The Economic Times
English EditionEnglish Editionहिन्दीગુજરાતીमराठीবাংলাಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംதமிழ்తెలుగు
| 04 July, 2024, 01:42 AM IST | Today's ePaper
Monsoon Offer is Live
Search
+
Business News›Magazines›Panache›Panache People 101›Dharmendra Pradhan
    Dharmendra Pradhan

    Dharmendra Pradhan

    Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India
    Birth DetailsJune 26, 1969 | Talcher, Odisha
    NationalityIndian
    LeaguePolitician
    EducationPost-graduate in Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
    Dharmendra Pradhan's Journey so far ...
    • In 1983, Dharmendra Pradhan started as an activist of the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in Odisha's Talcher College. Soon, he became the student union leader of Bhubaneswar's Utkal University. He holds a master's degree in anthropology from the same institute
    • He became an MP for the first time in 2004 after winning from the Deogarh parliamentary constituency. However, he lost the Assembly elections in 2009
    • He built a successful political career on hard work and great networking skills. Ambitious, Pradhan made enough contacts in Delhi and became the BJP national secretary and then the general secretary
    • In 2012, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh and became the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas with an independent charge when Narendra Modi swept to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections
    • In 2017, Pradhan was elevated to the rank of Union Minister in the same ministry, with an additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Many saw his elevation as a reward for his tireless work to implement the Ujjwala Scheme
    • He was India's longest-serving Petroleum Minister, he continued in the post for 7 years till July 2021, after which he was appointed as the Minister of Education
    • During his tenure in the Petroleum Ministry, he micromanaged the implementation of PM Modi's flagship programme, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawla Yojana, a big social initiative providing free cooking gas (LPG) connection to women from poor and marginalised sections. It helped build a base for the party in rural areas
    • He is a tough taskmaster and is credited to have overhauled the controversy-riddled oil and gas sector. However, he kept his home state central to his political priorities and steered many projects to Odisha
    • Pradhan regularly keeps touring Odisha to build a base for the BJP. In the 2019 elections, he coordinated electioneering in all Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies and went to every nook and corner of the state to bolster the poll prospects of the candidates
    • Due to his efforts, the saffron party has made deep inroads into the BJD-ruled state, eating into the vote share of the Naveen Patnaik-led party
    • His efforts paid off when BJP won 8 out of 21 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and bagged 23 Assembly seats from its previous tally of 10. The party's vote share in Odisha rose substantially to 38.4% from 21.88%
    • Pradhan is a veteran of many state poll campaigns and has been often involved in drawing up election strategies. He was the election in-charge of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and was the co-in-charge during Bihar polls
    • In West Bengal elections, he was given charge of the Nandigram constituency, where BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
    • In September 2021, he was appointed the party’s in charge of the critical UP Assembly elections. He succeeded senior leaders like Om Mathur, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and late Arun Jaitley in the role of election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh

    Before you go ...
    • He is the son of Debendra Pradhan who was the former Union Minister of State for Surface Transport in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government

    Last Updated: 26/10/2021

    Dharmendra Pradhan News

    • The Congress has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of diminishing his legitimacy to "one-third" and his government on its "last legs" and potentially falling anytime. The opposition party's assertion came after Modi's remarks in the Rajya Sabha that he has completed 10 years and 20 more left. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has been referring to Modi as a "one-third PM."
    • The government plans to involve insurance brokers in PMFBY to reach non-loanee farmers. This initiative aims to enhance enrollment and increase awareness for wider coverage and better penetration of the scheme.
    • "Isse jyada bharosa toh Panchayat web series mein Phulera ke gram pradhan ka hai (Even the village head of Phulera has more credibility", said Manoj Jha.'More trust in Fulera's Pradhan than EC': RJD MP Manoj Jha cites 'Panchayat' web series to attack Election Commission in Rajya Sabha
    • Minister Sawant revolutionizes healthcare in Maharashtra by expanding coverage to include dental treatment under government schemes, ensuring free medical treatments at recognized hospitals.
    • Scores of students ended their protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday. They had been protesting against irregularities in NTA examinations, specifically NEET UG, PG, and UGC NET. The protest, under the banner "India against NTA,” began on Wednesday last week. The students' demands included the banning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
    • The Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, part of the Urja Ganga project, connects refineries and has a significant transmission capacity, supporting gas supply to eastern states. Despite delays, the project aims to make gas more affordable and accessible in the region.
    • The National Board of Examinations (NBE) will announce the new schedule for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) within the next two days, following a row over alleged irregularities in competitive tests. The NBE announced revised dates for three cancelled exams: the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, and the National Common Entrance Test (NCET).
    • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Congress on Saturday, accusing it of wanting to avoid a discussion in Parliament over the NEET exam issue. This statement follows Rahul Gandhi's request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a respectful and thorough discussion in Parliament on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exam.
    • On Saturday, the first session of the BJP's extended state executive meeting began in Panchkula to strategize for the upcoming Haryana assembly elections. The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, election in-charge for Haryana, co-in-charge Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, his predecessor and Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and senior leader Saudan Singh.
    • Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said NEET issue is very important for the country and the Opposition wants a dedicated discussion on the matter. Hence, the adjournment motion should be accepted, he said. "Parliament should send a message to the youth that the government and Opposition are together in raising the concerns of students. I urge PM Modi to hold respectful and good discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament as it concerns the country's youth," he added.
    • Protests against NEET-UG, UGC-NET irregularities continue at Jantar Mantar with demands to scrap NTA. NSUI president faces police case for NTA office ruckus. Congress' student wing, AISA, KYS detainment in paper leak protest.
    • Dharmendra Pradhan's proactive approach in addressing NEET concerns in Lok Sabha is evident through the removal of NTA officials and formation of a high-level committee. The government's commitment to resolving irregularities and involving the opposition in discussions on upcoming exams highlights a proactive and inclusive strategy.
    • Sources said t the BJP is also looking to take some populist measures -- like it took in Haryana, where the BJP government revised the creamy layer limit of OBCs to ₹8 lakh from ₹6 lakh, raised backwards reservation in group A and group B jobs in the state to 27% from 15%.
    • The debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is expected to be dominated by issues like exam paper leaks. The opposition has emerged stronger in the recent general elections, and the government is committed to investigating the incidents. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could intervene in the debate on the alleged leaked medical entrance exam NEET-UG.
    • Investing in quality companies and adopting a long-term SIP approach can maximize benefits in India's growth journey towards a $10 trillion economy through essential infrastructure development.
    • The Union Cabinet of Modi 3.0 government, in its first meeting held on June 10 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the PMAY.
    • Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs from the Mulayam Singh Yadav family were sworn in as Members of Parliament on June 25, the second day of the 18th Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, Akshay Yadav, Aditya Yadav, and Dharmendra Yadav took oath as MPs while holding a copy of the constitution.'Jai Bheem, Jai Samajwad…': Yadav clan takes oath as Lok Sabha Members
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath as the opening day of the new Lok Sabha began. The BJP MPs raised chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Jai Shri Ram'. Opposition INDIA bloc members held up copies of the Constitution during the oath. The 262 members took oaths in Hindi, English, native languages, and Sanskrit. Senior BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab presided over the oath-taking of new members.
    • The government has removed Subodh Kumar Singh as Director General of the NTA following allegations of irregularities in the NEET and NET exams. A high-level committee has been formed, and the CBI will investigate. Pradeep Singh Kharola will serve as interim head. Subodh Kumar has held significant positions in the Chhattisgarh Secretariat and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Despite allegations of corruption, he has received national awards for his work.
    • NEET-UG retest: A retest for NEET-UG involving 1,563 candidates is scheduled for Sunday, overseen by officials from the National Testing Agency and the Union education ministry at exam centres. This decision follows the withdrawal of grace marks initially given to compensate for delays in starting the exam at six centres across Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh.
    • The June edition of the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and UGC-NET was postponed on Friday night. The Joint CSIR-UGC-NET is a test conducted to determine eligibility for junior research fellowship and assistant professor and admission to PhD in science courses.
    • The NEET-UG retest for 1,563 candidates will occur on Sunday under the supervision of National Testing Agency (NTA) and officials from the Union education ministry. This retest was prompted by the withdrawal of grace marks initially given to compensate for delays at exam centers in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh. The controversy escalated when six students scored a perfect 720, alongside 61 others, raising suspicions of inflated marks.
    • A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti of the apex court has tagged the fresh pleas along with pending petitions and posted them for hearing on July 8. On Thursday, the top court issued a notice on a plea filed by the NTA seeking the transfer of petitions relating to the NEET-UG, 2024 examination from the High Courts to the apex court.
    • Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard the interests of students amid alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. He acted immediately after the issue came to his notice and encouraged citizens of nearly 124 countries to practice yoga daily. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has criticized Modi for being "silent" on the issue, stating that he is more concerned about the election of the Speaker.
    • Amid rising tensions, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the government will form a high level-committee to seek recommendations on improving the structure of NTA and improve transparency. "The government is going to form a high committee. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol," said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.NEET row: High-level panel to review functioning of NTA, Education Minister Pradhan announces
    • Load more
    DisclaimerThe content of this page has been aggregated from multiple websites. Some information can change over the passage of time.
    The Economic Times
    BACK TO TOP