New Delhi: Newly elected Union Defence Minister Rajanth Singh on Saturday took charge of his office and immediately held a meeting with the top military brass.

Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and top officials of the ministry accorded a warm welcome to Singh.

On other hand, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah also on Saturday took charge as the 30th Union Home Minister at a time when the country is facing terrorism, secession-ism and Maoist insurgency challenges.

The 55-year-old BJP leader assumed charge a day after he was assigned the crucial Home portfolio, succeeding Rajnath Singh, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government returned for a second term.

After taking charge, the former home minister held a meeting with Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and newly appointed Navy chief Karambir Singh.

To begin their duties Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh takes charge of offices:

The defence secretary and several other senior officials of the ministry were also present at the meeting.

The leadership change in the high-profile ministry is expected to usher in certain decisiveness and an iron-handed approach to terror, insurgency and secession-ism.

However, former Home Minister Rajnath Singh had given a free hand to security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to heavy casualties among terrorists, Shah is expected to be more proactive and lead from the front.

He was welcomed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and IB chief Rajiv Jain soon after he reached his North Block office.