Pralhad Joshi Takes Over as Union Education Minister Amid Protests
New Appointment in Education Ministry
Pralhad Joshi has officially assumed the role of Union Education Minister following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, which came in response to widespread student protests throughout the nation. In addition to his responsibilities as the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Joshi will now oversee the education sector. He expressed his gratitude on the social media platform X, stating, "Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister for Education. I am thankful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for trusting me with this significant responsibility. I embrace this role with humility and a strong sense of duty."
As the Education Minister, Joshi, who is also a Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament, is entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 1 lakh, along with various allowances and official perks provided by the Central government. He receives a constituency allowance of Rs 70,000 monthly for work related to his constituency and an office allowance of Rs 60,000 per month to cover office expenses. Additionally, he is entitled to a daily allowance exceeding Rs 2,000 for each day Parliament or its committees are in session and attended by him.
Official Residence in New Delhi: The Education Minister is allocated a fully furnished government bungalow located in New Delhi's Lutyens' Zone, which is maintained for both official and residential purposes. This position also includes access to a government vehicle, a driver, and fuel for official duties. Cabinet ministers receive security based on threat assessments from relevant government agencies. Their residences are equipped with telephone, internet, and other necessary communication facilities for government operations. Regarding travel, ministers are entitled to official travel across India, including executive-class air travel and First AC train travel for government-related work. They also benefit from health coverage under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).