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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh allocated portfolios to his team of 78 Ministers,a team he said was 'ready to get going'.

Calling it a blend of experience and energy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today allocated portfolios to his team of 78 Ministers,a team he said was ready to get going.

A close scrutiny of the allocation shows that Singh has sent out clear signals: when it comes to defining Indias engagement with the world,his office will drive policy; there is a conscious effort to make up for lost time in crucial sectors that suffered from coalition pressures and non-performance; and that the young in his team have got their task cut out and,hence,an opportunity to prove themselves.

To ensure that the PM remains the driver in foreign policy,international trade and climate change,his team is made up of those on the same page. A handpicked External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is not likely to be any distraction or source of major dissension recall K Natwar Singh.

Anand Sharma,significantly upgraded to Commerce & Industry,had always been in sync with the PMs line as MoS in MEA. In his new term,he will handle WTO talks and FDI policy. Prithviraj Chavan (Science & Technology) is a trusted aide of the PM who will play a key role in climate-change talks. As MoS in-charge of PMO,he will integrate Space,Atomic Energy,S&T and Earth Sciences,which brings the entire gamut of high-technology sectors firmly under the PM. This is one area where PM is keen to deepen engagement with the developed world.

Shashi Tharoor,as MoS,MEA, is likely to emerge as a key player in the second rung of diplomacy. Singh has braved controversies surrounding Tharoor and placed him under Krishna. He could end up doing much of what Sharma handled in his first avtaar.

Road,Transport & Highways,Health and Environment & Forests were three ministries handled by the DMK and PMK in the last government. These were also the ministries with a track record of non-performance and controversy. Singh expects his new team here to revitalise these key sectors.

So Kamal Nath,known for getting work done,as the new Road and Transport Minister,is expected to fire up the department,get contracts off the ground,remove needless roadblocks and,in the end,show progress that got stalled under T R Baalu.

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Giving Health to party veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad signals the political weight that this Ministry has got. His predecessor Anbumani Ramadosss obsession with AIIMS virtually paralysed his Ministry. Having been a CM and having dealt closely with several states across party lines,Azad is expected to more effectively implement schemes given that Health is a state subject.

Jairam Ramesh,as Environment & Forests Minister,is expected to handle the delicate interface between development and environment. The ministry was reduced to almost a license controlling department with industry always complaining about alleged corruption.

The PM has been generous in granting opportunity to the young brigade of Ministers of State. A look at the portfolios show that they have little to complain in terms of challenge and opportunity: Jyotiraditya Scindia,MoS Commerce & Industry; Sachin Pilot,MoS Communications & IT; Jitin Prasada,MoS Petroleum & Natural Gas and Agatha Sangma,MoS Rural Development.

While giving in to political considerations on assigning Cabinet rank to ministers,the PM has been choosy when it comes to portfolio allocation. Some of those who are MoS (independent Charge) have ministries that were held earlier by Cabinet ministers.

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Chavan,besides all PMO beats and the Department of Personnel,will be S&T Minister which was handled by a Cabinet minister in the last government. Salman Khursheed gets Corporate Affairs,which was again with a Cabinet minister. Plus,he has charge of Minority Affairs,which was handled by AR Antulay,a Cabinet minister in the last government.