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GV & SV Presidential House (2 shots)
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GV Bansi Lal and officials; Bansi Lal being sworn in
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SV Dhillon being sworn in
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SV Mrs. Gandhi looks on ZOOM OUT TO GV Swearing in ceremony continuing (2 shots)
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SV Cabinet ministers
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SV Mrs. Gandhi talking to government ministers
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Initials



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Background: India's President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed swore in two new ministers in New Delhi on monday (1 December) as part of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's major cabinet re-shuffle.

The two new cabinet ministers, and two of four new ministers of state, took their oaths of office in Presidential Palace. Mr. Bansi Lal and Mr. Gurdial Dhillon became members of the Union cabinet ... replacing outgoing ministers Swaran Singh (Defence) and Uma Shankar Dikshit (Shipping and Transport).

Both Mr. Singh and Mr. Dikshit had earlier announced their resignations. Mr. Dikshit has been appointed Governor of the south-east state of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Singh, a minister since 1952, was the longest serving member of the cabinet and had held several important portfolios, including External Affairs. His Defence post has been assumed by Mrs. Gandhi.

Mr. Bansi Lal, chief minister of Haryana since 1968, has been made a minister without portfolio. Mr. Dhillon will take over the Shipping and Transport Ministry.

The four other ministers have been appointed on lower levels. Their new jobs were partly caused by the resignations of two other cabinet ministers recently ... Mr. R. K. Khadilkar (Supply and Rehabilitation) and Mr. K. R. Ganesh (Petroleum and Chemicals).

The re-shuffle is the first major cabinet change Mrs. Gandhi has made since October last year.

SYNOPSIS: Presidential House in New Delhi, where India's President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed officiated at the swearing in ceremonies of two new cabinet ministers on Monday.

Bansi Lal, the former chief minister of Haryana, and Gurdial Dhillon were sworn in to fill the places left by outgoing ministers Swaran Singh (Defence) and Uma Shankar Dikshit (Shipping and Transport), who resigned on Sunday. Bansi Lal was made a minister without portfolio ... he was the first to take the oath.

Gurdial Dhillon has been made Minister for Shipping and Transport. Four new ministers of state have also been appointed and two of them took their oaths on Monday. They will fill lower level ministries and fill the gaps caused by the recent resignations of two other ministers, R. K. Khandilkar (Supply and Rehabilitation) and K. R. Ganesh (Petroleum and Chemicals).

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was present at the ceremonies. It was the first major re-shuffle of her ruling Congress Party Cabinet since last October. She has assumed Mr. Singh's Defence post. Mr. Singh, a minister since 1952, was the longest serving cabinet member and held many important portfolios, including External Affairs. Mr. Dhillon has been appointed Governor of the south-east state of Andhra Pradesh.

All four ministers who resigned reiterated their support of the policies and leadership of Mrs. Gandhi, according to official Indian Government sources. The Prime Minister said she hoped that their experience "would continue to be available to the nation".