Editor
Dharmendra Pradhan was born on June 26, 1969, in the city of Talcher, Odisha. He hails from the Khandayat caste in Odisha state.
He began his political career as an Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist in 1983 and served in various positions within the organization, eventually becoming its secretary.
Pradhan holds a post-graduate degree in Anthropology from Utkal University in Bhubaneswar.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) to the Lok Sabha from the Deogarh constituency in 2004 and served in the 14th Lok Sabha.
Pradhan has also been elected as a Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha, representing both Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
He has held several important ministerial positions, including Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum & Natural Gas from May 2014 to September 2017.
In May 2019, Pradhan was promoted to the Cabinet rank and served as the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel until July 2021.
Known as the "Ujjwala Man," Pradhan has been credited with the success of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a scheme that provided over 80 million LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
He has played a significant role in driving India's energy transition and promoting initiatives for a gas-based economy, including expanding the city gas distribution network and piped gas network.
Pradhan has also served as the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, where he launched various initiatives focusing on reskilling and upskilling the Indian workforce.
In July 2021, he assumed the role of Minister of Education, succeeding Ramesh Pokhriyal in the Second Modi ministry.
Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure as a minister has been marked by his contributions to the hydrocarbon sector, energy transition efforts, skill development initiatives, and his role in various ministries. His dedication to public service and focus on empowering rural India and bridging the skills gap have been notable aspects of his political career.