Manohar Parrikar taking oath as Cabinet Minister (Rashtrapati Bhawan)
For days, Manohar Parrikar, the 58-year-old leader from Goa, has been described as the Defence Minister-in-waiting - the reports were considered confirmed once it became clear that he had been asked by the Prime Minister to move to Delhi.
But this morning, after a breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister that included other new ministers, Mr Parrikar refused to confirm which portfolio he has been assigned.
There was some speculation that Mr Parrikar could take over Home Affairs from Rajnath Singh, who could move to Defence. No one from the government or BJP has officially confirmed these reports, and sources close to the Home Minister said a change in job profile is unlikely for him.
"I can say that I will be in the cabinet. Whatever the portfolio is, I will study and come up with solutions to the best of my abilities," Mr Parrikar said.
He resigned on Saturday as Chief Minister of Goa.
Since the PM took office in May, Arun Jaitley has been doubling up as Defence and Finance Minister so far. But given the complex requirements of both jobs, Mr Jaitley has repeatedly said that his leadership of the Defence Ministry was temporary.
Mr Jaitley's team in the Finance Ministry has begun preparations for the budget that will be presented in February. Freeing him of Defence will allow the Finance Minister to fully focus on reforming and reviving the economy as PM Modi promised during his national election campaign.
India's new Defence Minister will have a long to-do list that includes modernising the country's military arsenal by speeding up acquisition, tackling challenges at the borders with Pakistan and China and executing PM Modi's "Make in India" dream of attracting defence equipment manufacturers.