India's Narendra Modi was formally elected on Friday by lawmakers of his National Democratic Alliance to be prime minister for a historic third consecutive term as the world's most populous nation returns to government by coalition.

Modi will next meet President Droupadi Murmu later in the day and present his claim to form a new government, with a spokesperson for one of his allies saying his swearing-in was set for Sunday evening.

It is the first time in a decade that Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has needed the support of regional parties to form a government.