Pralhad Joshi appointed as new Indian education minister

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned charge of India’s education ministry, in addition to his existing portfolio.

The move comes hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after mass Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests over NEET paper leak, The Indian Express reports.

Joshi is currently the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, has been assigned the charge of education ministry.

The 64-year-old has represented the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka as an MP since 2004, and has earlier served as the minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs between 2019 and 2024.

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In a press communique, the Rashtrapati Bhawan said, “The president of India, as advised by the prime minister, has accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.”

“Further, as advised by the prime minister, the president has directed that Pralhad Joshi, cabinet minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio,” it said.

After the resignation of Pradhan, Joshi wrote in a post on X, “Shri  Dharmendra Pradhan ji has had an illustrious political career spanning decades. His commitment to the development of the Nation will always be remembered.”

“His tenure witnessed the successful implementation of NEP 2020 along with over 100 big and small reforms in the field of education. Placing larger interest above everything else, Shri Pradhan Ji’s decision to step down does not in any way stop in contributing to the nation’s development,” Joshi said, adding, “Our paths will cross again in the line of development of the nation.”