Shortly after being handed additional charge of the Education Ministry, Prahlad Joshi issued his first public statement in the new role, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility. He said he intended to carry out the role sincerely and diligently, and expressed confidence that he would live up to the Prime Minister's expectations of him.
The brief statement comes at a sensitive moment for the ministry, which has been at the center of weeks of student protests and political pressure following the NEET-UG paper-leak controversy that ultimately led to former minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Joshi's remarks did not touch on specific policy plans, but his emphasis on responsibility and diligence is being read as an attempt to project stability and reassurance as the ministry moves past the recent turmoil.
Joshi takes on the education portfolio in addition to his existing responsibilities for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and new and renewable energy, making him one of the more heavily loaded members of the current Union Cabinet. Attention will now turn to how quickly he addresses the exam-reform measures and accountability steps that were part of the government's agreement with protesting groups.
