President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday accepted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union education minister and placed the Ministry of Education under the additional charge of Pralhad Joshi.

The development came hours after Pradhan said he had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it was confirmed through an official communication from the president’s office.

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A seal from the highest quarter

The official release said, “The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.”

The same communique said the President had directed that Joshi, a Cabinet minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education in addition to his existing portfolios, with the change taking effect immediately under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.

The portfolio finds a temporary steward

Joshi is currently the Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and new and renewable energy.

There is no indication of any broader reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers beyond the education portfolio being handed to Joshi for now.

The handover comes at a politically sensitive moment for the education ministry, with the resignation and reassignment announced on the same day and before any detailed follow-up statement on the ministry’s next steps.

More details could be added later, but the immediate administrative change is now in place.

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FAQs

Q1: Who is handling the Ministry of Education after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation?

Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Education.

Q2: Did the government announce a wider Union Cabinet reshuffle?

No, there is no indication of a broader Cabinet reshuffle beyond the education portfolio.