Indian PM in reshuffle as economy stagnates

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday reshuffled some of his key ministers to refurbish his government’s image, which has been dented by a faltering economy. Modi named Suresh Prabhu as new commerce and industry minister and Piyush Goyal as railways minister. Dharmendra Pradhan was promoted to oil and gas minister. Modi also dropped half a dozen ministers for failing performance.

A surprise was 58-yearold Nirmala Sitharaman’s appointment as the country’s defence minister, an elevation from junior commerce minister.

India’s growth rate has fallen for four quarters in a row to 5.7 per cent in April-june, down from 7.9 per cent in the same quarter last year. Exports have stagnated for the past three years.

“It’s not easy as far as the economy is concerned. There is a slump in the growth rate and industry and farmers’ unrest over fall in incomes,” said Neerja Chowdhury, a political analyst.