Who is Dharmendra Pradhan? A look at the Education Minister facing protests

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in several cities demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstrations, which began last week, have drawn attention to the man at the centre of the controversy.

Dharmendra Pradhan, 54, is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has served as the Union Minister of Education since July 2021. He was previously the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel in the first Modi government. Born on June 26, 1969, in Talcher, Odisha, Pradhan began his political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and later to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Deogarh, Odisha. He is known for his organisational skills and close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The current protests stem from allegations of mismanagement in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, delays in teacher appointments, and perceived lack of consultation with states. Pradhan has defended the government's record, citing increased budgetary allocation for education and efforts to expand digital learning. He has also accused opposition parties of politicising the issue.

Critics argue that the minister has not done enough to address rising unemployment among educated youth and the crisis in government schools. However, supporters point to reforms such as the introduction of vocational training and flexibility in curriculum choices as positive steps.

As the protests continue, Pradhan remains a polarising figure. His next moves will be closely watched by both his supporters and detractors.