New Education Minister Named as Delhi Returns to Normal After Weeks of Unrest

The Indian government has named Pralhad Joshi as the country's new Education Minister after President Droupadi Murmu formally accepted Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. By nightfall, the Cockroach Janta Party had called off its agitation at Jantar Mantar, most of the prevailing security had been withdrawn from the protest site, and the Delhi Metro stations that were shuttered for three consecutive days reopened to the public.

Pralhad Joshi has taken charge as the union Education Minister. Via: @JoshiPralhad on X

The government accepted all three of CJP's non-negotiable demands: Pradhan's resignation, the withdrawal of FIRs filed against protesters, and a commitment to compensation for students affected by the NEET-UG paper leak. A follow-up round of talks between the government and CJP is scheduled in the coming weeks.

Joshi, a five-time Member of Parliament from Karnataka's Dharwad constituency and a senior BJP leader, will hold the Education portfolio as an additional charge alongside his existing responsibilities for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy. Accepting the appointment, Joshi said: "I accept this responsibility with a sense of duty and humility. I am thankful to the Prime Minister. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, I will work to the best of my ability and fulfil my responsibilities with dedication."

The speed of Saturday's resolution, resignation submitted, accepted, successor named, protest called off, and metro stations reopened, all within hours, marked a significant shift from the government's posture of the preceding weeks.

Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education.

I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for placing his faith in me and entrusting me with this responsibility. I accept it with humility and a deep sense of duty.

ಇಂದು ಭಾರತ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ… pic.twitter.com/Ge2ulvf3L8

— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) July 26, 2026

The Monsoon Session of Parliament, disrupted since its opening day on July 20 by opposition demands for a debate on the paper leak, is expected to resume normally on Monday. The government has separately committed to introducing a bill in Parliament proposing stricter punishments for examination paper leaks, and fast-track courts under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 have already been designated by the Delhi High Court.

Clearance work at Jantar Mantar were ongoing on Sunday morning, with agency footage showing workers dismantling the protest site infrastructure that had been in place. The occupation of one of India's most historic public protest grounds — which had begun with a viral joke about cockroaches and ended with a minister's resignation — is now over.