- Pradhan resigned as Education Minister amid NEET-UG paper leak protests.
- His political journey began with student activism against paper leaks.
- Held key portfolios before re-appointment and subsequent resignation.
Dharmendra Pradhan Political Career: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers. His exit marks a major turning point, coming after weeks of nationwide student protests and hunger strikes demanding accountability and his resignation over paper leaks and irregularities in the competitive examinations, particularly the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
A Look At Early Political Journey Of Dharmendra Pradhan
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Odisha, Pradhan began his political career as an activist with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during his college years. He joined the BJP in 1998. Over the next decade, he steadily climbed through the organisation's ranks, serving as the ABVP State Secretary in 1993 and its National Secretary in 1995.
Pradhan entered electoral politics in Odisha, serving as a Member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2004. During this period, he was appointed President of the BJP Youth Wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), in Odisha in 2001 and was elevated to National Secretary of the BJP in 2002. In 2004, he was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha. The same year, he was appointed National President of the BJYM, NDTV reported.
Over his career, Pradhan has held several high-profile portfolios. He previously served as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Steel, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship before assuming charge as the Union Minister of Education in July 2021.
The Face Of 1997 Paper Leak Protest In Bhubaneswar
In 1997, during the tenure of Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik's Congress government in Odisha, nearly 1,500 students gathered near the state secretariat in Bhubaneswar to protest against an examination paper leak. According to a report by The Indian Express, Pradhan, then an active organiser of the ABVP, was among the key student leaders leading the demonstration.
Dharmendra Pradhan's Parliamentary Career
After entering the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004, Pradhan served as a member of the Committee on Petitions and the Committee on Energy. In 2007, he joined the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy.
During his tenure in Parliament between 2012 and 2018, Pradhan served on several key committees:
- From 2012 to 2014, he served on the Committee on Government Assurances.
- Additionally, from May 2012 to October 2013, he was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining issues related to the allocation and pricing of telecom licenses and spectrum.
Pradhan was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha in June 2024.
Rise In The Union Cabinet
Dharmendra Pradhan has held several high-profile portfolios in the Union government over the years:
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- Petroleum and Skill Development (2017): In September 2017, he was appointed Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- Petroleum and Steel (2019-2021): From May 2019 to July 2021, he served as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Steel.
- Education and Skill Development (2021): A major turning point in his career came on July 7, 2021, when he took charge as Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- Re-appointment to Education (2024): Following his election to the 18th Lok Sabha, he assumed office once again as Union Cabinet Minister of Education on June 9, 2024.
Earlier in his political career, Pradhan was conferred the best legislative award of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, 'Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Sanman'.
(With Inputs From Jagran.com)