Pralhad Joshi has received additional charge of India’s Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid sustained protests over the NEET paper leak. Protest leaders ended their Jantar Mantar sit-in as attention shifted to exam reform commitments.
NEW DELHI — Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of India’s Ministry of Education on Saturday, July 25, 2026, after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Joshi will oversee education while retaining his Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy portfolios.
Pralhad Joshi receives additional charge
The change places a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader at the head of the ministry during a politically sensitive dispute over the integrity of national examinations. Joshi, a four-time member of Parliament from Karnataka, previously served as India’s parliamentary affairs minister.
Pradhan resigns amid NEET protests
Pradhan, 57, had led the Education Ministry since 2021. He stepped down after weeks of youth-led demonstrations over leaks involving the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET, India’s medical school entrance examination. The controversy led to canceled results and a retest affecting about 2 million students.
In his resignation statement, Pradhan said he respected the aspirations and legitimate expectations of young people and did not want “anti-national” forces to exploit the unrest.
CJP ends Jantar Mantar protest
The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which led the protest at Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi, announced that it was withdrawing the agitation in good faith. Government representatives said protesters’ key demands had been accepted, including examination reforms, withdrawal of cases against demonstrators and compensation for affected families.
CJP representatives said they were still awaiting written commitments on some measures and expected further discussions on a broader five-point education reform proposal.
Exam reform becomes the focus
Joshi takes charge as the government faces pressure to strengthen exam security, improve transparency and restore confidence in national testing. The next phase will depend on how quickly the government converts its assurances into formal action and whether promised safeguards prevent further examination failures.
