PRAHLAD JOSHI NEW Minister

1. New Minister - Pralhad Joshi

Full Name: Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi

Constituency: Dharwad, Karnataka - 5 time Lok Sabha MP

Appointment: July 25, 2026. Given additional charge of Ministry of Education

Notification: Issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on advice of PM Narendra Modi . 

2. Current Portfolios held now

Education - Additional charge

Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

New & Renewable Energy

He was earlier also Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines . 

3. Why Dharmendra Pradhan resigned

Reason cited: "Moral grounds" amid NEET paper leak protests and Jantar Mantar demonstrations

In his letter: Pradhan said anti-national forces shouldn't take advantage, and "not even a single student's future should get entangled"

Protests: Led by CJP - Cockroach Janta Party. They demanded resignation + ₹1 crore compensation. Protest ended after govt agreed to demands . 

4. About Pralhad Joshi

Age: 63

Experience: Longest serving BJP MP from Karnataka. Known for parliamentary management

Key work in Renewable Energy:

500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030

National Green Hydrogen Mission

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

PM-KUSUM scheme

Style: Seen as an administrator. Expected to bring "major changes" in education sector . 

5. What happens next in Education Ministry

Immediate task: Handle NEET/NTA reforms, student protests aftermath

Focus areas: Implementation of NEP 2020 - Pradhan had completed 6 years of NEP rollout

CJP demands: 5-point charter including stricter anti-paper leak law . 

6. Official Statement

Rashtrapati Bhavan: "The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan... Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi... be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio" 2618