Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi is currently the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as New and Renewable Energy. After President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister, senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi has been given the additional charge of the Education Ministry.Joshi entered national politics after being elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004. (PTI)The development came just hours after Pradhan announced that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Who is Pralhad Joshi?Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi is currently the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as New and Renewable Energy. Along with these portfolios, he will now also oversee the Education Ministry.Joshi returned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet in 2024. A five-time Member of Parliament, he is regarded as one of the BJP's trusted leaders and is often described as the "blue-eyed boy" of the party's top leadership.Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read MoreSee Less