Manmohan Singh took over as the 13th prime minister of India today. Singh, a 71-year-old economist, was administered the oath of office by President Abdul Kalam at a glittering ceremony in the presidential palace.
State television said 67 people would be sworn into the council of ministers.
Former Indian finance ministers Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr P. Chidambaram were sworn in as
cabinet ministers in the new government.
No portfolios were announced, but Mr Chidambaram and Mr Mukherjee are among the front-runners for the finance minister's job in the new Congress-led government. But television reports say Singh may keep the finance ministry for himself.
Mr Singh kicked off India's economic reform drive more than a decade ago. He was designated prime minister this week after Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who had led her Congress party to a shock election win, declined to take the job.
Congress, which ruled India for most of the first four decades after independence from Britain in 1947, has had to put together a coalition government for the first time.