New Delhi, 25 July

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. The appointment was made on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Joshi, who currently serves as the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, will oversee the Education Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios until further orders.

The change comes hours after Pradhan stepped down amid sustained nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His resignation was accepted by the President on Saturday.

A six-time Member of Parliament from Karnataka, Joshi has previously served as the BJP's Karnataka unit president and has held several key organisational positions within the party. He has been a Cabinet minister since 2019 and currently handles two major ministries in the Modi government.

The appointment ensures continuity in the functioning of the Education Ministry as the Centre deals with the fallout from the NEET-UG controversy and prepares for further discussions on examination reforms and student concerns.