Pralhad Joshi was appointed Union Education Minister on 25 July 2026 and took charge at Kartavya Bhavan on 26 July 2026. He continues to hold the portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
Ministry of Education: remit and structure
- Departments: Department of School Education and Literacy; Department of Higher Education.
- Statutory bodies: University Grants Commission (UGC) is under the Department of Higher Education (UGC Act, 1956).
- Primary functions: formulation of school and higher education policy, literacy programmes, technical and vocational education governance.
Constitutional and procedural basis
- Appointment: President appoints Union ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister (Article 75, Constitution of India).
- Tenure: Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President (Article 75(2)).
- Portfolio changes: Alterations in Council of Ministers are effected by presidential orders/notifications.
Pralhad Joshi: profile
- Parliamentary base: Five-time Member of Parliament from Dharwad, Karnataka.
- Previous Cabinet roles: Served in Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs ministries (2019–2024).
- Assumed charge: 26 July 2026; retains multiple portfolios concurrently.
Important facts for exams
- MHRD renaming: Ministry of Human Resource Development was renamed Ministry of Education in 2020.
- Policy: National Education Policy 2020 is administered by the Ministry of Education.
- Seat: Kartavya Bhavan is part of the Central Vista complex, New Delhi.