London:
Indian-origin Conservative MP, Shailesh Vara, has been appointed a Minister in the UK's new coalition government headed by Prime Minister David Cameron.
The appointment of Vara as a Government whip makes him the first Gujarati to become a Minister in the UK Parliament. He is also the first Indian Minister for the Conservative Party.
Whips are responsible for ensuring that the legislative programme of the Government gets through Parliament as smoothly as possible.
Vara told PTI: "I am delighted to have an opportunity to serve in the new Government. It is a tremendous honour."
"There is a huge amount of work for the new Government to do, not least sorting out the economic mess that has been left by the outgoing administration. I look forward to playing my part in helping to bring about the changes that Britain so desperately needs."
Vara has been a Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons earlier.
Indian-origin Sandip Verma has also been appointed as the 'Baroness in Waiting'.
Earlier, Pakistani-origin Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was appointed chair of the Conservative party and Minister without Portfolio.
The Queen has also decided to confer peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Jonathan Hill and Sir James Sassoon.