Pralhad Joshi assumes charge as Union Education Minister

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.

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 media 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 and I reached Delhi immediately 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 has been given additional charge of the education ministry besides his role as the consumer affairs minister. Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday following the Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests across the country, demanding his ouster over the NEET paper leak controversy.