PM Narendra Modi assigned portfolios to his council of ministers today, 10th June. Dharmendra Pradhan retains his position as the head of the Ministry of Education in the third tenure of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Council of Ministers in the Modi 3.0 administration comprises 72 members, with 30 holding cabinet positions and five serving as ministers of state with independent charge.President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the ministers on Sunday, June 9.
Pradhan has been a part of PM Modi‘s cabinet in the two preceding terms, overseeing various sectors such as petroleum and natural gas, education, and skill development. During the Prime Minister’s initial tenure, Ramesh Pokhriyal held the position of education minister from 2014 until a cabinet reshuffle on July 7, 2021.
Pradhan, marking his third entry into the Union Cabinet, has made a comeback to the Lok Sabha after a hiatus of 15 years. He clinched victory from Sambalpur in Odisha, triumphing over Biju Janata Dal’s Pranab Prakash Das with a significant lead of over 1.19 lakh votes. Notably, in his prior role as the Minister of Education and Skill Development, he spearheaded the implementation of the ambitious new National Education Policy (NEP).
In a reshuffle of the cabinet back in 2017, Pradhan was promoted to the cabinet rank for the same ministry, along with an added responsibility for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Later, he resumed his position as a cabinet minister in the second term of the Modi government. Subsequently, in 2021, Pradhan was appointed as the Union Minister for Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship.
The Education Ministry comprises two distinct departments: the Department of School Education and Literacy, and the Department of Higher Education.
The Department of School Education and Literacy oversees matters concerning primary, secondary, and higher secondary education, along with adult education and literacy initiatives. On the other hand, the Department of Higher Education is responsible for university-level education, technical education, scholarships, and associated endeavors.
(With inputs from PTI)