The President of India A P J Abdul Kalam has signed the proposal sent by the prime minister's office for reshuffling portfolios of some of the key ministers in the Union Cabinet.

The PMO had sent the proposal Friday afternoon and the President had signed it at 5 pm.

According to S M Khan, press secretary to the President, the change in portfolios has been the same as reported in media circles and TV channels since Friday afternoon.

Vacant ministries in the Union cabinet were reallocated among existing ministers, reports said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] kept Ministries of Coal and External Affairs.

Sibhu Soren was the coal minister till he had to step down after a charge-sheet was filed against him.

Similarly K Natwar Singh, who stepped down as external affairs minister after he was named as a non-contractual beneficiary in Iraq's oil-for-food programme.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy has been given charge of urban development and culture, while Priyaranjan Das Munshi will take over parliamentary affairs and I&B.

Sports and youth affairs have been given to Oscar Fernandes.

Sunil Dutt, who died in May, held these ministries.

Fernandes also gets the non resident affairs ministry, which was held by Jagdish Tytler. Tytler had to resign after the Nanavati Commission that probed 1984 anti-Sikh riots indicted him.

Santosh Mohan Deb has been given water resources, heavy industries and public enterprise.