Pralhad Joshi Given Additional Charge of Education Ministry After Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid Exam Paper Leak Protests
New Delhi: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the post amid weeks of protests over alleged examination paper leaks. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The appointment was confirmed by the President’s Office after accepting Pradhan’s resignation. Joshi, who currently serves as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, will now also oversee the Education Ministry.
Pradhan, 57, submitted his resignation on the 35th day of protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In his resignation letter, he said he had decided to step down to prevent “anti-national forces” from taking advantage of the ongoing situation.
He said he had spent more than four decades working for students, teachers and educational reforms.
“For over four decades, I have dedicated myself to the cause of students, teachers, and educational reform. I have always believed that a robust, inclusive, and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nation,” Pradhan wrote in his resignation letter.
A few hours after his resignation, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, alongside Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, announced that the organisation was ending its protest in “good faith” after the Centre assured it would address its key demands.
Pradhan’s resignation had been the main demand of the CJP, a group founded by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University graduate who recently returned to India to lead the movement against alleged examination paper leaks.
Just a day before Pradhan stepped down, Pralhad Joshi had said the government remained committed to protecting students’ interests and strengthening the country’s education system.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Joshi said the Modi government had consistently worked to safeguard the future of young people and would take strict action against any irregularities affecting examinations.
He also said students had every right to protest peacefully but warned that “anti-social elements” were allegedly trying to exploit the movement. Joshi urged students to remain vigilant and ensure their genuine concerns were not misused.
With Joshi now taking additional charge of the Education Ministry, attention is expected to shift towards reforms aimed at improving examination security and restoring confidence in India’s education system.
