In pics: Nirmala Sitharaman’s first week as defence minister

india

Updated: Sep 11, 2017 18:32 IST

It’s been just over a week since Nirmala Sitharaman took oath as the defence minister of the country, only the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold the post since independence.

Within days of taking charge on Thursday, Sitharaman flagged off an all-women naval crew that will circumvent the globe, visited India’s first underground airbase in Rajasthan and sat in the cockpit of a MiG 21 fighter jet.

Sitharaman, who was the commerce minister, was promoted to the cabinet rank earlier this month and became the second woman to be part of the all-powerful Cabinet Committee of Security.

Here’s a look at her first week in office:

Sitharaman flags off INSV Tarini, a ship that will circumnavigate the globe, in presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, in Goa. ( PTI Photo )

Sitharaman interacts with IAF personnel at in Uttarlai, Rajasthan. ( Twitter )

Flagging off INSV Tarini in Goa. ( Twitter )

Sitharaman with IAF chief BS Dhanoa. ( Twitter )

Nirmala Sitharaman meets President Ram Nath Kovind. ( Twitter )

Nirmala Sitharaman meets Army chief General Bipin Rawat and army officers from the Southern Command in Ahmedabad. ( Twitter )

Sitharaman inside the cockpit of MIG-21 Biscon during her visit to Air Force Station Uttarlai. ( PTI Photo )

An IAF pilot explains the functioning of a fighter jet to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her visit at Uttarlai, Rajasthan. ( Twitter/ Raksha Mantri )

Sitharaman with Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi. ( Arun Sharma/HT Photo )

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman coming out of her office after taking charge at South Block in New Delhi. ( PTI Photo )

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman after taking charge at her office in New Delhi. ( PTI Photo )