Pralhad Joshi

2026-07-26T07:22:08Z

2001:67C:198C:906:28:611:0:B1:

{{short description|Indian politician (born 1962)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Prahlad Joshi (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Joshi in 2026
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|11|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bijapur]], [[Mysore State]], India<br />(present-day [[Karnataka]])
| office = [[Minister of Education (India)|Union Minister of Education]]
| prime_minister = Kartikey Shahi
| president = Dhruv Singh Rawat
| term_start = {{Start date|2026|07|25|df=yes}}
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Dharmendra Pradhan]]
| successor =
| office1 = [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
| prime_minister1 = Narendra Modi
| term_start1 = {{Start date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Piyush Goyal]]
| successor1 =
| office2 = [[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy|Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy]]
| prime_minister2 = Narendra Modi
| term_start2 = {{Start date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = [[Raj Kumar Singh]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Other ministerial offices|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office3 = [[Ministry of Coal|Union Minister of Coal]]
| prime_minister3 = Narendra Modi
| term_start3 = {{Start date|2019|05|30|df=yes}}
| term_end3 = {{End date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| predecessor3 = Piyush Goyal
| successor3 = [[G. Kisan Reddy]]
| office4 = [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Union Minister of Mines]]
| prime_minister4 = Narendra Modi
| term_start4 = {{Start date|2019|05|30|df=yes}}
| term_end4 = {{End date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| predecessor4 = Narendra Singh Tomar
| successor4 = G. Kisan Reddy
| office5 = [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]]
| prime_minister5 = Narendra Modi
| term_start5 = {{Start date|2019|05|30|df=yes}}
| term_end5 = {{End date|2024|06|10|df=yes}}
| predecessor5 = [[Narendra Singh Tomar]]
| successor5 = [[Kiren Rijiju]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| office6 = [[List of state presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|President]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka]]
| term_start6 = {{Start date|2012|07|12|df=yes}}
| term_end6 = {{End date|2016|01|12|df=yes}}
| predecessor6 = [[K. S. Eshwarappa]]
| successor6 = [[B. S. Yediyurappa]]
| office7 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| constituency7 = [[Dharwad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Dharwad, Karnataka]]
| term_start7 = {{Start date|2004|05|24|df=yes}}
| predecessor7 = [[Vijay Sankeshwar]]
| successor7 =
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Jyothi Joshi|1992}}
| children = 3
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=3982 |title=Current Lok Sabha Members Biographical Sketch |access-date=23 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071030104829/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=3982 |archive-date=30 October 2007}}</ref>
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Politician]]|businessman}}
| education = Shri Kadasiddheshwar Arts College and HS Kotambri Science Institute
}}

'''Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/pralhad-venkatesh-joshi |title=Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi | National Portal of India |website=www.india.gov.in |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423074102/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/pralhad-venkatesh-joshi |url-status=live}}</ref> (born 27 November 1962) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 13th [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] and the 10th [[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy|Minister of New and Renewable Energy]] since 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/pralhad-joshi-appointed-as-minister-of-new-and-renewable-energy-whats-in-store-for-the-sector-article-12745267.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610171457/https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/pralhad-joshi-appointed-as-minister-of-new-and-renewable-energy-whats-in-store-for-the-sector-article-12745267.html|title=Pralhad Joshi appointed as Minister of New and Renewable Energy. What's in store for the sector?|archivedate=10 June 2024|website=Moneycontrol}}</ref> In July 2026, following the resignation of [[Dharmendra Pradhan]] amid the [[NEET 2026 Paper leak]] controversy and criticism over the management of the [[National Testing Agency]] (NTA), Joshi assumed office as the Union Minister of Education while continuing to hold his existing portfolios in the [[Union Cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pralhad Joshi was assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education. |url=https://www.news18.com/india/pralhad-joshi-gets-additional-charge-of-education-ministry-after-dharmendra-pradhans-exit-10233544.html |website=news18.com}}</ref>

He was also the Union [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]], and played a prominent role in the smooth passing of crucial bills like [[Abrogation of Article 370]], [[Citizenship Amendment Bill]] and many more in both the houses. He also served as the [[Ministry of Coal (India)|Minister of Coal]] and the [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]] from 2019 to 2024. Joshi has also been a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in the [[Lok Sabha]] since 2004, representing the [[Dharwad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency]]. He was also the State President of [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka]] (BJP) from 2014 to 2016. He served in the panel of chairpersons of the Lok Sabha (2014–2018).

Joshi first came to public notice with [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) when they organised a movement to hoist the [[Flag of India]] at the Idagah Maidan Hubli, Karnataka during 1992–1994. Recently, the [[Supreme Court of India]] has upheld the [[Karnataka High Court]] order restoring the ownership of the said maidan to the [[Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation]]. He has been elected to Lok Sabha in the general elections of [[2004 Indian general election|2004]], [[2009 Indian general election|2009]], [[2014 Indian general election|2014]], [[2019 Indian general election|2019]] and [[2024 Indian general election|2024]].

== Early life and education ==
Pralhad Joshi was born on 27 November 1962 in [[Bijapur]], [[Mysore State]], India, to father, Venkatesh Joshi, and mother, Malatibai Joshi.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lok Sabha |title=Pralhad Joshi |url=https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=3982&lastls=17 |accessdate=2 January 2023 |work= |date=2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102082806/https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=3982&lastls=17 |archivedate=2 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="PTI 2024">{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=9 June 2024 |title=Pralhad Joshi, RSS loyalist & five-time MP, returns as union minister |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/karnataka/pralhad-joshi-rss-loyalist-five-time-mp-returns-as-union-minister/articleshow/110851906.cms?from=mdr |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609193308/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/karnataka/pralhad-joshi-rss-loyalist-five-time-mp-returns-as-union-minister/articleshow/110851906.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live}}</ref> His father was an Indian Railways employee and Joshi is the third child of his parents.<ref name="PTI 2024" /> Joshi's [[primary education]] was in the [[Railway schools in India|Railway School]], his [[secondary education]] in New English School in [[Hubli|Hubballi]]''',''' and for his [[Tertiary education|higher education]], Joshi graduated from Shri Kadasiddeshwar Arts College in Hubballi.<ref name="PTI 2024" />

== Early political career ==
An industrialist by vocation in his early days, Pralhad Joshi ingratiated himself into the political fray by organising a movement to hoist the tri-colour flag at Idagah Maidan Hubli Karnataka from 1992 to 1994. He also led the "Save Kashmir Movement" during those years, which established him as a known figure in those regions of the state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pereira |first=Aaron |date=8 May 2018 |title=In Hubli's disputed Idgah, a lesson for Gurugram |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/karnataka-assembly-elections-2018-in-hublis-disputed-idgah-a-lesson-for-gurugram-5167566/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=23 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723163258/https://indianexpress.com/elections/karnataka-assembly-elections-2018-in-hublis-disputed-idgah-a-lesson-for-gurugram-5167566/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He was then elected the president of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in [[Dharwad district]]. He first contested in the [[2004 Indian general election|14th Lok Sabha elections in 2004]], where he won from the [[Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency]] by defeating INC's B.S Patil.

He's won three consecutive elections from that constituency and is the incumbent MP of Dharwad. In the 2009 General elections, he won by the second-highest margin amidst 28 constituencies in Karnataka, while most of the ministers and [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Members of Parliament]] secured a loss in the same year. In 2019, he retained the Dharwad seat for a second term by a margin of over one lakh votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pralhad Joshi: Age, Biography, Education, Wife, Caste, Net Worth & More – Oneindia |url=https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/pralhad-joshi-33757.html |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=www.oneindia.com |language=en |archive-date=23 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723163300/https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/pralhad-joshi-33757.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Joshi has been a member of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) from a young age.<ref name="PTI 2024" />

== Union Minister ==
[[File:Shri Pralhad Joshi taking charge as the Union Minister for Coal, in New Delhi on May 31, 2019 (1).jpg|thumb|left|Pralhad Joshi taking charge as the [[Minister of Coal]] on 31 May 2019]]
Joshi took oath as a [[Union Council of Ministers|Cabinet minister]] on 30 May 2019, and he was appointed the [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]], the [[Ministry of Coal|Minister of Coal]] and the [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff Writer |first= |date=31 May 2019 |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905173440/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |archive-date=5 September 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=Mint |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> His tenure in these ministerial posts lasted till June 2024, and after the [[2024 Indian general election]], Joshi was appointed the [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] and the [[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy|Minister of New and Renewable Energy]] in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=12 June 2024 |title=Pralhad Joshi takes charge as Cabinet Minister for second time |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/pralhad-joshi-takes-charge-as-cabinet-minister-for-second-time/article68277351.ece |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Joshi's win, for the fifth time in a row, from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency was a record of consecutive wins by any candidate in the constituency; however Joshi stated that he was unhappy due to winning with a reduced vote margin.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=4 June 2024 |title=Pralhad Joshi wins for a record fifth time but says he is not happy with the reduced margin |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/pralhad-joshi-wins-for-a-record-fifth-time-but-says-he-is-not-happy-with-the-reduced-margin/article68251753.ece |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606015229/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/pralhad-joshi-wins-for-a-record-fifth-time-but-says-he-is-not-happy-with-the-reduced-margin/article68251753.ece |url-status=live}}</ref>

After nationwide student protests over the [[2026 NEET controversy|2026 NEET paper leak controversy]], which lead to the resignation of Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on 25th July, Joshi was handed additional charge as the Education minister. <ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 2026|title=Pralhad Joshi appointed as Education Minister after Pradhan resigns from post |url=https://theprint.in/india/pralhad-joshi-appointed-as-education-minister-after-pradhan-resigns-from-post/2996873/ |access-date=25 July 2026 |work= The Print |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Joshi is married to Jyoti Joshi and they have three daughters.<ref name="PTI 2024" /> Joshi has been reported to be a reader and has interests in [[Indian classical music]] and [[cricket]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=Karnataka's representative in Union Cabinet: Pralhad Joshi profile |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnatakas-representative-in-union-cabinet-pralhad-joshi-profile-3059463 |access-date=18 December 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610010703/https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnatakas-representative-in-union-cabinet-pralhad-joshi-profile-3059463 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Second Modi ministry]]
* [[Third Modi ministry]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Vijay Sankeshwar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Dharwad North (Lok Sabha constituency)|Dharwad North]] | years=2004 – 2009}}
{{s-aft|after=Constituency ceased to exist}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Constituency created}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Dharwad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Dharwad]] | years=2009 – Present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Narendra Singh Tomar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]] | years=31 May 2019 – 10 June 2024}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Piyush Goyal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Coal|Minister of Coal]] | years=31 May 2019 – 10 June 2024}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Piyush Goyal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] | years=10 June 2024 – Present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Piyush Goyal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy]] | years=10 June 2024 – Present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Narendra Singh Tomar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]] | years=31 May 2019 – 10 June 2024}}
|-
{{s-end}}

== External links ==
* [https://archive.today/20071030104829/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=3982 Members of Fourteenth Lok Sabha] – Parliament of India website (archived)

{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}
{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet|state=collapsed}}
{{Third Modi ministry}}
{{Energy Ministries and Departments of India}}
{{15th LS members from Karnataka}}
{{16th LS members from Karnataka|state=expanded}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joshi, Pralhad}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Karnataka]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:India MPs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:People from Bijapur]]
[[Category:People from Hubli]]

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Pralhad Joshi