Dharmendra Pradhan resigns; Pralhad Joshi gets charge of Education Ministry
On 25 July 2026, the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, accepted Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation from the Union Council of Ministers under Article 75(2), and assigned the Ministry of Education to Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi in addition to his existing portfolio.
Summary
Pradhan, who was Education Minister, resigned amid a youth-led agitation by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar over exam irregularities and the NEET paper leak. In his statement he said the issue was not a matter of personal prestige. After the third round of talks at the Constitution Club of India, where Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh met CJP representatives, the government accepted the CJP's other demands – including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide after the NEET controversy and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters – and the CJP called off its agitation the same day.
Key facts
- Date
- 25 July 2026
- Resigned
- Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister
- Constitutional provision
- Article 75(2) – Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President
- New charge
- Ministry of Education to Pralhad Joshi (additional)
- Context
- Cockroach Janta Party agitation over NEET paper leak; called off on 25 July
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which Union Minister resigned from the Council of Ministers on 25 July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Dharmendra Pradhan
The President accepted Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation; Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of Education.
Under which constitutional provision did the President accept a Union Minister's resignation on 25 July 2026, on the Prime Minister's advice?
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Correct answer: A — Article 75(2)
The communique cited clause (2) of Article 75, under which Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. Article 164 deals with State ministers.
Consider the following statements about the events of 25 July 2026: 1. Pralhad Joshi was given the Education Ministry in addition to his existing portfolio. 2. The Cockroach Janta Party called off its agitation after the government accepted its demands. 3. The agitation was mainly over the NEET paper leak and exam irregularities. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct, as per the President's Secretariat communique and media reports of 25 July 2026.