Pralhad Joshi Given Additional Charge of Education Ministry After Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns

Bureau, Odishabarta

New Delhi, July 25, 2026: President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With Pradhan’s exit, senior Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education. He will continue to hold his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid growing political pressure over the alleged irregularities and paper leak controversies surrounding major competitive examinations, including NEET-UG. The issue had triggered widespread protests by students across the country.

The agitation was led by a youth organisation identifying itself as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which staged demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for several weeks. The protesters demanded Pradhan’s resignation, a fair investigation into the alleged examination irregularities, compensation for the families of students who reportedly died by suicide in connection with the controversy, and comprehensive reforms to the examination system.

Opposition parties also intensified their criticism of the government, calling Pradhan’s resignation essential to restore public confidence in the country’s education system.

Following the government’s decision to accept the resignation, the CJP announced the withdrawal of its nationwide protest.

Pralhad Joshi, a five-time Member of Parliament from Dharwad in Karnataka and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, will oversee the Education Ministry on an interim basis while the Centre considers the appointment of a permanent Education Minister.

The change in leadership comes at a crucial time for the ministry, with expectations that the government will take steps to restore confidence in the examination process and introduce reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability in the education sector.

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