Former finance minister Chidambaram called it a ‘step forward post-liberalisation’. It’s significant because it was a Congress government that brought in liberalisation in 1991.
Sitharaman, who is only the second woman defence minister in India's history, is expected to work closely with the Finance Minister to take key industry-related decisions
Most key Hindutva/RSS objectives have been achieved, and Modi & BJP now need social calm, at least till summer of 2024. A de-escalation of some sort is on.