New Delhi, Aug 13 - The government Thursday set up a group of ministers (GoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to monitor the drought situation and the price rise front.

The GoM includes Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, Rural Development and Pachayati Raj Minister C.P. Joshi, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The move comes ahead of a meeting of chief ministers convened by the prime minister here Aug 17 to discuss the two challenges.