Pralhad Joshi has taken on an additional responsibility, the Ministry of Education, after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, and the move has brought fresh attention to the senior BJP leader’s own educational background and the years before he entered public life.

Joshi already holds charge of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and new and renewable energy as union minister. He was handed the education portfolio on Saturday, July 25, as part of the reshuffle that followed the leadership change.

This time, the interest isn’t limited to his record in government. People are also looking closely at the credentials listed on his public profiles and at details from his personal life.

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Education and early years

Joshi was born on November 27, 1962, in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district. He studied in Hubballi before entering public life and went on to represent Dharwad in the Lok Sabha five times.

According to his official parliamentary profile, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, having completed his graduation from Kadasiddeshwar Arts College, Hubballi, in 1983. The college is affiliated with Karnataka University, Dharwad.

An affidavit with one rather notable blank

One detail in Joshi’s 2024 Lok Sabha election affidavit stands out against his family’s declared wealth. The affidavit puts combined family assets at ₹21.09 crore, including ₹8.97 crore in movable assets and ₹12.11 crore in immovable assets, yet it doesn’t list ownership of a single motor vehicle.

What it does list are bank deposits, fixed deposits, mutual funds, shares, insurance policies, jewelry, and other financial holdings. Total family liabilities are declared at ₹8.01 crore.

That said, the absence of a declared vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean Joshi or his family don’t use a car. Election affidavits only record assets held by the candidate, spouse, and dependants, so a vehicle may simply not appear if it isn’t owned by any of them or if it falls outside what needs to be disclosed.

Three daughters, little public fanfare

Joshi is married to Jyoti Joshi, and the couple have three daughters. He’s spent more than two decades in national politics, but his immediate family has largely stayed away from public life.

His wife and children do appear in his election disclosures and public profiles, mainly in connection with asset declarations, but his daughters in particular have kept out of the political spotlight.

Daughter’s education

This isn’t the first time Joshi’s approach to education has drawn attention beyond his own academic record.

In 2016, he shared that his daughter, Ananya, had scored 90% in the Karnataka SSLC, or Class 10, examination, which follows the state board curriculum.

That sparked some discussion on social media at the time, with several users pointing out that Joshi had chosen the Karnataka State Board for his daughter’s schooling rather than a CBSE or CISCE (ICSE/ISC) institution.

The bigger picture

Put together, these details fill out the picture of a veteran BJP leader whose public image has largely been built around his political career.

Now that Joshi has taken charge of one of the country’s most significant ministries, his education, his financial disclosures, and even his choices as a parent have all become part of the conversation around his new role.

Also Read | ‘The future is bright’: Dinesh Karthik on the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan

FAQs

Q1: What is Pralhad Joshi’s educational qualification?

Pralhad Joshi holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from a college affiliated with Karnataka University, Dharwad.

Q2: How many children does Pralhad Joshi have?

Pralhad Joshi and his wife, Jyoti Joshi, have three daughters.