India's New Education Minister: Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan was sworn in as Minister of Education yesterday evening in a Cabinet Reshuffle around 6 PM.

Political Career

Pradhan political career started early with him becoming an ABVP activist at a young age. His father, Debendra Pradhan was also a cabinet minister from 1999-2004.

Dharmendra Pradhan has been a long-standing member of the Bhartiya Janata Party, serving as All India General Secretary since 2010. He became a Cabinet Minister in 2017, representing Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. 

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

He has also been the longest-serving Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas in India, joining in 2014, coming to an end now with his new role of Minister of Education taking place yesterday. He began his second tenure as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas in May 2019. 

Pradhan is best known for the success of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana that was launched by the MoPNG. Ujjwala Yojana aimed to end energy poverty by providing over 8 million LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the past 6 years. This earned Pradhan the nickname 'Ujjwala Man'

Ministry of Education

Pradhan holds a postgraduate degree in Anthropology from Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar. He is actively pursuing issuing of unemployment and skilled-based education for the youth of the nation and has pushed for rehabilitation and resettlement of farmers.

Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, former Minister of Education has stated health reasons in his resignation letter.