Reshuffle or an image makeover? Cabinet now has only 4 undergraduates
- All, except four of the newly inducted members have a strong academic background and years of experience in politics.
- The Centre is looking forward to a combination that have administrative capabilities with strong educational qualification.
- Uma Bharti has been shifted from Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to drinking water and sanitation.
FollowModi's team in 2014 and the newly inducted one yesterday has a lot in difference. It seems as if the government is trying to find the best combination of Cabinet ministers after innumerable permutation and combination, depending on the performance and the credibility of the ministers. There, certainly, has been an upliftment in the minister portfolio since 2014, barring a few who have been retained on the basis of their credibility in a chosen field.Â
Interestingly, as if the Centre is steering away from any further controversy pertaining to the educational qualification of its minister, it has decided to induct people who are highly educated and have enough administrative capabilities. From IAS officers to sportsmen, the Cabinet comprises of lawmakers and finance experts who have achieved it all in the field of administration and academics. However, there are a few from the previous batch who still retain their cabinet portfolios or have been shifted to  less important profiles, presumably because of their lack of expertise and poor performance.Â
Uma Bharti: Previously the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, she is a class 5 pass out. Apparently, she has been downsized to drinking water and sanitation. She has been replaced by Nitin Gadkari. Nitin Gadkari is an M.Com and LLB from the University of NagpurÂ
Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati: Although just a matriculate, Ashok Gajapati Raju Pusapati was inducted in the Cabinet as the minister of Civil Aviation in the year 2014 itself. Elected from Vizianagaram, he is the only member from the Lok Sabha to make it to the Cabinet rank from Andhra Pradesh and continues to hold the portfolio.
Anant Geete: Anant Geete is Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thakeray's trusted lieutenant in Delhi. A matriculate, he was given the portfolio of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in 2014 itself. He continues to hold that post.
Maneka Gandhi: Animal-rights activist Maneka Gandhi was inducted as the Minister of Women and Child Development. She has passed the Indian School Certificate examination for Grade 12. Ironically, Virendra Kumar, who holds a masters in economics and  PhD in child labour has been inducted as the MoS of Women and Child Development in the latest batch.
Smriti Irani: She was handed over the Human Resources Department in 2014, but was shifted to Information and Broadcasting and Textiles. A B.Com Part-I pass out, she has retained the portfolio of I&B and Textiles, mostly because of her performance in these fields.
