After Manohar Parrikar resigned as Defence Minister in March 2017 who was given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry?

Introduction / Context:
Cabinet reshuffles and changes in key ministries are important parts of political current affairs. In March 2017, Manohar Parrikar stepped down as Defence Minister of India to take up the post of Chief Minister of Goa. Following his resignation, another senior minister was assigned additional charge of the Defence Ministry. This question asks you to recall who that minister was.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The event is Manohar Parrikar resignation from the Defence Ministry in March 2017. - We are asked who received additional charge of Defence after this change. - The options list four high profile Indian leaders from the same period.

Concept / Approach:
After Parrikar moved to Goa, Arun Jaitley, who was already serving as Finance Minister, was given additional charge of Defence. This arrangement was meant to be temporary until a new full time Defence Minister could be appointed. Current affairs compilations from that year highlight this dual responsibility, making Arun Jaitley the correct response to questions framed around this transition.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the news that Parrikar left the Union cabinet to become Chief Minister of Goa again. Step 2: Remember that around the same time, Arun Jaitley was handling both the Finance Ministry and the Defence Ministry as an additional charge. Step 3: Recognise that Nitin Gadkari continued to lead the Road Transport and related ministries and was not given Defence in that reshuffle. Step 4: Note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi oversees the cabinet but was not officially designated as Defence Minister during this period. Step 5: Rajnath Singh held the Home Ministry at the time and did not take over Defence then, so eliminate these names and select Arun Jaitley.

Verification / Alternative check:
Newspaper archives, government press statements and year end review articles from 2017 clearly mention that Arun Jaitley was entrusted with additional charge of the Defence Ministry after Parrikar exit. Later, a separate Defence Minister was appointed. Exam question banks built from those events use Arun Jaitley as the correct answer for this specific timeframe.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nitin Gadkari continued to manage transport and related portfolios and did not receive Defence as an additional charge in March 2017. Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister but was not officially recorded as holding the Defence portfolio in place of Parrikar at that time. Rajnath Singh remained Home Minister and is not listed as having temporary charge of Defence in that specific reshuffle.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse later cabinet changes with earlier ones or assume that any powerful minister such as the Home Minister automatically gets additional roles. Another pitfall is to think the Prime Minister personally takes up all key vacancies. The safe approach is to memorise a short list of important portfolio changes year wise, including the fact that Arun Jaitley briefly carried both Finance and Defence in 2017.

Final Answer:
After Manohar Parrikar resignation in March 2017, Arun Jaitley was given additional charge of the Defence Ministry.