Smriti Irani Gets Additional Charge Of I&B Ministry

Union Textile Minister, Smriti Irani, was on Tuesday (18 July) given additional charge of the Information & Broadcasting ministry. Irani is the fourth I&B minister to be appointed in the BJP rule of three years. Irani was given the additional charge after the resignation of NDA's vice-president candidate Venkaiah Naidu as I&B minister and from the housing and urban development ministry.

The additional charge of housing and urban development ministry has been given to Narendra Tomar, who is already the rural development minister.

The additional charge of the Ministry of I&B has been given to @smritiirani.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 18, 2017

PM Modi announced the development through his twitter account.

On Monday (July 17), Naidu was nominated as NDA's candidate for the vice-president's post. After his nomination was announced, analysts and experts had expected a reshuffle in the ministries.

Irani’s political career took off when the BJP came to power in 2014. She was given the human resource development ministry by PM Modi. But her appointment drew much criticism as questions were raised on her own educational background. Arguments like how can a person who hasn’t even attended college handle the country’s education portfolio, flooded the media.

ALSO READ: #IWearHandloom says Smriti Irani, many others join in

Her handling of the episode related to Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide in early 2016 also led to public outrage.

The cabinet reshuffle of July 2016 gave Irani the textile ministry, where her stint was relatively criticism-free. She promoted handloom and the work of rural artisans during her term.

Being appointed at the I&B ministry, Irani has the task cut out for her. This is the time when the I&B ministry is contemplating revamping the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or Censor Board with a new Cinematograph Act.

Picture credit- Nelive.in