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Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan is a BJP leader and currently the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepeneurship in the NDA government. He is the son of former BJP MP Dr. Debendra Pradhan. He started as an Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist in the year 1983, and was elected President of Talcher College Students' Union in 1985. Soon he was elected as the national secretary of ABVP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha from 2004 to 2006. He was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. Pradhan has represented the Deogarh constituency of Odisha. He was also a member of the 12th Assembly of Odisha (2000-2004). He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012. Since then he was a member of several committees like Committee on Government Assurances, Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine matters relating to allocation and pricing of telecom licenses and spectrum, Committee on Rural Development and Committee on Agriculture. 2004 onwards, Pradhan was the party-incharge for Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Odisha.

Dharmendra Pradhan

NEET paper leak: Dharmendra Pradhan reviews re-exam preparedness, orders action against fake news
Education | May 20, 2026, 05:19 PM IST
Authorities expressed concern over the rise of fake paper leak claims and misleading posts being circulated online, especially through Telegram channels and anonymous groups before major examinations. Officials said such content often creates fear, panic and confusion among students and parents.
NEET paper leak: Pune lecturer, arrested by CBI over Biology paper leak, sacked by college
India | May 18, 2026, 08:29 PM IST
Mandhare had been associated with the junior college section since 2002 and had been teaching biology to Class 11 and 12 students for more than two decades. According to the institution, her involvement with confidential work related to the NEET examination was in an individual capacity.
Aaj Ki Baat: Full episode, May 15, 2026
India | May 15, 2026, 08:35 PM IST
The entrance examination for undergraduate medical programs, held on May 3, was annulled on May 12 amid claims that the question paper had been leaked. Subsequently, the Central government handed over the investigation to the CBI.

NEET UG exam cancelled to protect students' rights, will not allow malpractices: Dharmendra Pradhan
Education | May 15, 2026, 11:40 AM IST
NEET UG re-exam 2026: Dharmendra Pradhan in a press conference said the new admit card will be issued on or before June 14. He added that the students will get extra 15 minutes.. They will get the right to choose exam centre according to their choice.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chairs high-level meeting on NEET re-exam amid paper leak row
India | May 14, 2026, 11:53 PM IST
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chairs high-level meeting on NEET re-exam amid paper leak row
Textbook row: NCERT ascertaining process of making books which led to error of judgement
India | Feb 26, 2026, 08:57 PM IST
The NCERT's Social Science textbook for Class 8 states that corruption, a massive backlog of cases and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the judicial system.

Dharmendra Pradhan on NCERT textbook row: 'Very sad, there was no intention to insult judiciary'
Education | Feb 26, 2026, 11:58 PM IST
“I am very sad at what has happened, there was no intention to insult judiciary: Education Minster Dharmendra Pradhan on NCERT textbook row.
Delhi Government launches nation's first AI-driven education model with CM Shri Schools | Details
Delhi | Feb 18, 2026, 10:25 AM IST
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated the Delhi government, noting that these schools set a benchmark for equitable, high-quality education, particularly for students from economically weaker, lower, and middle-income families.
OPINION | New UGC regulations: Prevent scope for misuse
India | Jan 28, 2026, 05:04 PM IST
Pradhan may be assuring that the UGC regulations would not be allowed to be misused, but mere assurance will not do. The matter has already taken political overtones and some bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh have resigned on this issue.

No discrimination, no one can misuse the law: Dharmendra Pradhan on new UGC regulations
Education | Jan 27, 2026, 03:39 PM IST
On UGC regulations, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "there will be no discrimination, no one can misuse the law."
Viksit Bharat needs leaders like Mahatma Gandhi: Dharmendra Pradhan
Education | Dec 17, 2025, 12:57 PM IST
"Gandhi encouraged use of Indian goods (spinning khadi) by boycotting British products. He also led the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to eliminate open defecation and promote hygiene," Dharmendra Pradhan said.
Lok Sabha refers Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill to JPC
Education | Dec 16, 2025, 12:52 PM IST
The bill was earlier introduced on Monday in the Lok Sabha by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The purpose of the Bill is to empower Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) of Bharat to achieve excellence through effective coordination and the determination of standards.

EXCLUSIVE - 'NDA will get decisive majority; women biggest victims of jungle raj': Pradhan
Bihar | Nov 07, 2025, 08:18 PM IST
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: In an exclusive interview with India TV, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that the youth support PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, stressing that only the NDA can fulfil their aspirations.
Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP leaders slam Rahul Gandhi for remarks on PM Modi and Chhath, demand apology
India | Oct 29, 2025, 11:22 PM IST
Dharmendra Pradhan said Rahul Gandhi's statement reflects his hatred towards Sanatan culture, while exposing the deep-seated resentment and frustration of the Congress against the honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bihar Polls: Dharmendra Pradhan to meet Chirag Paswan as NDA scrambles to finalise seat-sharing pact
Bihar | Oct 06, 2025, 11:48 PM IST
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Notably, Dharmendra Pradhan was recently in Bihar where he meet senior leaders of the BJP, discussing party's strategy for the upcoming assembly polls. During his Bihar visit, Pradhan also called on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

What is Arattai Messenger, India's swadeshi WhatsApp alternative? All you need to know
India | Sep 29, 2025, 11:58 PM IST
Arattai is India's indigenous messenger platform, which is an alternative to WhatsApp. The word means 'chat' in Tamil. Here is all you need to know about Zoho's Arattai.
Bihar polls 2025: Decoding why BJP selected Dharmendra Pradhan as its election in-charge
Explainers | Sep 25, 2025, 06:28 PM IST
Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also the BJP's in-charge for the 2024 Haryana elections, has been involved in Bihar politics for a while. Notably, he was also the BJP's co-incharge for the 2010 Bihar assembly elections, when the saffron party and the JD-U registered an emphatic victory.
'Taking the best of India to the world': Dharmendra Pradhan at launch of IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus
India | Sep 11, 2025, 07:18 PM IST
The Ministry of Education had earlier informed on Tuesday that Education Minister Pradhan would be visiting the UAE from September 10 to 11. The purpose of this visit is to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
Dharmendra Pradhan visits IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus in UAE, discusses cooperation in education
Education | Sep 10, 2025, 07:22 PM IST
Pradhan held a meeting with Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). He expressed gratitude to Musallam and ADEK for their cooperation in establishing the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus.
Dharmendra Pradhan embarks on two-day UAE visit, to inaugurate IIM campus, other projects
India | Sep 09, 2025, 07:52 PM IST
During this visit, he will engage with top UAE leaders, ministers, policymakers, academicians and representatives from both Indian and UAE institutions. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in education, innovation and knowledge exchange.