New Delhi: Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the government announced on Saturday.
According to an official communiqué issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Article 75(2) of the Constitution.
The President has simultaneously entrusted Pralhad Joshi with the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry while he continues to serve as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs.
The change comes amid nationwide protests over alleged examination paper leaks, which had placed the Education Ministry under intense public and political scrutiny.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation marks a significant reshuffle in the Union Cabinet after he headed the Education Ministry during a period marked by widespread student protests and demands for greater accountability over examination irregularities.
In a joint press conference on Saturday, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Saurav Das appealed to students to withdraw their protests, stating that the government had accepted their demands and urging them to return to their studies.
As the new minister holding additional charge, Pralhad Joshi will oversee the functioning of the Education Ministry alongside his existing responsibilities. Officials said the arrangement has been made to ensure the smooth functioning of the ministry without administrative disruption.
The President’s communiqué stated that the new arrangement takes effect immediately, ensuring continuity in the ministry’s operations.
Further announcements regarding any permanent restructuring or appointment to the Education Ministry are expected in due course.
