Home India News Politics News Pralhad Joshi takes charge as Education Minister, says reviewing ministry after Pradhan’s exit
Pralhad Joshi takes charge as Education Minister, says reviewing ministry after Pradhan’s exit Union Minister Pralhad Joshi assumed charge of the Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. He said he is reviewing the ministry’s work, meeting senior officials and understanding its functioning before taking key decisions.
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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday, July 26, assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education, a day after being given additional responsibility following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid protests over alleged examination irregularities. Joshi said he has started reviewing the ministry’s work and has held meetings with senior officials to understand its functioning before taking key decisions. Pralhad Joshi says education is a new subject for him
Speaking to ANI after taking charge, Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had entrusted him with the responsibility and that he would first familiarise himself with the ministry’s functioning.
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He said education was a “new subject” for him and described the ministry as a “very big department”. Joshi said he had spent the day reviewing files, gathering information and holding detailed discussions with senior officials. He added that he would speak in detail after fully understanding the ministry’s functioning. In a post on X, Joshi thanked Prime Minister Modi for reposing faith in him. “Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education.
I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility. I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty,” he wrote. Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility. I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty. ಇಂದು ಭಾರತ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ… pic.twitter.com/Ge2ulvf3L8
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) July 26, 2026 Appointment follows Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
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On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect, following the Prime Minister’s advice. According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement, Pralhad Joshi has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education while continuing to hold his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
Pradhan had announced his resignation, saying he stepped down in the interest of students and to ensure that the protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces”. In his resignation letter, he also said the developments of the past several days had deeply disturbed him. The change in leadership comes after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, with students demanding greater transparency and reforms in the examination system. BJP welcomes Joshi’s appointment
Reacting to the development, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra said Joshi’s administrative experience would help him lead the Education Ministry effectively.
Speaking to ANI, Vijayendra said Joshi had efficiently handled several important portfolios in the past and expressed confidence that he would do justice to the Higher Education Department. He also said the appointment would benefit both the country and Karnataka. Vijayendra also defended the Centre’s handling of the examination issue, saying Prime Minister Modi had acted quickly to prevent future paper leaks.
He added that student interests remained the government’s top priority and noted that the NEET re-examination had been conducted, results had been declared, and a fast-track court had been announced to deal with those responsible. He also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress had no role in the student agitation and accusing him of trying to claim political credit for Pradhan’s resignation. Sanjay Raut calls appointment a temporary arrangement
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, however, described Joshi’s appointment as a temporary arrangement. Addressing a press conference, Raut claimed the Centre was looking for a permanent Education Minister and suggested that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could be considered for the role. He also alleged that the government was forced to respond due to the student movement and criticised the Centre’s handling of the protests. Raut further alleged that police action during the student agitation was excessive and claimed the youth movement had compelled the government to accept the protesters’ demands.
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Who is Pralhad Joshi? Pralhad Joshi is a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Dharwad in Karnataka. He currently serves as the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Minister for New and Renewable Energy.
He has previously held portfolios including Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs. With the latest reshuffle, he will also oversee the Ministry of Education as an additional charge. ALSO READ | How Sonam Wangchuk and the CJP reacted to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
First Published:
Jul 25, 2026 9:04 PM
IST
