Charan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on 28 July 1979, with outside support by Indira Congress and Yashwantrao Chavan of Congress (Socialist) faction as his Deputy PM. Just before Singh was to prove his majority in Lok Sabha, Indira Gandhi withdrew support to his government, and he resigned on 20 August 1979, after just 23 days, becoming the only PM who didn't face the parliament. He advised President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy to dissolve Lok Sabha. Janata Party leader Jagjivan Ram challenged the advice and sought time to cobble support. But Lok Sabha was dissolved, and Charan Singh continued as caretaker PM until January 1980.[1][2]

Cabinet

Cabinet Ministers

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party Remarks
Prime Minister
And also in-charge of all other important portfolios and
policy issues not allocated to any Minister.
28 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Home Affairs
28 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of External Affairs28 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Finance28 July 197919 October 1979 JP(S)
19 October 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Defence30 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation30 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Information and Broadcasting30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Health and Family Welfare28 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Works, Housing, Supply and Rehabilitation28 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs30 July 19793 August 1979 JP(S)
3 August 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Commerce and Civil Supplies30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Steel, Mines and Coal30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Labour
Fazlur Rahman[3]
30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Education and Culture30 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture30 July 197919 August 1979 INC(U)Bifurcated into Ministry of Education and Culture;
and Ministry of Social Welfare.
Minister of Education and Culture19 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Railways30 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Power30 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of Industry30 July 197927 November 1979 INC(U)
27 November 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Social Welfare19 August 197923 December 1979 AIADMK
Minister of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers19 August 197923 December 1979 AIADMK
Minister of Communications30 July 19794 December 1979 JP(S)Minister of State was responsible.
7 December 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of Muslim Waqfs30 July 19794 December 1979 JP(S)Minister of State was responsible.
Fazlur Rahman[3]
7 December 197914 January 1980 JP(S)

Ministers of State (with Independent Charge)

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping and Transport30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
K. Gopal
4 August 197914 January 1980 JP(S)

Ministers of State

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
Jagbir Singh
30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Civil Supplies30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture and Social Welfare30 July 197924 August 1979 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Culture24 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications30 July 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
31 July 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel, Mines and Coal4 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
4 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation4 August 197925 October 1979 INC(U)
25 October 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs4 August 197914 January 1980 JP(S)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry4 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation4 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers4 August 197914 January 1980 INC(U)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance25 October 197914 January 1980 INC(U)

References

  1. ^ "Forty Years Ago, August 21, 1979: Charan Govt Resigns". 21 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Dour farm leader of 76 named as India's fifth PM". The Montreal Gazette. New Delhi. AP. 27 July 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 31 July 1979. Retrieved 24 April 2020.