In what is seen as the first major huddle of the Modi government in 2020, the first meeting of the Council of Ministers this year has been called for January 3.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan from 5.30 p.m.

With economic woes persisting and leading to the hike of railway fares for the first time in five years, the focus of Friday's meet will be on ministers holding portfolios that have direct link to the nation's economy.

Just four days before the Christmas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 2019's last meeting of the full council of ministers at the newly-inaugurated new Gujarat Bhawan.

Friday's meeting assumes significance as speculations of cabinet expansion are doing the rounds for quite some time now.