Modi sworn in as PM with message of inclusive India

[NEW DELHI] Narendra Modi was sworn in as India's prime minister in an elaborate ceremony at New Delhi's resplendent presidential palace yesterday, after a sweeping election victory that ended two terms of rule by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Millions of Indians watched the inauguration live on television as the 63-year-old Hindu nationalist leader, once thought of as too divisive to lead the world's largest democracy, took his oath along with his Cabinet members in the palace's forecourt.

Mr Modi has given India its first parliamentary majority after 25 years of coalition governments, which means that he has ample room to advance reforms that started over two decades ago but have stalled in recent years.