New Delhi, 25th July: There is a lot of speculation in the political world and on social media pages about whether the Union Cabinet will undergo a reshuffle or not. In light of a heated discussion about the issue of national security in exams and paper leaks, some speculations have arisen about the reshuffle of top government ministries like Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan’s ministry, following an examination national security controversy and leakage of the NEET-UG paper.
Though there’s no official statement or any sort of order issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) or Rashtrapati Bhavan, the following are a handful of names that have been circled around via the viral discussion and media reports that point to potential Prime Ministerial ministries.
Key Names Circulating for the Education Portfolio
1. Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman is among those with prominent names being discussed for the job. Proposals have rumbled around on the Internet suggesting the possibility of Sitharaman being tasked with the Ministry of Education as part of a change in administration.
As noted by political analysts, being Defense Minister in the past and hitting the ground running at the Ministry of Finance, Sitharaman will be a pivotal personality in high-level meetings aimed at discussing the various portfolios. But the move is likely to come at a time when there will be a rogue wholesale reshuffle of the Cabinet, a process the government has not announced yet.
2. Minister of State, Jayant Chaudhary
Jayant Chaudhary is currently serving as a Minister of State (MoS) in the government and also has the independent charge in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. His name has been put forward numerous times as someone who could perhaps move into the picture or be assigned a greater degree of responsibility to continue the education reform and skill development programs planned for the nation.
3. Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar
Sukanta Majumdar, who is also a Minister of State in the education portfolio, also has an academic background in his ministry. Prior to embarking on his full career as a politician, Majumdar had been a Professor of Botany. He earned his Ph.D. and has a wealth of knowledge in academia that allows him to bring useful insights into the world of higher education and university systems, as well as the concerns and needs of students, to his role as a supporter.
What to Expect Next
Following high-level discussions between government leaders and President Droupadi Murmu, the news of a cabinet reshuffle started gaining momentum. But the government has stressed that the allocation of the portfolios has been at the sole discretion of PM Narendra Modi.
The existing administrative setup will keep working under the leadership of Dharmendra Pradhan, with Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary and Sukanta Majumdar serving as deputies through the day until official notification from the President’s Secretariat changes the setup.
