P Chidambaram appointed as the Union Finance Minister

In a small cabinet reshuffle carried out on 31 July 2012, the United Progressive Alliance government allocated P Chaidambaram the portfolio of Union Finance Ministry. Previously Chidambaram was serving as the Union Home Minister.  Sushilkumar Shinde, was given the charge of Union Home Ministry while, Corporate Affairs Minister Virappa Moily was given the additional charge of Power Ministry. President of India Pranb Mukherjee signed the notification on the reallocation of ministries.

The cabinet reshuffle carried out following the resignation of Pranab Mukherjee from the union cabinet, who became the President of India on 25 July 2012. Mukherjee resigned as the Union finance minister on 26 June 2012 and since then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was looking after the portfolio.

P Chidambaram : Union Finance Minister

Chidambaram, 66, was given the charge of Home Ministry following the resignation of Shivraj Patil who was forced to step down after the Mumbai Terrorist attack on 26 November 2008. Before taking over the Home Affairs, Chidambaram was holding the Finance portfolio. He was made the Finance Minister after the Congress led UPA came into power after 2004 general elections.

Sushilkumar Shinde : Union Home Minister

Sushilkumar Shinde, a prominent Dalit leader from Maharashtra, has been first time given the charge of any of the key ministry. Shinde, who saw a meteoric rise from a Police Sub Inspector in Maharashtra to the Union Home Minister, was given the charge of Home Ministry at a time when Assam, the north-eastern state is burning in the fire of sectarian violence and the state government has starkly failed in its attempt to pacify the situation. Before taking over as the Union Home Minister Shinde was looking after the Power Ministry.

Veerappa Moily : Union Minister for Corporate Affairs and Power

Veerappa Moily, the veteran Congressman, who also holds the charge of corporate ministry, was given the additional charge of power ministry in the middle of the worst power crisis of the history of the country. The electricity crisis erupted as three power transmission grids Northern, Eastern and North-eastern failed, leaving the half of the country with a complete blackout.