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    Dharmendra Pradhan

    Dharmendra Pradhan

    Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India
    Birth DetailsJune 26, 1969 | Talcher, Odisha
    NationalityIndian
    LeaguePolitician
    EducationPost-graduate in Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
    Dharmendra Pradhan's Journey so far ...
    • In 1983, Dharmendra Pradhan started as an activist of the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in Odisha's Talcher College. Soon, he became the student union leader of Bhubaneswar's Utkal University. He holds a master's degree in anthropology from the same institute
    • He became an MP for the first time in 2004 after winning from the Deogarh parliamentary constituency. However, he lost the Assembly elections in 2009
    • He built a successful political career on hard work and great networking skills. Ambitious, Pradhan made enough contacts in Delhi and became the BJP national secretary and then the general secretary
    • In 2012, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh and became the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas with an independent charge when Narendra Modi swept to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections
    • In 2017, Pradhan was elevated to the rank of Union Minister in the same ministry, with an additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Many saw his elevation as a reward for his tireless work to implement the Ujjwala Scheme
    • He was India's longest-serving Petroleum Minister, he continued in the post for 7 years till July 2021, after which he was appointed as the Minister of Education
    • During his tenure in the Petroleum Ministry, he micromanaged the implementation of PM Modi's flagship programme, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawla Yojana, a big social initiative providing free cooking gas (LPG) connection to women from poor and marginalised sections. It helped build a base for the party in rural areas
    • He is a tough taskmaster and is credited to have overhauled the controversy-riddled oil and gas sector. However, he kept his home state central to his political priorities and steered many projects to Odisha
    • Pradhan regularly keeps touring Odisha to build a base for the BJP. In the 2019 elections, he coordinated electioneering in all Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies and went to every nook and corner of the state to bolster the poll prospects of the candidates
    • Due to his efforts, the saffron party has made deep inroads into the BJD-ruled state, eating into the vote share of the Naveen Patnaik-led party
    • His efforts paid off when BJP won 8 out of 21 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and bagged 23 Assembly seats from its previous tally of 10. The party's vote share in Odisha rose substantially to 38.4% from 21.88%
    • Pradhan is a veteran of many state poll campaigns and has been often involved in drawing up election strategies. He was the election in-charge of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and was the co-in-charge during Bihar polls
    • In West Bengal elections, he was given charge of the Nandigram constituency, where BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
    • In September 2021, he was appointed the party’s in charge of the critical UP Assembly elections. He succeeded senior leaders like Om Mathur, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and late Arun Jaitley in the role of election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh

    Before you go ...
    • He is the son of Debendra Pradhan who was the former Union Minister of State for Surface Transport in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government

    Last Updated: 26/10/2021

    Dharmendra Pradhan News

    • On July 12, in a milestone decision, DU Vice Chancellor Prof. Singh rejected Manusmriti inclusion in the Law Faculty syllabus amid strong opposition. Former UP CM Mayawati and Union Minister Pradhan praised the move, shared widely on X. The Academic Council didn't back it, as Manusmriti contradicts India's secular, welfare-focused constitution.
    • ​​According to sources, the students raised issues like the uncertainty prevailing over the fate of the exam which was conducted in May, the delay in the counselling process and ultimately the academic calendar.
    • Youth Congress workers protested at Jaipur's Gandhi Nagar railway station, demanding the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024. The protesters demanded resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Similar protests were held across Rajasthan under the "Rail Roko Abhiyan" initiative.
    • The agitating students held placards and demanded action against the National Testing Agency which organised the medical entrance examination NEET and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
    • Scores of students ended their protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday. They had been protesting against irregularities in NTA examinations, specifically NEET UG, PG, and UGC NET. The protest, under the banner "India against NTA,” began on Wednesday last week. The students' demands included the banning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Congress on Saturday, accusing it of wanting to avoid a discussion in Parliament over the NEET exam issue. This statement follows Rahul Gandhi's request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a respectful and thorough discussion in Parliament on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exam.
    • On Saturday, the first session of the BJP's extended state executive meeting began in Panchkula to strategize for the upcoming Haryana assembly elections. The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, election in-charge for Haryana, co-in-charge Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, his predecessor and Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and senior leader Saudan Singh.
    • Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said NEET issue is very important for the country and the Opposition wants a dedicated discussion on the matter. Hence, the adjournment motion should be accepted, he said. "Parliament should send a message to the youth that the government and Opposition are together in raising the concerns of students. I urge PM Modi to hold respectful and good discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament as it concerns the country's youth," he added.
    • Protests against NEET-UG, UGC-NET irregularities continue at Jantar Mantar with demands to scrap NTA. NSUI president faces police case for NTA office ruckus. Congress' student wing, AISA, KYS detainment in paper leak protest.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan's proactive approach in addressing NEET concerns in Lok Sabha is evident through the removal of NTA officials and formation of a high-level committee. The government's commitment to resolving irregularities and involving the opposition in discussions on upcoming exams highlights a proactive and inclusive strategy.
    • Sources said t the BJP is also looking to take some populist measures -- like it took in Haryana, where the BJP government revised the creamy layer limit of OBCs to ₹8 lakh from ₹6 lakh, raised backwards reservation in group A and group B jobs in the state to 27% from 15%.
    • The debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is expected to be dominated by issues like exam paper leaks. The opposition has emerged stronger in the recent general elections, and the government is committed to investigating the incidents. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could intervene in the debate on the alleged leaked medical entrance exam NEET-UG.
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath as the opening day of the new Lok Sabha began. The BJP MPs raised chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Jai Shri Ram'. Opposition INDIA bloc members held up copies of the Constitution during the oath. The 262 members took oaths in Hindi, English, native languages, and Sanskrit. Senior BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab presided over the oath-taking of new members.
    • NEET-UG retest: A retest for NEET-UG involving 1,563 candidates is scheduled for Sunday, overseen by officials from the National Testing Agency and the Union education ministry at exam centres. This decision follows the withdrawal of grace marks initially given to compensate for delays in starting the exam at six centres across Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh.
    • The June edition of the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and UGC-NET was postponed on Friday night. The Joint CSIR-UGC-NET is a test conducted to determine eligibility for junior research fellowship and assistant professor and admission to PhD in science courses.
    • The NEET-UG retest for 1,563 candidates will occur on Sunday under the supervision of National Testing Agency (NTA) and officials from the Union education ministry. This retest was prompted by the withdrawal of grace marks initially given to compensate for delays at exam centers in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh. The controversy escalated when six students scored a perfect 720, alongside 61 others, raising suspicions of inflated marks.
    • A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti of the apex court has tagged the fresh pleas along with pending petitions and posted them for hearing on July 8. On Thursday, the top court issued a notice on a plea filed by the NTA seeking the transfer of petitions relating to the NEET-UG, 2024 examination from the High Courts to the apex court.
    • Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard the interests of students amid alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. He acted immediately after the issue came to his notice and encouraged citizens of nearly 124 countries to practice yoga daily. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has criticized Modi for being "silent" on the issue, stating that he is more concerned about the election of the Speaker.
    • The Indian education ministry has canceled the UGC-NET exam for nine lakh students due to potential compromise, a move prompted by the ongoing NEET row. The matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
    • AAP's youth wing protested outside Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's residence demanding NEET exam cancellation due to alleged irregularities. The protest was led by MLA Sanjeev Jha. They called for a time-bound probe supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge, citing student impact. Jha emphasised the need for cancellation of the examination.
    • Amid ongoing controversy over the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, significant changes are anticipated within the National Testing Agency (NTA). The agency's operations and exam management are under review, with a high-level committee potentially being formed to provide recommendations, according to government sources cited by The Times of India.
    • BJP's early appointments for the assembly polls come after its relatively poor performance in 2024, vis-a-vis 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. BJP could win only nine Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, compared to 23 it won in 2019. NDA's total tally is 17 out of 48 in the state. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bhupendra Yadav have worked together for the Bihar assembly elections. Yadav was the party in-charge while Fadnavis was made election in-charge of the state.
    • The Indian government has revealed discrepancies in the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted from specific locations, and those found guilty, even if they are NTA, will not be spared. The opposition has declared that it will seek a scrutiny and review of NEET exams and NTA's functioning by a parliamentary standing committee. The developments come amid the arrests and summons of the Bihar Police's economic offences wing in its probe into the alleged NEET paper leak.
    • Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has criticised the handling of the NEET exam, stating that confusion has shattered students' hopes of seeing their children become doctors. KTR criticized the central government for its inaction despite reports of NEET question papers being sold in Bihar for up to Rs 30 lakhs each, with several arrests already made. He demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and strict action against those found responsible.
    • Pradhan assures action against NTA officials for 2024 NEET exam irregularities as per SC recommendations, emphasizing the need for NTA improvement.
    • Union Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted that decisions regarding 1,563 NEET-UG candidates receiving "grace marks" were made in accordance with student feedback. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured transparency in handling alleged irregularities, emphasizing no paper leak occurred. The National Testing Agency plans re-exams for affected candidates following Supreme Court directives
    • The comments by the minister came on a day when Congress stepped up its attack on the government over the NEET-UG exam issue and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on the matter. The opposition party asserted that only a Supreme Court-monitored forensic probe can safeguard the future of lakhs of young students.
    • Congress demands PM Modi break silence on NEET exam scandal, alleging cover-up and inflated marks to deny students admissions. Calling for a Supreme Court-monitored forensic probe, Congress leaders cite arrests for paper leaks in Bihar and Gujarat, criticizing Modi's inaction amidst protests and controversy over exam integrity
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted a five-year extension to Principal Secretary PK Mishra and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, showing continuity and experience in his core team of Union ministers. The crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) remains unchanged with key ministers continuing in their roles.
    • Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that in the last 10 years, the Modi government has ruined the future of crores of youth through paper leaks and rigging. "Grace Marks was not the only problem in NEET exam. There has been rigging, papers have been leaked, corruption has taken place. The future of 24 lakh students appearing in the NEET examination is at stake due to the actions of the Modi government," the Congress president said.
    • NEET result 2024: No evidence of paper has been found in the NEET-UG exam 2024, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday. This comes after the Centre told the Supreme Court that the decision to give grace marks to 1,563 NEET-UG, 2024 candidates for admission to MBBS, BDS and other courses has been cancelled and they will be given an option to take a re-test on June 23.
    • Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized BJP ministers in the third Modi government, accusing them of political positions through family inheritance. He highlighted the contrast between BJP's accusations of nepotism and their own family-oriented political ascendency.
    • Besides big four, PM's core team of ministers have also retained their portfolios. Nitin Gadkari (road transport and highways), Piyush Goyal (commerce and industry), Dharmendra Pradhan (education), Sarbananda Sonowal (ports, shipping and waterways), Virendra Kumar (social justice and empowerment), Ashwini Vaishnaw (railways, electronics and information technology), Hardeep Puri (petroleum and natural gas) and Bhupender Yadav (environment, forest and climate change) will continue running the ministries they were handling in the last five years. Some of them have shed additional portfolios that were allocated when others left the council of ministers in the past.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan remains Education Minister in NDA govt under PM Modi. Ministry includes Department of School Education and Literacy, and Department of Higher Education. Previous Minister was Ramesh Pokhriyal.
    • The BJP has appointed Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav to oversee the selection of Odisha's new chief minister after winning 78 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly. The party's legislature meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, and the new government will take oath on June 12. Potential candidates for the chief minister position include Brajarajnagar MLA-elect Suresh Pujari, state BJP president Manmohan Samal, KV Singh, and Mohan Majhi.
    • In a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Narendra Modi and his team of 71 took oath, marking the start of Modi 3.0. This new term retains key members from the previous government while introducing many fresh faces. The focus now shifts to the allocation of portfolios.
    • The new team has 27 from Other Backward Classes, 10 from Scheduled Castes and five each from Scheduled Castes and minority communities. There is no Muslim representation in the Union Council of Ministers. In the new political scenario, BJP allies have received 11 ministerial berths.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan, a senior BJP leader, was inducted into the Union cabinet for the third time. He won from Sambalpur in Odisha, defeating the Biju Janata Dal's Pranab Prakash Das by over 1.19 lakh votes.
    • The BJP is leading in 79 assembly seats in Odisha, challenging the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state elections. The anti-incumbency factor against BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik is a key element in the BJP's strong performance. Jual Oram, Baijayant Panda, Sambit Patra and Dharmendra Pradhan are seen as potential chief ministerial candidates of Odisha if BJP storms to power in state elections,
    • Union Minister and BJP candidate Dharmendra Pradhan leads by 1,03,425 votes in the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat in Odisha with 4,53,716 votes. He is against Biju Janata Dal's Pranab Prakash Das who is at 3,50,291 votes, followed by Congress candidate Nagendra Kumar Pradhan with 66,793 votes. Pradhan serves as the Minister of Education, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He has previously held key positions in the Ministry of Steel and Petroleum & Natural Gas, with a political career spanning Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
    • Odisha Assembly Election 2024 Winners List:​ Patnaik’s BJD has been a dominant player of state politics for over two decades, with the incumbent government presenting poverty alleviation and disaster management among its major achievements. Fondly called as Naveen Babu, Patnaik is the second longest serving CM in India, with his party going from strength to strength since 1997.
    • "We have full faith that, with the blessings of Mahaprabhu, this time a decisive and strong government will be formed in India under the leadership of PM Modi, which will take many important decisions in the coming days for the welfare of the country and our state, Odisha. BJP will form the government in Odisha for the first time," said Pradhan.
    • The penultimate round of Lok Sabha elections 2024 concluded with a 59.6% turnout, covering 486 of 543 parliamentary constituencies. The final phase on June 1 will decide the remaining 57 seats.
    • Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) NB Dhal said that adequate arrangements for voters' convenience have been made in all booths. A total of 35,000 security personnel and 70,000 polling personnel have been engaged in this round of twin polls in the state, he said.
    • Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Odisha ahead of the third phase of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state on May 25, Shah said the ongoing polls are to make Narendra Modi the PM for the third term and restore Odisha's glory, which has been "destroyed" by the Patnaik-led BJD government.
    • Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the NDA had secured 310 seats after five phases of Lok Sabha polls and predicted over 400 seats after the next rounds. He urged the people of Odisha to break free from "babu-raj" and elect BJP for state and central governance. Shah criticized the current administration for neglecting tribal welfare and announced various development initiatives promising a young Odia Chief Minister.
    • Amit Shah outlines BJP's plan for Odisha, targeting 'babu-raj' and promising development. Pledges to appoint a dynamic Odia 'Bhumiputra' as CM and prioritize the welfare of Kendu leaf workers.
    • Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan discusses BJP's ambitious goals, responds to Opposition doubts, NDA's targets, Congress's Constitution-related accusations, Muslim reservation, PM Manmohan Singh, PM Awas Yojna, Ujjwala Scheme, Kejriwal's comments on Modi's retirement, Agniveer scheme, BJP's vision for Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, and Odisha migration in an interview with ET's Kumar Anshuman.
    • The BJP aims to maintain and improve its performance in western Odisha, focusing on the leadership of Dharmendra Pradhan. The party won three out of five Lok Sabha seats in the region in 2019, and is working to secure its position in the upcoming polls. Pradhan, a prominent leader in the state, is contesting from Sambalpur this time. BJP faces competition from BJD, which has a strong presence in the region with schemes for the poor and tribals. The upcoming elections in Odisha are crucial, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik contesting from two seats, indicating a tough contest.
    • In Odisha's Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJD general secretary Pranab Prakash Das are set for a showdown, focusing on farmers, weavers, and various government schemes. The contest includes 14 candidates, with campaigning efforts in scorching heat reaching out to communities and entrepreneurs.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has a message of encouragement for Class 10 and 12 students disappointed with their CBSE board exam results. He congratulated those who passed and advised all students to plan effectively for their future studies. Pradhan reassured those who didn't meet their expectations, urging them not to lose heart, as their moment of success is not far away. Girls outperformed boys in both classes, with a slight increase in pass percentages from last year, attributed to more competency-based questions in the exams.
    • Bureaucrat-turned-BJD leader VK Pandian, a close aide of Patnaik, challenged union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to announce that the BJP leader would also take political 'sanyas' if the saffron party failed to come to power in the state.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan revealed BJP's plan to provide pension for journalists in Odisha, aiming to enhance media coverage and ease access to government offices. Simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha will commence on May 13.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP leader and Union minister, filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, Odisha. Seeking blessings at Samaleswari Temple, he led a roadshow to the DC office. Confident in BJP's victory, he aims to fulfill PM Modi's '400 paar' vision, contesting after 15 years.
    • Seven Union ministers -- Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Purshottam Rupala, Information Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Narayan Rane and MoS Information and Broadcasting L Murugan -- end their tenure in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
    • The Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat in Western Odisha will witness a high-profile contest between ruling BJD's Pranab Prakash Das and BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan. Das, a three-time MLA. The election is significant as both candidates are crucial for their parties.
    • The party fielded Maneka Gandhi from Sultanpur, while Uttar Pradesh minister Jitin Prasada has replaced Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit. Sita Soren will fight from Dumka (Jharkhand).
    • Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has returned to the electoral fray after 15 years, visited Jagannath temple in Puri to seek blessings from the sibling deities. Pradhan, who is a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, has been nominated for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which will be an acid test for him. The BJP will contest the polls without an alliance with the BJD, while Sambit Patra has been re-nominated from Puri.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched 52 short textbooks in Indian non-scheduled languages for early childhood care and education, providing young learners access to education in their mother tongue. The primers have been prepared by NCERT and Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru.
    • The Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has instructed all higher education institutions in India to conduct voter awareness activities on their campuses from February 28th to March 6th. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for first-time voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers. The aim is to galvanize the youth and emphasize the importance of voting and making informed choices for a more representative democracy.
    • According to the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) announced by the Ministry of Education in August last year, board examinations will be held at least twice a year to ensure that students have enough time and opportunity to perform well. They will also get the option to retain the best score.
    • The '100 Cube' initiative aligns with the Modi government's 'Purvodaya' vision, which focuses on boosting development in the eastern states. By supporting the establishment of high-value startups in Odisha, the government aims to drive economic growth and opportunities in the region.
    • Nine retiring members from Rajya Sabha, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Narayan Rane, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, Bhupendra Yadav, Parshottam Rupala, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, V Muraleedharan, and L Murugan, were recognized for their distinguished service and leadership in steering their respective ministries towards progress.
    • ​​Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma addressed shareholders and analysts on Thursday, a day after the Reserve Bank of India barred Paytm Payments Bank from offering basic banking services after February. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
    • Starting from the academic session of 2024-25, students in Class X and XII will have the option to take the new multiple board format exams. These exams will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and will be held twice a year. The first set of exams is expected to take place in November-December 2024, while the second set will be in February-March 2025.
    • A total of 120 innovations from 53 higher education institutions including IITs, NITs and IISERs are on display at the IInvenTiv-2024 research and development fair inaugurated by Eduction Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at IIT Hyderabad. The next edition of the fair will be hosted by IIT Madras.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has declined the Kerala Government's demand to reconsider the recent recommendation of an NCERT panel to substitute the term 'India' with 'Bharat' in school textbooks. Pradhan said that the Constitution recognises both names. The union minister affirmed the stance of the central government regarding the issue in his response to a letter from Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty.
    • ​​"I am happy. Let them be satisfied with using different terminology. But, with full responsibility I can say almost all states are implementing National Education Policy 2020 which is a very philosophical and historical document," Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters.
    • Odisha's BJP, led by Sunil Bansal, strategized election preparations at a meeting attended by state president Manmohan Samal and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Emphasizing organizational strength in every Odisha village, they urged awareness of central schemes. BJP's aim includes vote percentage growth in upcoming polls. A prior meeting at JP Nadda's residence discussed the Ram Mandir inauguration and cleanliness campaigns, directing state leaders to conduct daily drives from January 14 to the Pran Pratistha event on January 22, marking the grand temple opening with Diwali-like celebrations and special campaigns at pilgrimage sites.
    • Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised Gujarat's role in India's manufacturing journey at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. He emphasized the importance of robust policies, market access, and skilled manpower. Pradhan also congratulated the Gujarat government for opening a state-sponsored skill university, highlighting the significance of skill development in boosting the economy.
    • Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan condemned the mob attacks on Enforcement Directorate teams in West Bengal. He criticized those lacking respect for the law and resorting to violence to hinder probe agencies. The attacks occurred during an ED raid related to a ration distribution scam involving Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Sajahan.
    • Sixty-eight Rajya Sabha members, including nine Union ministers, are completing their tenures this year, triggering a race among political parties to secure a six-year term in the Upper House of Parliament. Elections have been called for three seats in Delhi, where AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Sushil Kumar Gupta will complete their tenures on January 27.
    • The BJP has formed panels for managing next Lok Sabha polls and for vetting and facilitating new joinings ahead of next Lok Sabha polls, sources said. These panels include Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Anurag Thakur and Mansukh Mandaviya. Besides, BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh and the national general secretaries Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal are also in these informal panels, sources said.
    • The Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced a 26.5% growth in student enrolments in schools and higher education institutions since the Narendra Modi government took office in 2014. The enrolment growth rate for girls between 2014-15 and 2021-22 was 31%, and for girls belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), it stood at 50%.
    • "The information to me is that the intruders in Lok Sabha visitors gallery have immediately been apprehended. The parliamentary security service is examining the matter forthwith. We will apprise the members about the result before I rise for the day," Jagdeep Dhankhar said.
    • AICTE, NSDC, and Bajaj Finserv have partnered to introduce a certificate programme for young graduates in banking, finance, and insurance sectors. The program will begin in 10 districts of Odisha, with students receiving joint certification accredited by Bajaj Finserv and Skill India.
    • Speaking in the House, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said if any student's life is lost in any campus "we as a society should be responsible for it".
    • Assembly election results are expected to strengthen the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha early next year. This is because 19 seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Maharashtra will become vacant in April. These states have experienced significant changes in political dynamics over the past few months. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which already holds a majority in the Upper House, is likely to increase its numbers. This will enable the NDA to successfully pass important legislation, including constitutional amendments.
    • The ministers also agreed to encourage collaborative solutions, innovations, sharing of best practices to promote quality teaching, learning and skilling as well as foster academic collaborations among educational institutions and encouraging student and faculty exchange programmes.
    • In an attack on the Congress-led Bhupesh Baghel government in the state, the Union Minister said, "The state government of the last five years has failed on all parameters and cheated the people. People are angry about it. Its impact will be seen in the election results."
    • ​The Union Minister for Education on Wednesday met UAE's Minister of State (MoS) for Early Education and Chairperson Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) Sara Musallam in Abu Dhabi. Pradhan said discussions with Musallam centred around support required from the Indian side to further facilitate the progress of the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus, ADEK's support to CBSE-affiliated Indian schools functioning in the UAE and our plans to set up an office of CBSE in Dubai.
    • The MoU aims at facilitating student and faculty mobility, joint research programmes, designing courses, organising and participation in conferences, lectures, symposia, courses, scientific and educational exhibitions in areas of mutual interest held in both countries.
    • Many students preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams in India choose to enroll in dummy schools in their hometowns so that they can focus solely on their exam preparation. These dummy schools allow them to avoid attending regular classes and instead appear for board exams directly. Some students have expressed that this arrangement gives them more time to revise for their entrance exams.
    • The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, which aims to establish a single higher education regulator, will be introduced to Parliament soon. However, medical and law colleges will not be included under its jurisdiction. The HECI will focus on regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards.
    • Selected from general secretaries and union ministers, these leaders play a crucial role in BJP's electoral strategy - from campaign planning to assigning responsibilities and finalising the ticket- more so now when the party is looking at the 2024 elections. While the general secretaries are at party work throughout the year, the ministers, as soon as they are assigned a state for election work, take full control of it.
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express, the second Vande Bharat train in Odisha. The inauguration will take place via videoconferencing from New Delhi, highlighting a significant development in Odisha's rail network. The train will operate six days a week, providing the fastest connection between Puri and Rourkela. It will make stops at various cities along the way and is expected to cover the 505-kilometer distance in just 7 hours and 45 minutes. The fare for the train is expected to range between Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed support for Governor CV Ananda Bose in the controversy over the appointment of vice-chancellors for state universities. Pradhan stated that the governor has the authority to make these appointments and suggested that the state government should focus on ensuring campus safety and preventing incidents like ragging. This comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Bose of violating norms and threatened an economic blockade on universities. State Education Minister Bratya Basu and former VCs aligned with the ruling Trinamool Congress have also criticized Bose's actions.
    • “It is also a comprehensive information gateway for all government skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives and aligns perfectly with the vision articulated in the G20 framework for building DPI and the digital economy to promote digital skills and digital literacy,” MSDE added.
    • The minister says the G20 Presidency has strengthened the voice of the Global South, and changed the global order based on consensus, collaboration and cooperation. Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership has brought world recognition to India’s education ecosystem and endorsement for the National Education Policy 2020, he said.
    • The BJP strongly criticized DMK leader A Raja's remarks against Sanatan Dharma, labeling them as "outrageous and vitriolic." They accused Raja's comments of reflecting the "mental bankruptcy" and "deep-seated Hinduphobia" within the INDIA bloc.
    • "The period till 2047 is a huge opportunity. Indians who are living in this era have a great chance to lay a foundation for growth that will be remembered for the next 1,000 years!" PM Modi said. Reacting to the remarks, Pradhan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed our talent pool to the advantage of a rising nation of 140 crore people".
    • The National Council of Educational Research and Training has been granted deemed university status, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Friday. The minister made the announcement during his address at the 63rd foundation day of the NCERT.
    • The move is aimed at allowing direct entry of Indian workers into Australia instead of the current practice under which skilled workers are often routed through GCC nations or the UK, Ireland or New Zealand before they land up in Australia.
    • There will be a greater focus on Indian languages. Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a tweet said that all efforts will be made to bring out NCF 2023 aligned textbooks by the next academic session.
    • According to the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) based on the National Education Policy (NEP), students in classes 9 and 10 will now have to study three languages, including two Indian native ones. Students in classes 11 and 12 will have to study one Indian and one other language.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed disappointment over the Karnataka government's decision to discontinue the National Education Policy 2020, calling it politically motivated. Pradhan stated that the move reflects the anti-reform and anti-Karnataka character of the Congress party. He emphasized that education should be focused on progress and not used as a political tool. Several opposition-ruled states have also indicated their intent to disassociate with the NEP 2020, which replaced the Congress-era education policy.
    • Meanwhile, another former student of the university has been arrested and remanded to police custody till August 24 in connection with alleged ragging and death of a first year Jadavpur University, taking the total arrested number to 13.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the TMC government in West Bengal cannot evade responsibility for the recent death of a student at Jadavpur University. The university's report to the University Grants Commission on the matter was not satisfactory, Pradhan asserted.
    • "NEP is a flexible policy. It is not something that the Centre decides and imposes on all the states. It is a broad framework and the states can adopt it according to their requirements," Sitharaman said. She said the NEP is a result of different people putting their minds together after extensive consultation.
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Karnataka government's decision to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP) as "politically-motivated" and anti-progress. The state's Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, announced that NEP will be discontinued from the next academic year since he believes BJP is anti-constitution concerning the education policy. The Congress party had criticized NEP, calling it the "Nagpur Education Policy aimed at propagating RSS's agenda." Karnataka became the first to adopt NEP in higher education in August 2021.
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