Union Minister Pralhad Joshi assumed his duties as the Union Minister of Education on Sunday. This occurred two days after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and entrusted him with additional responsibility for this ministerial portfolio.
Upon taking office, Joshi told reporters that he is studying the ministry's current work and familiarizing himself with the department, describing education as a 'new subject' for himself. He emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned him this duty, and he intends to spend time fully understanding the ministry before making detailed comments.
Joshi stated that he was in Karnataka the day before, arrived late in the evening, and came in the morning to take up the post. He said he is analyzing all the details and decisions that need to be made and is actively gathering information to understand the functioning of the entire ministry. Continuous meetings with senior officials took place throughout the day.
Shortly after assuming office, Joshi posted on X, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the trust and the assignment of the Ministry of Education. He wrote: 'Today I took charge as the Union Minister of Education. I am grateful to the esteemed Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for believing in me and entrusting me with this responsibility.' He added that he accepts it with humility and a deep sense of duty.
Joshi received charge of the Ministry of Education on Saturday after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect. According to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Joshi will continue to perform his previous duties while also heading the Ministry of Education.
The statement indicated that the President of India, on the advice of the Prime Minister, accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India. Furthermore, on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President ordered the appointment of Shri Pralhad Joshi as the cabinet minister to head the Ministry of Education in addition to his existing portfolio.
Currently, Joshi is the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as New and Renewable Energy. Previously, he held the post of Union Minister for Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs.
The change in leadership in the Ministry of Education occurred against the backdrop of week-long nationwide student protests sparked by alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the leak of NEET materials. Students demanded greater transparency, accountability, and reforms in the testing system.
Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, stating that he did so in the interest of the students and to prevent the use of ongoing exam irregularity protests by 'anti-national forces'. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced that it had 'duly' ended its 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar following Pradhan's departure from the Union Council of Ministers and receiving assurances from the government regarding other demands.
Central Minister Pralad Joshi has taken responsibility for the Ministry of Education. According to officials, he was assigned an additional department within the Ministry of Education. Previously, he oversaw the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
After taking charge of the Ministry of Education, several important tasks will fall to Pralad Joshi. Among these are improving the education system, increasing the transparency of examination procedures, and strengthening trust among students.
Joshi's appointment comes during active discussions in the education sector regarding policy and the examination system. Now, all attention is focused on how the new minister will handle these challenges.
He officially took office as the Minister of Education on Sunday. On the same day, he held a meeting with civil servants. It is worth noting that he will retain responsibility for the ministries he previously managed.
Joshi is known as an experienced politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has long been associated with the RSS and is considered influential within the organization. He began his political career in the Dharwad constituency of Karnataka state.
In 2004, he first became a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Dharwad. Since then, he has never lost and has won five consecutive elections. He has been a Lok Sabha MP for the last 22 years, but now he has been entrusted with responsibility concerning the future of millions of students.
The powers were transferred to Pralad Joshi upon the Prime Minister's advice after the President accepted the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Immediately after taking office, Pralad Joshi held discussions with senior officials responsible for the work of the Ministry of Education.
The government assigned this duty to Joshi thoughtfully. In 2012, he also served as the BJP President in Karnataka. Later, after 2014, he headed various parliamentary committees in the Lok Sabha. In 2019, he was entrusted with responsibility for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines. When the government achieved its third victory, he was tasked with managing the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, as well as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday accepted the resignation of Union Education Minister of Dharamendra Pradhan and assigned additional responsibilities in the Ministry of Education to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
According to the news agency ANI, the President accepted Pradhan's resignation upon the recommendation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was clarified that Joshi will oversee the education ministry in addition to his current duties. He is currently responsible for the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The announcement followed several hours after Pradhan submitted his resignation, stating that he was taking responsibility for the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 exam and wished to prevent this issue from affecting students and national unity.
Shortly after Pradhan's resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced the immediate cessation of its 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar and other protest sites across the country, claiming that the government had agreed to their demands.
This decision was reached following negotiations between representatives of CJP and Union Ministers J. P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. CJP representative Saurav Das stated at a joint press conference: 'CJP states that we are conscientiously withdrawing the agitation, understanding that the agreed terms will be fulfilled within the stipulated time.'
CJP National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka asked everyone to peacefully leave the protest sites and return home, as the government had accepted all their demands after 36 days of protests. Ranka also mentioned that the parties would meet again in four weeks to review the agreement and discuss the party's five-point charter on educational and examination reforms.
The government agreed to withdraw petitions registered against the protesters in Delhi and states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), guarantee no retaliatory action against the agitators, and provide compensation to the families of students who died by suicide after the NEET exam, in accordance with applicable rules.
Das noted that the organization also submitted a draft of its reform proposals to the government and awaits written confirmation by Tuesday. Nadda stated that the CJP delegation presented a written draft raising issues related to cases registered during the agitation, compensation, and examination reforms.
The Union Minister emphasized that after detailed discussions, the first demand was that no action should be taken and no petitions filed. He added that any already registered petitions, whether by the Delhi police or in BJP-ruled states, would be withdrawn. Furthermore, the government would provide an 'honorarium' to the families of students who died after the NEET exam and provide copies of the petitions registered during the agitation.
Ranka explained that the CJP's five-point charter focuses on reforms in the examination system and will serve as the basis for the next round of discussions with the government. He stressed that the organization's demands aim to improve the examination process and are not 'radical.'
Das reported that discussions with the government covered three key demands: Pradhan's resignation, withdrawal of cases against protesters and organizers, and assurance that no new cases would be registered against them. He also mentioned that the organization sought compensation of 1 crore rupees for the families of those who died after the NEET exam cancellation.
CJP has been holding a sit-in strike at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding accountability for the NEET-UG 2026 exam leak, alleged irregularities in the CBSE online marking process, and broader reforms in conducting state examinations. The protest has received support from students and opposition parties across the country.
The momentum of the protest intensified after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been fasting at Jantar Mantar since June 28, was moved by the police to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18. The agitation escalated further during the 'Sansad Chalo' march on July 20, when police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters. Later that same day, Nadda held the first official meeting with CJP leadership, paving the way for negotiations that culminated in the agreement reached on Saturday.
