‘This is a new subject for me’: Pralhad Joshi after taking charge as education minister | India News

NEW DELHI: Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday assumed charge as the Union education minister, a day after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and assigned him the additional responsibility of the ministry. Taking charge, Joshi said he was reviewing the ministry’s functioning and familiarising himself with the department, describing education as “a new subject” for him.Speaking to reporters after assuming office, Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had entrusted him with the responsibility and that he would take time to understand the ministry before making detailed comments.“The Prime Minister has entrusted me with this responsibility with full confidence.

I was in Karnataka yesterday. I reached here last night and came this morning to take charge. I have assumed charge. I am reviewing all the details here and the decisions that need to be taken. I have been gathering information and trying to understand the functioning of the entire ministry. We had continuous meetings today. This is a new subject for me. I have taken charge today and held detailed discussions with the senior officers. It is a very big department, so I will speak to you in detail after I have understood it completely,” Joshi said.

Joshi thanks PM Modi, says he accepts responsibility with humility

Soon after taking charge, Joshi shared a message on X thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the Education Ministry.“Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility,” he wrote.He added, “I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty.”

Assigned additional charge after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation

Joshi was given charge of the Education ministry on Saturday after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation from the Union council of ministers with immediate effect.According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement, Joshi will continue to hold his existing portfolios while also heading the Education Ministry.“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio,” the statement said.Joshi is currently the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy. He has previously served as the Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs.

Change comes amid protests over examination irregularities

The change at the top of the education ministry comes after weeks of nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak. Students have been demanding greater transparency, accountability and reforms in the examination system.Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, saying he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces.”Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced that it had withdrawn its 36-day-long agitation at Jantar Mantar in “good faith” after Pradhan stepped down from the Union council of ministers and the organisation received assurances from the government on its other demands.