The Ministry of Education has a new face at the helm. A day after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pralhad Joshi on Sunday formally assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education.His appointment comes at a time when the ministry is facing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and growing demands from students for greater transparency and reforms in the examination system.Taking charge of the ministry, Joshi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility.“Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility,” he said in a post on X.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
He added, “I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty.”
Appointment follows Pradhan’s resignation
The change in leadership was announced on Saturday after Rashtrapati Bhavan said President Droupadi Murmu had accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect.According to the official statement, Joshi has been given charge of the Ministry of Education in addition to the portfolios he already holds.“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,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.Joshi will continue to serve as the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy. He is also the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka’s Dharwad constituency. In the previous government, he handled the Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs ministries.
Leadership change comes after weeks of protests
The reshuffle comes after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from the Cabinet following weeks of protests over alleged examination irregularities.While announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests were not misused by “anti-national forces.”The protests had brought students onto the streets in several parts of the country, with demands for accountability, greater transparency and reforms in the conduct of competitive examinations.
CJP withdraws Jantar Mantar protest
The leadership change was followed by a key development at the protest site in Delhi.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been leading a sit-in at Jantar Mantar for 37 days, announced that it was withdrawing its agitation “in good faith” after Pradhan resigned from the Council of Ministers.The outfit said it had also received assurances from the government on its other demands.While the protest has ended for now, many of the issues raised by students, including examination reforms and restoring confidence in the system, remain before the Education Ministry.(with agency inputs)
