New Minister of State with Independent Charge of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry Jitendra Singh will also hold charge as Minister of State for Defence.

This was stated in a new communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sundat night. An earlier communique had said that Mr Jitin Prasad would hold the charge of Minister of State for Defence.

The new Communique clarified that Mr Jitin Prasad will be Minister of State in the Human Resources Development Ministry only. It said the changes were effected on the advice of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.