Will live up to PM's expectations, says new Education Minister Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister and BJP MP Pralhad Joshi took additional charge of the Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. He said he would work with humility amid NEET protest fallout.

In Short

• President Murmu accepts Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over NEET protests
• Pralhad Joshi says PM Modi entrusted him with significant responsibility
• Joshi to retain existing portfolios along with Education Ministry

Newly-appointed Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said he would discharge his responsibilities with “complete humility” and a strong sense of duty after being given additional charge of the ministry following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation in the wake of students' protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.

President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation on Saturday, after which Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned Joshi the additional portfolio.

Speaking after taking charge, Joshi said the Prime Minister had placed his trust in him by entrusting him with a “significant responsibility”. He thanked PM Narendra Modi for the opportunity and said he would work sincerely under his guidance to meet expectations in the Education Ministry.

“With full dedication, humility and honesty, I will work towards fulfilling this responsibility,” Joshi said.

The 63-year-old credited Pradhan with implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) and said several important initiatives had been undertaken in the education sector in recent years.

“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,” Joshi said.

He added that he would work to the best of his ability under the Prime Minister’s guidance and fulfil his responsibilities with dedication.

Joshi will retain his existing portfolios while also taking charge of the Education Ministry. The Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka’s Dharwad constituency currently serves as Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

Pradhan stepped down amid student protests over irregularities in the NEET examination. In a letter shared on X, he said he had submitted his resignation to PM Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the protests were not exploited by “anti-national forces”.

“The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces. The unity of the country must remain intact. The future of every student in India should not get entangled in legal complications,” Pradhan said.

“Keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he added.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its 49-day agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar following the resignation of Pradhan and government assurances on the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters and organisers.

The decision was taken after three rounds of talks between a CJP delegation and government representatives, including Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.

Announcing the withdrawal, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the agitation was being called off in good faith, with the group expecting the government to implement the agreed terms within the promised timelines.

- Ends