Nearly 60 ministers in the union government, the distinction of the sole promotion today belonged to Prakash Javadekar, who moved from Minister of State to the cabinet.
Mr. Javadekar was on his way to Germany when he was phoned and asked to return for today's cabinet expansion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which saw 19 additions to his council of ministers; five have been removed in the first major reconfiguration of the government since 2014.
Mr. Javadekar, who has for two years headed the Environment Ministry, was originally also Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, but lost those two portfolios in November 2014.
Mr. Javadekar, a former banker, represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. He was a Rajya Sabha lawmaker in 2008, but was not a member of parliament when Prime Minister Modi formed his government.
Mr. Javadekar, 65, who is a commerce graduate, won props within his party for being an effective spokesperson when the BJP was the main opposition party.
Placed in charge of Andhra Pradesh, he is credited with bringing the ruling party in the state - Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, into the national coalition headed by the BJP in April 2014.
Mr. Javadekar was on his way to Germany when he was phoned and asked to return for today's cabinet expansion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which saw 19 additions to his council of ministers; five have been removed in the first major reconfiguration of the government since 2014.
Mr. Javadekar, who has for two years headed the Environment Ministry, was originally also Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, but lost those two portfolios in November 2014.
Mr. Javadekar, a former banker, represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. He was a Rajya Sabha lawmaker in 2008, but was not a member of parliament when Prime Minister Modi formed his government.
Mr. Javadekar, 65, who is a commerce graduate, won props within his party for being an effective spokesperson when the BJP was the main opposition party.
Placed in charge of Andhra Pradesh, he is credited with bringing the ruling party in the state - Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, into the national coalition headed by the BJP in April 2014.