The swearing-in of four Indian-Canadians as cabinet ministers is "a great day for Canada and a great day for India", said Herb Dhaliwal, the western world's first Indian-origin cabinet minister when he was appointed Canada's revenue minister in 1997.

Hailing the appointment of a record four Indian-Canadians as cabinet ministers by Canada's new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, top Indian-Canadian leaders said this historic development will herald a new era in India-Canada relations.

Harjit Sajjan, 42, took the oath as Canada's defence minister, Navdeep Bains, 38, as innovation minister, Amarjeet Sohi as infrastructure minister, and young woman Bardish Jhagger as minister for small business and tourism.

They are among the record 19 Indian-Canadians elected to Canada's Parliament in elections held on October 19. Their swearing-in ceremony followed that of Justin Trudeau who took oath as the new prime minister on November 4.