Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has assumed the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the immediate resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. This major transition comes on the heels of intense, weeks-long nationwide protests concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. In his statement regarding the departure, Pradhan emphasized that stepping down was necessary to safeguard the genuine interests of students and to ensure that the demonstrations were not hijacked or exploited by external or anti-national elements.
While taking on this critical education portfolio, Joshi will continue managing his existing responsibilities as the Cabinet Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy. The official announcement, released by Rashtrapati Bhavan, noted that President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation and assigned the new charge upon the advice of the Prime Minister.
Read More : Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Protest Pressure Nationwide
This high-profile political shift also led to immediate developments on the ground. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had spearheaded a relentless 37-day agitation at Jantar Mantar, formally announced the withdrawal of its protest. The decision followed the central government’s agreement to several key demands set forth by the agitators, most notably the resignation of the former education minister. As the administration steps up to address lingering student grievances and restructure oversight, this leadership change marks a pivotal moment in handling the fallout from the examination controversy and restoring stability to the education sector.