finance minister

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet to 33 ministers, with 23 new additions taking the oath. Notably, first-time MLA Marie Wilson was appointed finance minister, replacing an experienced predecessor. This marks the first coalition cabinet in Tamil Nadu since independence, with Congress MLAs securing portfolios and a record seven Dalit ministers included.

Tamil Nadu finance minister K A Sengottaiyan criticized AIADMK's weakening under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, attributing it to his leadership style. He also commented on the new TVK government, highlighting Chief Minister Vijay's financial crisis handling abilities and the government's swift actions on women's safety and liquor shop closures.

finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that reducing fuel excise duties would cost Rs 1 lakh crore, emphasizing India's need for confidence over fearmongering amidst rising petrol and diesel prices. She highlighted the resilience of India's domestic economy despite global pressures on fuel, fertilizer, and forex, urging focus on these "three Fs".

Congress MP Vivek Tankha has alerted the government to soaring airfares impacting Indian workers in the Gulf. He urged ministers to make travel affordable for the summer vacation period, citing that current fixed travel allowances are insufficient. Millions of families are now unable to reunite annually due to the doubled costs, creating a significant economic burden.

Congress returns to power in Tamil Nadu after 59 years with two legislators sworn in as ministers. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet, rewarding loyalists and allies, and notably inducted seven Dalit ministers, the highest ever. The new cabinet also features two Brahmin ministers and is one of the youngest in the state's history.

finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on February 1, 2026 with a focus on driving economic growth and making India a developed country by 2047, under the Viksit Bharat vision.

Amid West Asia fuel supply concerns, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has mandated all new government vehicle purchases from June 1 to be electric. Directives also include prioritizing virtual meetings, carpooling for senior officers, and a 10% reduction in monthly fuel consumption across all government departments.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expanded his cabinet, inducting Vanni Arasu from VCK and AM Shahjahan from IUML. This move strengthens coalition representation, bringing the total number of ministers to 33. The expansion follows a recent reshuffle, with key portfolios like Finance and Revenue reassigned.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver a significant milestone by virtually presenting over 51,000 appointment letters to new government employees from his office in Delhi. Known as the 19th Rojgar Mela, this event includes new recruits in crucial sectors such as railways and home affairs, with simultaneous celebrations unfolding at 47 locations across the country.

India's economy faces pressure from the US-Iran conflict, impacting fuel prices, fertiliser subsidies, and forex reserves, finance minister Sitharaman warned. Meanwhile, West Bengal opened its first holding centre for suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals. In Karnataka, a leadership decision for the Congress is imminent, while Iran demands $12 billion in frozen assets before US talks.

Kerala's new UDF government, led by CM VD Satheesan, has formed a special committee to prepare a White Paper on the state's financial condition, headed by ex-cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar. This move follows allegations of financial mismanagement by the previous government. The cabinet also established an SIT to probe attacks during the Nava Kerala Yatra.

Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has urged Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to include petrol and diesel under the GST framework at the next GST Council meeting. Citing rising fuel costs and inflationary pressures, Patra highlighted the constitutional provision for GST inclusion and the price disparities caused by varying state VAT rates.

In an inspiring move to combat unemployment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually handed out appointment letters to fresh recruits nationwide during the 19th Rozgar Mela. This ambitious initiative took place in 47 locations, including four in Bihar, highlighting the government's commitment to youth employment through open and transparent hiring processes.