Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, July 20 [1].

The leadership change comes as the Indian government faces intense pressure to address systemic failures in national testing, specifically regarding the integrity of medical entrance exams.

Pradhan resigned amid sustained protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged paper leaks in the NEET-UG 2026 examination [2]. The Prime Minister advised President Droupadi Murmu to accept the resignation, which was finalized in New Delhi [3].

Reports on the duration of the unrest vary. Some sources describe the event as a 36-day protest [4], while others cite it as the 35th day of demonstrations [5]. In a statement regarding his departure, Pradhan said, "The events of the past 10 days have saddened me" [6].

Joshi, described as an RSS loyalist, assumed the portfolio hours after Pradhan's exit [7]. His appointment is intended to stabilize the ministry as the government prepares to introduce an exam reform bill in the Lok Sabha [8].

The NEET-UG 2026 controversy has centered on allegations that exam papers were leaked, compromising the fairness of the competition for thousands of medical aspirants [2]. The protests at Jantar Mantar became a focal point for students and activists demanding accountability, and systemic overhaul [3].

“"The events of the past 10 days have saddened me."”

The resignation of a Union Minister over exam leaks signals a rare admission of administrative failure by the current government. By appointing Pralhad Joshi and preparing an exam reform bill, the administration is attempting to pivot from crisis management to legislative action to restore public trust in the national examination system.