The Union Cabinet was expanded with the induction of eight new ministers. Senior Congress leaders Sisram Ola, Oscar Fernandes, Girija Vyas and Dr K S Rao were inducted as Cabinet Ministers.

Manikrao Gavit, Santosh Chowdhury, J D Seelam, E M S Natchiappan took the oath as the Ministers of State. President Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers at a function in Rashtrpati Bhawan today.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers and senior congress leaders were also present on the occasion.

AIR correspondent reports the expansion-cum-reshuffle of the Council of Ministers was necessitated by the exit of DMK Ministers as well as resignation of Pawan Kumar Bansal, Ashwani Kumar, Ajay Maken and Dr. C P Joshi.