STORY: India appointed Pralhad Joshi as education minister on Saturday (July 25) after weeks of youth-led protests forced Dharmendra Pradhan from the post.

Joshi, already a cabinet minister, takes on education alongside his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy. He told reporters he accepted the role "with a sense of duty and humility."

The protests, led by a movement calling itself the Cockroach Jana Party, have triggered the worst political crisis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. Demonstrators have been on the streets since late June, after leaked national exam papers forced a resit affecting two million students — galvanising wider anger about the lack of prospects for young Indians.

Pradhan's resignation, which was the protesters' central demand, came as a surprise because Modi has a reputation for refusing to act under pressure.

Young voters are a critical part of his Bharatiya Janata Party's base, and the party faces key state elections next year. Similar youth-led protest movements have brought down governments in neighbouring Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in recent years.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 25, 2026) (ANI - No use India) (NIGHTS SHOTS)

1. NEWLY APPOINTED INDIAN EDUCATION MINISTER PRALHAD JOSHI EXITING BUILDING

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi and English) NEWLY APPOINTED INDIAN EDUCATION MINISTER, PRALHAD JOSHI, SAYING:

"The honourable prime minister has entrusted me with this responsibility, and I will carry it out in line with his expectations. I accept this responsibility with a sense of duty and humility. I am thankful to the Prime Minister. In the last 12 years of Prime Minister Shri (Narendra) Modi's government, many historic achievements have been done (made)."

4. JOSHI SITTING IN CAR