Pralhad Joshi Assumes Charge as Union Education Minister, Pledges to Serve with Humility

New Delhi, July 2026: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi formally assumed additional charge as the Union Education Minister on Sunday, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility at a crucial time for the country’s education sector.

Soon after taking charge, Joshi shared a message on social media platform X, thanking the Prime Minister for his confidence in him. “Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji 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.

Joshi, who continues to serve as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, has been given the additional responsibility of leading the Education Ministry following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. His appointment comes at a time when the ministry is facing heightened public scrutiny amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in several competitive examinations.

The President’s Secretariat confirmed the change through an official communiqué issued on Saturday. It stated that President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Article 75(2) of the Constitution.

The communiqué also announced that Pralhad Joshi would take over the additional charge of the Education Ministry while continuing to oversee his existing portfolio of Food and Consumer Affairs. The interim arrangement is aimed at ensuring continuity in the functioning of the ministry until a permanent appointment is made.

Pradhan’s resignation marked a significant political development, as he stepped down during a period of widespread student protests over alleged examination paper leaks and demands for greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations.

The protests, which gained momentum across several parts of the country, came to an end on Saturday after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced that the Centre had accepted its principal demands, including Pradhan’s resignation.

The decision followed the third round of discussions between Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh and representatives of the CJP. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, the government announced that it had accepted the key demands raised by the protesting students.

Subsequently, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das appealed to students to withdraw their protests and return home, stating that the government’s assurances had addressed all major concerns raised during the agitation.

With Joshi taking charge of the Education Ministry, attention will now turn to the government’s efforts to restore public confidence in the examination system, strengthen safeguards against paper leaks, and implement reforms aimed at ensuring transparency and credibility in the country’s education framework.

Team Maverick.