Nirmala Sitharaman's promotion is seen as the big news as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new government starts work. She took charge on Friday as India's new Finance Minister, which puts her in charge of perhaps the most challenging assignment for this government. Ms Sitharaman was Defence Minister in the previous government, so it was on her watch that India carried out air strikes targeting terror training camps in Pakistan's Balakot. The Balakot strikes were a big rallying point for the BJP as it campaigned for reelection based on its tough stand against Pakistan and strong decision-making.