Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday, 25 July 2026 praised senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan after Pradhan stepped down as Union Minister of Education, calling the resignation a reflection of his sense of accountability and high ethical standards in public life.

Context

In his post on X, CM Saini wrote — 'श्री धर्मेंद्र प्रधान जी द्वारा केंद्रीय शिक्षा मंत्री के पद से दिया गया इस्तीफा उनके उत्तरदायित्वबोध, उच्च नैतिक मूल्यों और सार्वजनिक जीवन के प्रति उनकी अटूट प्रतिबद्धता का परिचायक है' [The resignation given by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the post of Union Education Minister is indicative of his sense of responsibility, high moral values and his unwavering commitment to public life]. Saini traced Pradhan's journey from student politics to senior cabinet office, noting that he had successfully discharged responsibilities ranging from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to the Education Ministry.

Saini expressed confidence that Pradhan would continue to play an important role in building a 'Viksit Bharat' [Developed India] under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Policy Backdrop

Dharmendra Pradhan was first appointed Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in May 2014, and later given charge of the Education Ministry in July 2021. During his tenure at the Petroleum Ministry, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched on 1 May 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh — a flagship scheme that provided LPG connections to women from below-poverty-line households. CM Saini specifically cited Ujjwala Yojana as an example of Pradhan's welfare-oriented approach.

At the Education Ministry, Pradhan oversaw the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020, which restructured school and higher education with an emphasis on multidisciplinary and mother-tongue-based learning. Saini credited Pradhan with bringing 'comprehensive reforms in the education system' through this policy framework.

Stakeholders and Impact

Pradhan's tenure at the Education Ministry directly touched the lives of students and teachers across India, with NEP 2020 representing the most sweeping overhaul of the country's education architecture in decades. The Ujjwala Yojana, meanwhile, reached crores of households, particularly in rural India, improving access to clean cooking fuel for women.

Saini's tribute is consistent with a broader pattern within the BJP in which state leaders publicly affirm central colleagues during portfolio transitions, reinforcing party cohesion and validating the outgoing minister's record. The statement signals that Pradhan's exit is being framed within the party as a voluntary, principled decision rather than a political setback.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the formal appointment of a successor to the Education Ministry and the continuity of NEP 2020 implementation, including state-level rollouts — including in Haryana, where CM Saini's government has been aligning its education framework with the national policy. Any new portfolio assignment for Dharmendra Pradhan within the Modi government will be closely watched as a signal of the cabinet reshuffle's broader direction.