Newly appointed Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said he would discharge his responsibilities with “complete humility” and a strong sense of duty after being given additional charge of the ministry following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation earlier in the day, after which Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned Joshi the additional portfolio.
Speaking after taking charge, Joshi said the Prime Minister had placed his trust in him by entrusting him with a “significant responsibility”. He thanked PM Narendra Modi for the opportunity and said he would work sincerely under his guidance to meet expectations in the Education Ministry.
“With full dedication, humility and honesty, I will work towards fulfilling this responsibility,” Joshi said.
Joshi also credited Pradhan with implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) and said several important initiatives had been undertaken in the education sector in recent years.
“In the last four to five years, Dharmendra Pradhan also implemented the National Education Policy, and several important initiatives were undertaken. The country has made significant progress in the new education system,” Joshi said.
He added that he would work to the best of his ability under the Prime Minister’s guidance and fulfil his responsibilities with dedication.
Pradhan stepped down amid student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. In a letter shared on X, he said he had submitted his resignation to Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the protests were not exploited by “anti-national forces”.
“The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces. The unity of the country must remain intact. The future of every student in India should not get entangled in legal complications,” Pradhan said.
“Keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he added.
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