Pralhad Joshi takes charge as new education minister after Dharmendra Pradhan's exit.

New Delhi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan earlier today.

According to an official communique from the President’s office, President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Article 75(2) of the Constitution. Simultaneously, the President has entrusted Joshi with the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry. He will continue to hold his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.

The arrangement is temporary and aimed at ensuring continuity in the functioning of the Education Ministry without any disruption, officials said.

Pradhan had resigned earlier on Saturday amid prolonged student protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. In his resignation statement, he had said the decision was taken to prevent the situation from being exploited and to allow students to focus on their studies.

Joshi, a five-time MP from Dharwad in Karnataka and a senior Cabinet minister, now becomes the new face of the Education Ministry at a time when the government is under pressure to restore confidence in the examination system. The Centre has already initiated bureaucratic changes in the ministry and announced plans for stricter anti-paper leak measures, including fast-track courts.

No permanent appointment has been announced yet. Further details on any long-term restructuring are expected in the coming days.