Pralhad Joshi appointed India’s Education Minister amid exam scandal fallout

Pralhad Joshi has been appointed as India’s new education minister following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down on Saturday after weeks of youth-led protests over a major exam leak scandal .

The 63-year-old Joshi, who already serves as minister of new and renewable energy and consumer affairs, food and public distribution, will now also handle the education portfolio a task political analysts say is likely to prove challenging amid heightened public scrutiny over the country’s education system .

Pradhan’s departure was one of the central demands of the student demonstrations that erupted after allegations surfaced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance exam paper had been leaked . Nearly 2.3 million test takers across India, as well as at examination centers in Doha, Dubai, Singapore, and Kathmandu, appeared for the NEET on May 3, competing for fewer than 130,000 spots in medical colleges .

After the leak allegations, the Indian government announced on May 12 that the examination was voided and that a new test would be held. The decision left thousands of students disillusioned and frustrated, sparking protests that spread across the country and evolved into a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) .

Joshi, one of the Modi government’s longest-serving ministers, is seen as close to the powerful prime minister . Following his appointment to lead the Ministry of Education, Joshi wrote on social media that he was “grateful” to Modi “for placing his faith” in him and “entrusting” him with responsibility . “I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty,” he said .

On Sunday, Joshi held his first meeting as education minister to assess the situation and implement new schemes aimed at restoring trust in the examination system . The move signals the government’s urgency to address the grievances of students and parents who have demanded greater transparency and accountability .

The NEET scandal has exposed broader concerns about the integrity of India’s competitive examination system, which determines access to coveted professional seats. With millions of students’ futures hanging in the balance, Joshi’s appointment represents both a test of his crisis management skills and a pivotal moment for educational reform in the world’s most populous nation .