Arun Jaitley resumes as Finance Minister, attends CCS meeting after Pulwama attack

Union Minister Arun Jaitley, who returned from the United States last week after medical treatment, was set to take charge again as Finance Minister on Friday, official sources said. His first engagement was a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at 9.15 a.m.

Security meeting

The CCS was convened to review the situation and discuss India’s response to Thursday’s terror attack on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). At the time of the report, at least 45 personnel were said to have been killed and 38 wounded.

Jaitley’s absence

The 66-year-old minister travelled to New York in January for treatment, reportedly after being diagnosed with soft tissue cancer that required surgery. Because he was away just before the budget was presented, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was given additional charge of Finance. Goyal had also stood in briefly in 2018, when Jaitley was absent for a kidney transplant.

Sources said Jaitley was recovering well and would take back the responsibilities of the Finance Ministry.

What happened next

The attack took place in Pulwama on 14 February 2019. On 26 February the Indian Air Force carried out a strike at Balakot, and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was returned by Pakistan on 1 March 2019.

See also: political leaders.

Originally published on 15 February 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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