PM Modi reviews governance, implementation with ministers; no bureaucrats

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a review meeting with Ministers of State (MoS) and ministers holding independent charge, to take a direct stock of governance and implementation also having political connotation to it.Around 20 ministers from key portfolios, including Agriculture, Rural Development, Education and Social Justice, attended the meeting. Notably, neither Cabinet ministers nor bureaucrats were part of the interaction, making it distinct from the Prime Minister's weekly Cabinet meetings or periodic meetings of the full Council of Ministers, also attended by all secretaries.During the meeting, it is believed that ministers presented the reforms, initiatives and work undertaken in their respective ministries, while also sharing their assessment of implementation, challenges and priorities going forward.The format enabled the Prime Minister to hear directly from the ministers handling specific subjects and programmes.Sources said similar meetings expected to be held in different batches with the remaining members of the Council of Ministers in the coming weeks, indicating that the exercise is part of a wider review of the government's functioning.The meetings have drawn political attention as they come amid persistent speculation over a possible Cabinet reshuffle.While there is no official indication linking the review to any impending changes in the Council of Ministers, the exercise is being closely watched in political circles as it gives the Prime Minister a first-hand assessment of the performance and preparedness of individual ministers.This format allows Prime Minister to hold direct discussion with MoS on political and policy issues without their respective Cabinet colleagues present.PM have emphasised several times that some departments or subjects from the ministers should be specifically allocated to the Ministers of State.The meeting started around 5 in the evening is expected to continue till late in the night.