PM Modi chairs first meeting of Union Cabinet after expansion,₹23,123 cr Covid fund announced

New Delhi: A day after the reshuffle and expansion of the Union Cabinet, meetings of the union cabinet and council of ministers are being held on Thursday.

The back-to-back meetings are being held on Thursday evening. The meeting of the union cabinet has begun in a virtual format and is being chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs Council of Ministers meeting via video conference.

Source: PMO pic.twitter.com/NKcCw8vpH8

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2021

As many as 43 leaders took oath on Wednesday in the first Union Cabinet reshuffle and expansion after Prime Minister Modi returned to power for a second term in May 2019.

The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan amid COVID-19 protocols, came days ahead of the monsoon session of parliament.

Rs 23,123 cr package announced for containing Covid

A new emergency response package worth ₹ 23,123 crore was announced to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, after the first meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s revamped cabinet on Thursday.

Addressing the media after Cabinet meet, new Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “We have to collectively fight against COVID. The limitation period is maximum (9 months). We have to get it done quickly. State govts will have to do it quickly. Our duty is to help the state in every possible way.”