Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday, 25 July 2026, paid tribute to Dharmendra Pradhan following his resignation as Union Minister of Education, praising his role in implementing the landmark National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and describing the decision to step down as an act of deep principle.

Context

In his post, CM Majhi wrote that Pradhan, as Union Minister of Education, 'led transformative reforms, including the historic National Education Policy (NEP 2020), laying a strong foundation for the future of millions of students across the nation.' The Chief Minister framed Pradhan's resignation as a reflection of 'high moral values' and 'unwavering dedication to public service,' adding a blessing in Odia: 'Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathanka ashirbadaru agami dinare tankar ei karmamaya yatra ahuri adhika safalata o pratishtha anideba' ['May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath's blessings bring even greater success and honour to his journey in the days ahead'].

Dharmendra Pradhan is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Odisha who served as Union Minister of Education and previously held the petroleum and natural gas portfolio. His political career has been closely tied to Odisha, and his relationship with CM Majhi reflects the broader alignment between the BJP-led state and central governments.

Policy Backdrop

The National Education Policy 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020, was the most sweeping overhaul of India's education framework since the 1986 National Policy on Education. It introduced a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure, replacing the long-standing 10+2 model, and emphasised mother-tongue instruction at the foundational level, multidisciplinary higher education, and vocational integration from an early age.

Pradhan was the minister who oversaw much of the NEP's implementation phase, coordinating with state governments — including Odisha — on curriculum alignment, teacher training, and institutional restructuring. The Right to Education Act 2009 had earlier established free and compulsory education as a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14, providing the legislative floor on which NEP 2020 built its ambitions.

Stakeholders and Impact

The NEP 2020 affects a vast constituency: students from pre-primary through higher education, state education departments, universities, and millions of families. Odisha, like other states, has been in the process of aligning its curricula and governance mechanisms with NEP provisions, a process that will continue regardless of ministerial changes at the centre.

CM Majhi's public statement signals that Odisha's BJP government views Pradhan's tenure as a net positive for the state's education trajectory. The invocation of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath — the presiding deity of Puri and a deeply resonant cultural symbol in Odisha — underscores the personal and regional significance of Pradhan's standing within the state.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the appointment of a new Union Minister of Education and the continuity of ongoing NEP rollout programmes. At the state level, Odisha will be watched for how it advances NEP provisions such as mother-tongue-based instruction in foundational classes and multidisciplinary reforms in higher education institutions. Any formal announcement regarding Dharmendra Pradhan's subsequent role — whether in party organisation or another public office — is expected to follow in the coming days.