Pralhad Joshi named new education minister after Prez Murmu accepts Pradhan’s resignation

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Pralhad Joshi on Saturday was appointed as the new Union education minister, hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.Pradhan resigned taking moral responsibility for the NEET-UG paper leak controversy that triggered weeks of nationwide student protests. His resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu.A press release by Rashtrapati Bhavan read: “The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has 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. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio.

“After being appointed as education minister Pralhad Joshi said he accepted the additional charge of the education ministry with ‘a sense of duty and humility’ and pledged to work under the guidance of PM Modi to further strengthen the country’s education system.“I accept this responsibility with a sense of duty and humility. I am thankful to the Prime Minister. In the last 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, many historic achievements have been made. In the last four to five years, Dharmendra Pradhan also implemented the National Education Policy, and several important initiatives were undertaken. The country has made significant progress in the new education system. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, I will work to the best of my ability and fulfil my responsibilities with dedication,” Joshi said.Joshi, the Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka’s Dharwad constituency also hold the portfolios of new and renewable energy and consumer affairs, food and public distribution. A five-time MP, he has previously served as the Union minister for coal, mines and parliamentary affairs.As the minister for new and renewable energy, Joshi has been leading the Centre’s efforts to expand clean energy capacity, with a focus on achieving 500 GW of renewable and non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.He has overseen key initiatives including the National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, PM-KUSUM scheme and offshore wind energy projects, while pushing for annual bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity and other policy measures to boost the sector.His appointment comes at a crucial time as the education ministry implements sweeping reforms following the NEET-UG controversy, including the restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA), stricter anti-paper leak measures and a shift to computer-based testing for NEET from 2027.