- Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister amid NEET paper leak protests.
- Pralhad Joshi was appointed the new Union Education Minister on July 25.
- Joshi, 63, is a five-time BJP MP from Dharwad and also holds portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food, and New and Renewable Energy.
- He has previously served as Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister following widespread protests over examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak.12
Pralhad Joshi, a five-time BJP MP from Karnataka, was appointed as his successor on July 25. Joshi will also continue to oversee the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.34
Joshi, who has a long history with the BJP, defended the government's handling of the protests just a day before his appointment, stating, “The Modi government has always stood with students and the youth. It remains committed to taking strict action against any irregularities or injustices that affect their future.”
Political analyst Shivasundar noted that Joshi's appointment reflects the BJP's strategy to promote its ideological agenda through education. He described Joshi as a staunch proponent of Hindi and Sanskrit, suggesting that his leadership may not bring significant changes to the government's response to the NEET controversy.
Shivasundar remarked, “His immediate remarks after being given this responsibility were essentially, ‘We will have an eye on you.’” This indicates a potential crackdown on protests against the National Testing Agency (NTA) and NEET, which the BJP views as anti-national.
Joshi's political career includes various roles within the BJP, and he has been a member of Parliament since 2004, retaining his seat in every election. His appointment is seen as a continuation of the BJP's focus on aligning education with its broader political objectives.
“Pralhad Joshi, 63, is a five-time BJP MP from Dharwad who will continue to head the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food, and New and Renewable Energy. His appointment comes hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following weeks of protests over the NEET paper leak.”
