PM Modi to chair key Cabinet Meet today: Ministers ordered to remain in capital

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called an urgent meeting of the Union Council of Ministers today at 4:00 PM, shortly after concluding a five-nation foreign tour. The high-level briefing, scheduled at Delhi's 'Seva Teerth' hall, comes amid a strict directive ordering all Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State to remain in the national capital.

The unscheduled meeting is expected to primarily address the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, focusing heavily on its potential fallout on the Indian economy. Top officials noted that the government is closely tracking global oil price volatility, supply chain bottlenecks, and domestic inflationary pressures triggered by the geopolitical friction.

In response to the brewing crisis, the government has constituted a high-level ministerial panel led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The core committee also includes Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sought to downplay immediate anxieties, assuring that India maintains robust reserves of crude oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
While the defence minister maintained that there is no immediate cause for panic, Prime Minister Modi is expected to personally review the geopolitical landscape and chart out a comprehensive contingency plan for the days ahead.

The meeting also holds significant political weight. As the third Modi government prepares to celebrate its first anniversary on June 10, reports suggest a major cabinet reshuffle and expansion may be on the horizon. With a comprehensive review of various ministries' performances over the past year underway, moves are actively being made to induct new ministers and reassign portfolios by the second week of June. Political circles speculate that a final decision on these changes is expected to be reached during today's meeting.