Prime Minister Maahir's "surprise" cabinet reshuffle

Rajagriha, 4 April 2026: On 18 March 2026, Prime Minister Prince Maahir carried out a "surprise" reshuffle of his council of ministers. The most surprising element was the exit of former Prime Minister Farhan Ahmed, who served as the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Ahmed's exit marks the first time since 2021 that he shall no longer be a part of the union cabinet.

The cabinet reshuffle also included the appointment of a new deputy prime minister, one minister of cabinet rank, and five ministers of state. Vice Prime Minister Princess Tanvi was appointed as the first deputy prime minister, while Iftikar Ahmed was promoted to cabinet rank. The five new ministers of state who were appointed were Soumyodeep Sircar, Debika Deka Pator Sarma, Fardeen Ahmed, Hanif Ali Palowan, and Rahul Singh. With the expansion of the cabinet, the total number of ministers now stand at 21.

The portfolios of several ministers were changed along with the assignment of portfolios to the new ministers. Prime Minister Prince Maahir took over the charge of the Prime Minister's Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat. First Deputy Prime Minister Princess Tanvi retained the charge as Minister of Home Affairs, while Second Deputy Prime Minister Amir Abbas Arya'i retained the portfolio as Minister of Education, Science and Technology, and Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. He was relieved of his charge as Minister of Defence.

Vice Prime Minister Raghav Deka retained the charge as Minister of Foreign Affairs, while Vice Prime Minister Suryadeva Kapei was appointed the Minister of Defence. He was relieved of his charge as Minister of Intergovernmental Relations and Minister of Regional Development.

Health and Sanitation Minister Mohammad Rayan Hussain was appointed the Minister of Urban Development; Energy and Natural Resources Minister Bhargya Phukan was appointed the Minister of Health and Human Welfare; Urban Development Praneet Singh was appointed the Minister of Finance and Minister of National Planning; Food Minister Vikrant Deka was re-designated as Minister of Agriculture and Food Production; Culture Minister Shanvika Roy was re-designated as Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism; Youth and Sports Minister Dinesh Rajagopalan was assigned the additional portfolio as Minister of Information and Communication Technology; Social Development Minister Harlong Terang was re-designated as Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Newly appointed cabinet minister Iftikar Ahmed was assigned the portfolio as Minister of Energy, Minerals and Water Resources.

The portfolios of the ministers of state were assigned as: Razia Hazarika - Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Urban Development; Soumyodeep Sircar - Government, Regional Development and Co-operatives (Independent Charge) and Finance; Parishmita Das - Environment, Forests and Wildlife (Independent Charge) and Energy, Minerals and Water Resources; Nida Fatima - Home Affairs & Culture, Heritage and Tourism; Debika Deka Pator Sarma - Health and Human Welfare & Education, Science and Technology; Fardeen Ahmed - Social Justice and Empowerment & Agriculture and Food Production; Hanif Ali Palowan - National Planning & Home Affairs; and Rahul Singh - Information and Communications Technology & Youth and Sports.