MockSutraCurrent Affairs

Pralhad Joshi Takes Additional Charge as Union Education Minister

29 July 2026National

Union Minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi — who holds the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy portfolios — was given additional charge as the 10th Union Minister of Education, following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. On the advice of PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan's resignation under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. Pradhan resigned taking moral responsibility for the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the resulting student protests. In related changes, Naresh Pal Gangwar (1994-batch IAS) took charge as Higher Education Secretary and T.K. Anil Kumar (1995-batch IAS) as School Education & Literacy Secretary.

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Article 75: deals with appointment, oath and term of Union Ministers | Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to: the Lok Sabha | Ministry of Education: renamed from MHRD in 2020 | Pralhad Joshi represents: Dharwad (Karnataka)

⚡ Quick Revision

Pralhad Joshi took additional charge as Union Education Minister after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak; the resignation was accepted by the President under Article 75(2) of the Constitution.

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