Saturday, July 25, proved eventful in Delhi: Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as India’s education minister and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been protesting at Jantar Mantar for 36 days, withdrew its agitation after the government acceded to its demands. Later that evening, the Rashtrapati Bhawan announced that senior BJP leader Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi would be given additional charge of the Ministry of Education while retaining his existing portfolios.
In a press communique, the Rashtrapati Bhawan said, “The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.” The statement added, “Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio.”
Pralhad Joshi, born in November 1962, hails from North Karnataka. He completed his schooling in Hubballi and holds a Bachelor of Arts from KS Arts College, Hubballi, affiliated to Karnataka University, Dharwad. An early associate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Joshi has also been involved in entrepreneurship and grassroots development initiatives. He first rose to wider attention during the 1992–94 Idgah Maidan movement in Hubballi and through the ‘Save Kashmir Movement’.
Joshi entered electoral politics in 1996 as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and later served as president of the BJP’s Karnataka unit. He moved to national politics after winning the Dharwad–Hubballi Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and has retained it in successive general elections, including 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. His 2024 election affidavit listed combined family assets of Rs 21.09 crore and liabilities of Rs 8.01 crore.
In the Modi government’s second term, Joshi was appointed Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, overseeing commercial coal-mining reforms, coal block auctions and measures to boost domestic coal production. As Parliamentary Affairs Minister he coordinated government legislation in Parliament. After the 2024 general elections he took on the ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
In those roles he has overseen administration of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, been linked to a mid-day meal project for primary schools in Karnataka, and been involved in rolling out the PM Surya Ghar Yojana under the renewable energy portfolio.
Officials and party sources say Joshi’s steady, controlled style and administrative experience-especially his 2019–2024 tenure as Parliamentary Affairs Minister-make him a tactical choice at a politically sensitive time, with the Monsoon session of Parliament underway. He faces immediate tests in the education brief: steering reforms at the National Testing Agency (NTA), overseeing the transition of NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) to computer-based testing, and restoring confidence in the country’s examination system.
As News18 reported, the government hopes that entrusting Shastri Bhawan to a leader known for execution discipline will keep routine administration and policy milestones on track. Whether Joshi can meet these expectations remains the central question.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/pralhad-joshi-education-minister-profile-responsibilities-dharmendra-pradhan-resignation-14033903.html
Category: India
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Publish Date: 2026-07-25 23:23:00
