In a significant political development, President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The decision came on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Simultaneously, the President directed that senior Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi be given additional charge of the Ministry of Education while continuing with his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
The announcement marks the end of Pradhan’s tenure at the Education Ministry, which had come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. Nationwide student-led protests, spearheaded by the youth movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), had demanded his resignation over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in major competitive examinations, particularly NEET-UG.
Protesters had camped at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for weeks, calling for accountability, compensation for families of students who died by suicide linked to the exam controversy, and systemic reforms. Opposition leaders also amplified the demand, describing it as non-negotiable. After prolonged agitation and negotiations, the government accepted Pradhan’s resignation, leading the CJP to call off its nationwide agitation.
Pralhad Joshi, a five-time MP from Dharwad in Karnataka and a seasoned BJP leader, now steps into the sensitive portfolio on an interim basis. His appointment ensures continuity in the ministry while the government deliberates on a permanent successor.
As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how swiftly the government moves to bring stability to one of its most critical ministries and whether further reforms follow this high-profile exit.
