India’s governance structure relies heavily on its Union Council of Ministers, which functions as the executive decision-making body. Headed by Narendra Modi, the council ensures that policies are not only formulated but also effectively implemented across sectors. Each minister is entrusted with a specific portfolio, allowing for focused administration and accountability.
Following the 2024 general elections, the current council reflects a balanced mix of experience and regional representation. As of 2026, the government continues to operate with a structured distribution of responsibilities among cabinet ministers, ministers of state (independent charge), and ministers of state.
Ministers and Their Portfolios 2026
The 2026 Union Council of Ministers consists of 72 members, including the prime minister, 30 cabinet ministers, 5 ministers of state (independent charge), and 36 ministers of state. Each minister oversees key ministries such as defense, finance, agriculture, and infrastructure, ensuring smooth governance and policy execution across the country.
List of Cabinet Ministers of India 2026
The Cabinet Ministers form the core decision-making group, handling major national portfolios. Below is the updated list with their respective ministries and states:
| S. No. | Minister Name | Portfolio | Party | State |
| 1 | Rajnath Singh | Defence | BJP | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2 | Amit Shah | Home Affairs & Cooperation | BJP | Gujarat |
| 3 | Nitin Gadkari | Road Transport & Highways | BJP | Maharashtra |
| 4 | Jagat Prakash Nadda | Health & Family Welfare; Chemicals & Fertilisers | BJP | Himachal Pradesh |
| 5 | Shivraj Singh Chouhan | Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Rural Development | BJP | Madhya Pradesh |
| 6 | Nirmala Sitharaman | Finance & Corporate Affairs | BJP | Karnataka |
| 7 | S. Jaishankar | External Affairs | BJP | Gujarat |
| 8 | Manohar Lal Khattar | Housing & Urban Affairs; Power | BJP | Haryana |
| 9 | H. D. Kumaraswamy | Heavy Industries & Steel | JD(S) | Karnataka |
| 10 | Piyush Goyal | Commerce & Industry | BJP | Maharashtra |
| 11 | Dharmendra Pradhan | Education | BJP | Odisha |
| 12 | Jitan Ram Manjhi | MSME | HAM (S) | Bihar |
| 13 | Rajiv Ranjan Singh | Panchayati Raj; Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying | JD(U) | Bihar |
| 14 | Sarbananda Sonowal | Ports, Shipping & Waterways | BJP | Assam |
| 15 | Virendra Kumar | Social Justice & Empowerment | BJP | Madhya Pradesh |
| 16 | Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu | Civil Aviation | TDP | Andhra Pradesh |
| 17 | Pralhad Joshi | Consumer Affairs; New & Renewable Energy | BJP | Karnataka |
| 18 | Jual Oram | Tribal Affairs | BJP | Jharkhand |
| 19 | Giriraj Singh | Textiles | BJP | Bihar |
| 20 | Ashwini Vaishnaw | Railways; IT; I&B | BJP | Odisha |
| 21 | Jyotiraditya Scindia | Communications; DoNER | BJP | Madhya Pradesh |
| 22 | Bhupender Yadav | Environment, Forest & Climate Change | BJP | Rajasthan |
| 23 | Gajendra Singh Shekhawat | Culture & Tourism | BJP | Rajasthan |
| 24 | Annapurna Devi | Women & Child Development | BJP | Jharkhand |
| 25 | Kiren Rijiju | Parliamentary Affairs; Minority Affairs | BJP | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 26 | Hardeep Singh Puri | Petroleum & Natural Gas | BJP | Uttar Pradesh |
| 27 | Mansukh Mandaviya | Labour; Youth Affairs & Sports | BJP | Gujarat |
| 28 | G. Kishan Reddy | Coal & Mines | BJP | Telangana |
| 29 | Chirag Paswan | Food Processing Industries | LJP | Bihar |
| 30 | C. R. Patil | Jal Shakti | BJP | Gujarat |
Prime Minister of India 2026
At the apex of the Union Council of Ministers is Narendra Modi, who leads the government and oversees major policy decisions. Along with being the Prime Minister, he directly handles important departments such as Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space. Any portfolios not assigned to other ministers also fall under his authority, making his role central to governance and coordination.
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
Ministers of State with independent charge manage their respective ministries without reporting to a Cabinet minister. They play a crucial role in handling specialized departments and ensuring efficient policy execution in their domains. Some key ministers of state (independent charge) include the following:
- Rao Inderjit Singh – Statistics & Programme Implementation; Planning
- Jitendra Singh – Science & Technology; Earth Sciences
- Arjun Ram Meghwal – Law & Justice
- Prataprao Jadhav – AYUSH
- Jayant Chaudhary – Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
Ministers of State (MoS)
Ministers of State assist cabinet ministers in managing large ministries and ensuring efficient execution of policies. With 36 members in this category, they form a vital support system in governance. Some important names include:
- Jitin Prasada – Commerce & Industry, IT
- Pankaj Chaudhary – Finance
- Nityanand Rai – Home Affairs
- Anupriya Patel – Health & Family Welfare
- Sukanta Majumdar – Education, DoNER
Total Strength of Council of Ministers 2026
As per the latest structure, the Union Council of Ministers consists of:
- Prime Minister – 1
- Cabinet Ministers – 30
- Ministers of State (Independent Charge) – 5
- Ministers of State – 36
This brings the total strength to 72 ministers, ensuring representation from different regions and communities while maintaining administrative efficiency.
FAQs
Q1: Who is the Prime Minister of India in 2026?
A1: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India in 2026 and heads the Union Council of Ministers.
Q2: How many ministers are there in the Union Council of Ministers 2026?
A2: The total strength is 72 ministers, including the prime minister, 30 cabinet ministers, 5 ministers of state (independent charge), and 36 ministers of state.
Q3: Who is the defense minister of India in 2026?
A3: Rajnath Singh is the defense minister of India in 2026.
Q4: Who handles the finance ministry in 2026?
A4: Nirmala Sitharaman is the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Q5: What is the role of cabinet ministers?
A5: Cabinet ministers are senior leaders who head major ministries and take key policy decisions for the government.
Q6: What is the difference between cabinet ministers and ministers of state?
A6: Cabinet ministers head ministries, while ministers of state assist them or independently handle smaller ministries.
Q7: Who is the Home Minister of India in 2026?
A7: Amit Shah is the Home Minister and also handles the Cooperation Ministry.
- Geography Questions for SSC CGL, Download PDF Now
- SBI PO Interview Expected Questions 2026 with Answers and Tips
- JAIIB 1000+ Practice MCQs, Download Free eBook
- Important Topics for SBI PO Quant for Prelims 2026, Difficulty Level
- Important Committees and Commissions 2026, Updated List
- Last 6 Months Important Summits and Conferences for Govt. Exams 2026
Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.