Piyush Goyal Given Temporary Charge Of Finance Ministry: 10 Things To Know

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was given the additional charge of finance ministry on Wednesday in the absence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is in the US. Mr Goyal will hold the portfolios of Finance and Corporate Affairs on a temporary basis till the resumption of duties by Mr Jaitley, who has now been made a minister without portfolio, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was given the additional charge of finance ministry on Wednesday in the absence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is in the US. Mr Goyal will hold the portfolios of Finance and Corporate Affairs on a temporary basis till the resumption of duties by Mr Jaitley, who has now been made a minister without portfolio, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said.
Here are 10 things to know:
  1. An official release from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said the President, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directed that during the period of Mr Jaitley’s indisposition, the portfolios of Finance and Corporate Affairs, held by him, be temporarily assigned to Mr Goyal, in addition to his existing portfolios.
  2. Rajya Sabha Member Piyush Goyal also holds the Coal portfolio.
  3. Mr Goyal is likely to present the interim Budget, reported news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) citing sources.
  4. The budget comes ahead of the general elections and the government is expected to make some key announcements, including relief package for farmers, poor and sops for middle-class, the report added.
  5. Mr Jaitley, who had unexpectedly left for the US on January 13, has undergone tests for soft tissue cancer, Press Trust of India reported citing sources.
  6. Even during this time, he has been active on social media writing Facebook posts and tweeting about current issues.
  7. This for the second time that Mr Goyal has been given the additional charge of the finance ministry.
  8. In May last year, Mr Goyal was given the additional charge of the ministry after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley underwent a kidney transplant surgery.
  9. Later after a gap of four months, Mr Jaitley resumed the office of the finance minister.
  10. Mr Jaitley has presented five budgets of the current regime.