Senior BJP leader and Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the Central Government announced on Saturday.
According to an official statement, the President of India, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, entrusted Joshi with the Education Ministry while allowing him to continue handling his existing ministerial responsibilities.
The official statement said the President accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Article 75(2) of the Constitution of India.
It further stated that Pralhad Joshi, who is already serving as a Cabinet Minister, has been given charge of the Ministry of Education in addition to his current portfolios.
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Pralhad Joshi will continue to oversee the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, alongside his new responsibility as the head of the Education Ministry.
The move ensures continuity in the functioning of the ministry following the leadership change.
The appointment comes shortly after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union Education Minister following nationwide protests linked to the NEET examination controversy.
With Joshi taking additional charge, the Centre has ensured that the Ministry of Education continues to function without interruption while the government addresses key issues concerning higher education, school education and ongoing examination reforms.
Pralhad Joshi’s appointment is expected to provide administrative continuity as the government moves forward with its education agenda, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, expansion of digital learning initiatives and reforms in the examination system.