PM Modi placed full trust, gave me the responsibility of Education Ministry, says Pralhad Joshi
New Delhi, July 26
After taking additional charge of the Ministry of Education on Sunday, Pralhad Joshi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "placed full trust" in him and hence given him the new responsibility, while adding that he is holding back-to-back meetings to review all details regarding the education portfolio.
Pralhad Joshi, who currently serves as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, took over the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid nationwide protests over examination paper leaks.
Speaking to the reporters after assuming the charge, Joshi said, "The Honourable Prime Minister has placed full trust and given me this responsibility. I was in Karnataka yesterday, reached here at night, and came here this morning to take charge and handle the portfolio."
"All details, whatever we need to see, make decisions on, gather information about, I have tried to understand the entire ministry. From roughly 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., I held continuous meetings. The subject is new to me, so after fully understanding it, I will talk to you in detail," he added.
Earlier, in a post on X, Joshi said, "Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am grateful to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility."
"I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty," he added.
Joshi's appointment comes at a time when the Education Ministry has been under intense public and political scrutiny due to widespread student protests demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in various competitive examinations.
The President's Secretariat confirmed Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation through an official communique issued on Saturday. According to the communique, President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect. The resignation was accepted under Article 75(2) of the Constitution.
The President has simultaneously assigned Pralhad Joshi the additional charge of the Ministry of Education. He will continue to oversee his existing 'Food and Consumer Affairs' portfolio while heading the Education Ministry.
Pradhan's resignation marks a significant change in the Union Cabinet, as he had been leading the Education Ministry during a period of heightened student unrest over alleged paper leaks and examination-related controversies.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Additional charge" - that's the problem! Education needs a full-time focused minister, not someone juggling two portfolios. Students across India are anxious about NEET, JEE, and other exams. We need clear timelines for investigations and immediate relief for affected candidates. Sorry, but this seems like a band-aid solution when what we need is major surgery on the examination system.
Joshi ji's track record in handling consumer affairs has been commendable - he sorted out food grain distribution issues efficiently. Education is a different beast though. Hope he brings similar administrative rigor. The fact that he's already in meetings before even speaking to media is a good sign. Let's give him some time before judging. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will our education system be fixed overnight.
As a teacher, I welcome the change but remain skeptical. Pradhan's resignation was overdue after the paper leak fiasco, but shuffling ministers doesn't solve structural issues. We need digitized exam systems with blockchain verification, independent oversight committees, and real consequences for malpractices. Joshi ji should also focus on learning outcomes - our students are memorizing, not understanding. Let's see if he walks the talk.
"Full trust" - that's what they said about Pradhan too! 🤔 At least Joshi has acknowledged he needs to understand the subject first. That's more honest than many politicians who pretend to know everything. But seriously, the government needs to prioritize: (1) Compensation for students affected by paper leaks, (2) Tech upgrades for exam security, (3) Reducing exam stress through semester reforms. Concentrated action, not just new faces!
A We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.