Just months before becoming chancellor of Austria on Monday, Christian Stocker was a party functionary with no ministerial experience, fast approaching retirement age and barely known outside the political bubble.

PM Narendra Modi congratulated Christian Stocker on his swearing-in as Austria's Chancellor, expressing hope for a strengthened India-Austria partnership. Stocker's coalition government aims to address economic challenges and enforce stricter immigration and extremism measures.

Christian Stocker’s steady, pragmatic style helped him rise to Austria’s top job. His biggest test now is keeping the coalition together.