Dharmendra Pradhan | |
|---|---|
ଧର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନ | |
 Pradhan in May 2019 | |
| Union Minister of Education | |
| Assumed office 7 July 2021 | |
| President | Ramnath Kovind Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Ramesh Pokhriyal |
| Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship | |
| In office 3 September 2017 – 10 June 2024 | |
| President | Ramnath Kovind Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Rajiv Pratap Rudy |
| Succeeded by | Jayant Chaudhary (MoS I/C) |
| Union Minister of Steel | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | |
| President | Ramnath Kovind |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Chaudhary Birender Singh |
| Succeeded by | Ramchandra Prasad Singh |
| Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 7 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Veerappa Moily |
| Succeeded by | Hardeep Singh Puri |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nitesh Ganga Deb |
| Constituency | Sambalpur, Odisha |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 4 April 2018 – 3 April 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Prakash Javadekar |
| Constituency | Madhya Pradesh |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 3 April 2012 – 2 April 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Manoj Jha |
| Constituency | Bihar |
| Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2000–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Bibhudhendra Pratap Das (INC) |
| Succeeded by | Nrusingha Sahu (INC) |
| Constituency | Pallahara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-06-26)26 June 1969 (age 56) |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Residence(s) | 19, Teen Murti Marg,New Delhi |
| Alma mater | Utkal University (MA) |
| Occupation | Social worker, politician |
Dharmendra Pradhan (born 26 June 1969) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 9thMinister of Education since 2021. He previously held cabinet positions asMinister of Petroleum and Natural Gas (2014–2021),Minister of Steel (2019–2021), andMinister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2017–2024). Pradhan represents theSambalpur in theLok Sabha as a member of theBharatiya Janata Party. He has also served as aRajya Sabha member fromBihar andMadhya Pradesh.
Pradhan was born on 26 June 1969 inTalcher,Odisha, to Debendra Pradhan, a formerMinister of State in theVajpayee ministry (1998–2004), and Basanta Manjari Pradhan. He became active in student politics through theAkhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1983 while at Talcher College, serving as president and later secretary of the student union. He earned a postgraduate degree inAnthropology fromUtkal University inBhubaneswar.
Pradhan was elected to theOdisha Legislative Assembly fromPallahara in 2000. He entered theLok Sabha in 2004 representingDeogarh until the constituency was abolished in 2009. He also served as National President of theBharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) from 2004 to 2006, and held various party positions including National Secretary and All India General Secretary of theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Appointed as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2014, Pradhan was elevated to Cabinet rank in 2017. During his tenure, he oversaw initiatives such as thePradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which aimed to expand LPG access in rural India. The ministry also implemented the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, the PAHAL subsidy reform, and campaigns encouraging voluntary subsidy relinquishment. Investments exceeding USD 60 billion were made to expand city gas distribution networks.[1]
As Minister of Steel, Pradhan launched initiatives includingIspati Irada andMission Purvodaya to increase production capacity, strengthen the secondary steel sector, and promote job creation and regional industrial growth.[2]
Pradhan implemented programs aimed at reskilling and upskilling the workforce, expandingITI infrastructure by over 40% and increasing enrollment by 28% until 2019. TheNational Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and theSkill Saathi platform were established to standardize training and support trainees.[3] Some critics highlighted challenges with placement rates and program duration.[4]
Pradhan assumed office as Minister of Education in July 2021. He oversaw reforms to theNational Testing Agency (NTA) and the implementation of policies aimed at improving entrance examinations, including commissioning a committee led by formerISRO chiefK. Radhakrishnan. In 2024, the ministry faced scrutiny following allegations ofmalpractice in theNEET-UG; theSupreme Court of India found no evidence of large-scale malpractice, though isolated incidents led to over 100 arrests.[5]
Pradhan has five pending criminal cases, including allegations under theIndian Penal Code for promoting enmity between groups.[6] The2024 NEET controversy drew public criticism and parliamentary scrutiny.
Pradhan is married to Mridula Pradhan since 1998 and has two children. He resides in New Delhi.