Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was on Saturday given additional charge of the Ministry of Education, hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a 36-day-long protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar that forced the Narendra Modi government into a rare ministerial change.President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted Pradhan's resignation and directed that Joshi take charge of the Education Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan sends resignation letter to PM Modi amid CJP protests due to NEET paper leakThe appointment comes after weeks of nationwide protests by students and youth over alleged examination paper leaks and demands for greater accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations. The agitation, centred at Jantar Mantar and led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), culminated in celebrations on Saturday after Pradhan stepped down.A four-time Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka's Dharwad constituency, Joshi is a veteran BJP organisational leader who served as the party's Karnataka president between 2012 and 2016. He was Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs from 2019 to 2024 before taking charge of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy ministries after the 2024 general elections.Pradhan, in his resignation letter, said he was stepping down to ensure that "anti-national forces" did not exploit the situation arising out of the protests and so that students could return to their studies without further disruption.His resignation followed the Centre's three rounds of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been leading a 36-day sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and coordinating demonstrations across several states over alleged examination paper leaks and broader concerns about transparency in the education system.After the discussions, the CJP announced it was withdrawing the agitation, saying the government had accepted its three principal demands: Pradhan's resignation, the withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases against protesters, and compensation for families who lost relatives in the aftermath of the NEET examination controversy. The party said it had also submitted a five-point charter seeking wider reforms in the examination and education system, with further discussions expected in about four weeks.Also Read: CJP withdraws Jantar Mantar protest after Centre accepts key demands; JP Nadda says government will consider protesters' 5-point charterBJP president and Union Minister J P Nadda said the government would examine the CJP's proposals on education reforms and continue its engagement with the group's representatives. The CJP said it had ended the protest "in good faith" after receiving assurances from the government, while awaiting written commitments on the withdrawal of FIRs and implementation of the agreed measures.