Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 26 June extended birthday greetings to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, praising his efforts to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and position India as a global centre for knowledge, learning, and innovation.

Modi posted on social media platform X: 'Birthday wishes to Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Ji. He is making commendable efforts towards the implementation of the National Education Policy, which seeks to make India a hub for knowledge, learning and innovation. Praying for his long and healthy life.'

Who Is Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan, born on 26 June 1969 in Talcher, Odisha, currently serves as the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The son of former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan, he is one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) senior national figures and represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.

Political Journey and Key Milestones

Pradhan began his public life through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), eventually rising to serve as its National Secretary. His electoral career commenced in 2000 when he won a seat in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Pallahara constituency. He entered Parliament in 2004, winning the Deogarh Lok Sabha seat to become a member of the 14th Lok Sabha. In 2012, he transitioned to the Rajya Sabha, this time representing Bihar.

Following the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victory in the 2014 general elections, Pradhan joined the Union Council of Ministers. He was elevated to Cabinet rank two years later, taking on the additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. From September 2017, he served as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas — a role he held continuously through the first and second Modi governments until 2021, making him India's longest-serving Petroleum Minister. During that period he also briefly held charge of the Steel Ministry and became a permanent member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Leading India's Education Reform

After the Cabinet reshuffle of July 2021, Pradhan was appointed Union Minister for Education, retaining the Skill Development portfolio. He held both roles after the formation of the Modi government following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As Education Minister, he has spearheaded the rollout of NEP 2020 — widely regarded as the most sweeping overhaul of India's education system in decades — with a focus on multidisciplinary learning, digital education, and employability-linked skill training.

Honours and Recognition

Over the course of his public career, Pradhan has received several distinctions, including the Best Legislator Award, the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman for 2002–03, and the Odisha Citizens' Award in 2013.

As Pradhan enters a new year, the implementation trajectory of NEP 2020 — particularly its higher-education and vocational-training components — will remain a key measure of his ministerial record.