. In the Israel-Hamas war, India condemned terror attacks and supported the ‘two-state solution’ for the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Earlier, Jaishankar served as a third secretary and second secretary at the Indian Embassy in the Soviet Union. He also worked as an undersecretary in the Ministry of External Affairs’ Americas Division. In a notable statement about Western pressure regarding Russia, Jaishankar remarked that Europe needs to move beyond the belief that its issues are global concerns while global issues may not necessarily concern Europe.