Pralhad Joshi

Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi (born 27 November 1962) is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the 13th Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and 10th Minister of New and Renewable Energy since 2024. In July 2026, Joshi assumed office of the 10th Minister of Education while continuing to hold his existing portfolios in the Union Cabinet. He was also the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and played a prominent role in the smooth passing of crucial bills like Abrogation of Article 370, Citizenship Amendment Bill and many more in both the houses. He also served as the Minister of Coal and the Minister of Mines from 2019 to 2024. Joshi has also been a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha since 2004, representing the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. He was also the State President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka (BJP) from 2014 to 2016. He served in the panel of chairpersons of the Lok Sabha (2014–2018). In July 2026, following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid the NEET 2026 Paper leak controversy and criticism over the management of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Joshi assumed office as the 10th Minister of Education while continuing to hold his existing portfolios in the Union Cabinet. Joshi first came to public notice with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when they organised a movement to hoist the Flag of India at the Idagah Maidan Hubli, Karnataka during 1992–1994. Recently, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the Karnataka High Court order restoring the ownership of the said maidan to the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. He has been elected to Lok Sabha in the general elections of 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024.