Pralhad Joshi Gets Education Ministry After Pradhan Resigns

A press release by Rashtrapati Bhavan said, "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.”

Joshi Accepts Responsibility With Humility

Joshi has, after being appointed, said that he accepted the additional charge of the Education Ministry ‘with a sense of duty and humility,’ and stressed his readiness to work with PM Modi to improve the country’s education sector.

"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.

The appointment comes as an extremely crucial time for the ministry as it implements significant changes to address the ongoing examination-related irregularities sparked by the NEET paper leak-changes to restructure the NTA and to come up with new, rigorous anti-paper leak laws for a computer-based NEET from 2027 onwards.

Pradhan Reflects On Four Decades Of Service

The controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak led to numerous nationwide student protests against Pradhan, as many demanded the latter's dismissal, blaming him for the irregularities, a demand the Indian government ultimately conceded to when Pradhan stepped down earlier in the day. 

In his resignation letter, Pradhan said, "For over four decades, I have dedicated myself to the cause of students, teachers, and educational reform. I have always believed that a robust, inclusive, and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nation."

"I deeply respect the aspirations, sentiments, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth. Realising the dreams of India's young generation has been a moral commitment in our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership," he added.