New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over a meeting of the Council of Ministers in the national capital on Thursday in what is being seen as a significant exercise to assess the functioning of the BJP-led NDA government ahead of its second year in office.

The meeting, scheduled to begin around 4.30 pm to 5 pm at Sewa Teerth, will be the first such gathering of ministers this year.

Review of government performance on agenda

According to sources, the session is expected to focus on a broad review of the performance of various ministries since the NDA government was sworn in on June 9, 2024.

Discussions are also likely to include the progress and outcomes of key government schemes as well as plans related to a nationwide rozgar mela initiative.

The gathering comes shortly after the Prime Minister returned from his five-nation foreign tour on Wednesday.

It also follows the austerity measures announced by Modi in the backdrop of the economic and energy-related impact arising from the situation in West Asia.

Entire council of ministers expected to attend

Sources indicated that members of the entire Council of Ministers have been invited for the meeting.

This includes 30 Cabinet ministers, 36 Ministers of State, and five Ministers of State holding independent charge portfolios.

Leaders representing NDA alliance partners are also expected to be present during the discussions.

Meeting delayed due to national and global developments

Government sources said meetings of the Council of Ministers are generally held once every three months.

However, this year’s session was reportedly delayed because of what officials described as “national and global contingencies”.

The meeting is therefore being viewed as an important internal review exercise for the government.

Speculation over possible cabinet reshuffle

Political observers and insiders are also attaching significance to the gathering because of increasing speculation surrounding a possible reshuffle within the Union Council of Ministers.

According to sources familiar with the developments, the meeting is being viewed by some within government circles as a possible “final gathering” of the current ministerial team before changes are made later this year.

The NDA government, now in its third consecutive term at the Centre, is expected to approach its midway stage in the coming months, a period often associated with organisational and ministerial adjustments.

Agency inputs