A storm of protests, political pressure and questions over India’s education system led to major change at the Centre. As Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from the Union Cabinet, the responsibility of steering the Education Ministry moved to BJP veteran Pralhad Joshi.
The decision, announced on Saturday, July 25, 2026, places one of PM Narendra Modi’s most experienced Cabinet ministers at centre of ministry facing intense scrutiny over examination reforms and the ongoing fallout from the NEET-UG controversy.
According to official statement, Indian President accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Article 75(2) of the Constitution. Joshi been assigned the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry while continuing to manage his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
The appointment brings seasoned BJP strategist into one of the government’s most politically sensitive ministries. Joshi spent more than two decades building his influence within the BJP. He first entered Parliament in 2004 and has successfully defended his seat in every election since, including the 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Known inside the BJP as an organisational leader and parliamentary strategist, Joshi has previously handled some of the government’s most crucial ministries.
Born on November 27, 1962, in Vijayapura, Karnataka, Joshi completed his education in Hubballi before beginning his political journey through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and rose through the party ranks, eventually becoming BJP Karnataka president between 2013 and 2016.
His political rise accelerated after the controversial Hubballi Idgah Maidan movement in the early 1990s, which brought him into the spotlight. While BJP supporters described the campaign as a movement linked to national pride, critics accused it of intensifying communal tensions.
He became part of Modi’s Union Cabinet in 2019, taking charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines. During his tenure, he oversaw major coal sector decisions, including commercial mining reforms and coal block auction initiatives aimed at increasing domestic production.
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced the withdrawal of its protest after the government accepted the organisation’s remaining demands, according to the party’s spokesperson. The spokesperson said the group decided to officially call off the demonstration after the government approved its demands.
Indian Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as a “major step towards reforming the education system.”
Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid CJP protest
