Page 2 - Dharmendra Pradhan

DMK MP Kanimozhi demands apology for Dharmendra Pradhan's 'abusive' remarks

Kanimozhi, the MP from Lok Sabha constituency Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, said the Union Minister's remarks were undemocratic and demanded an apology

Dharmendra Pradhan's comment on NEP sparks row; Lok Sabha adjourned

Pradhan said the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has changed its stand on implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme PM SHRI

'He was speaking like an arrogant king': CM MK Stalin to Dharmendra Pradhan

During the Lok Sabha proceedings, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged that Tamil Nadu initially agreed to sign MoU for the scheme but later changed its stance

TN CM slams Pradhan for 'arrogance', tells him to control his tongue

The CM's remarks came in the wake of the exchange between the DMK MPs and Pradhan in the Lok Sabha over the PM SHRI scheme and fund allocation to the southern state

Will not implement NEP even if Centre offers Rs 10,000 cr to TN: CM Stalin

Continuing his tirade against the Centre over the National Education Policy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said he would not agree to implement it even if the Centre offered to provide Rs 10,000 crore in funds to the state. The opposition to the NEP was not merely due to the attempt to impose Hindi but also because of various other factors that would have serious consequences for the future of students and the social justice system, he claimed. Apart from encouraging a screening test for admissions to even arts and science colleges, similar to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses, the NEP would allow students to discontinue their studies. "Permitting students to discontinue studies is akin to asking them not to study," Stalin said, addressing an event organised by the Parents-Teachers Association here. "We are not opposed to any language but will remain firm in opposing its imposition. We are not opposing the NEP only for the atte

NEP 2020 does not advocate imposition of any language: Pradhan to Stalin

The Stalin government has alleged that the Centre is attempting to impose Hindi on southern states under the guise of the NEP, which suggests a three-language model for students

Udhayanidhi slams Pradhan over politics remark; defends 2-language policy

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday hit back at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for attacking state CM M K Stalin amid the NEP row and asserted the state will only follow the 2-language policy. The state was seeking only its due share of funds from the Centre from the taxes paid by it, he said. "We are asking our (share of) funds, about Rs 2150 crore. They (Centre) want us to accept NEP and the 3-language policy. Tamil Nadu has always been opposed to three language policy, so what is there to do politics," he asked. "Tamil is our right, please understand who is doing politics," the DMK leader told reporters. Earlier in the day, Pradhan had attacked Stalin over the ongoing row on the implementation of NEP and accused him of "spinning progressive reforms into threats to sustain political narratives". In a letter to Stalin, Pradhan said the Tamil Nadu CM should rise above political differences and think about the interests of young learners who w

NEP row: Dharmendra Pradhan urges CM Stalin to rise above differences

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday attacked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the ongoing row on the implementation of NEP and accused him of "spinning progressive reforms into threats to sustain political narratives". In a letter to Stalin, Pradhan said the Tamil Nadu CM should rise above political differences and think about the interests of young learners who will benefit from the new National Education Policy. The education minister was responding to the letter Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. In his letter, Stalin said linking the two centrally sponsored initiatives -- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and PM SHRI Schools -- with the National Education Policy (NEP) was fundamentally unacceptable. In his letter to the Tamil Nadu CM, Pradhan said, "The letter sent to PM is a complete negation of the spirit of cooperative federalism promoted by Modi government. Hence, it is inappropriate for the state to view NEP 2020 with a myopic ..

PM must interfere in federalism's interest, release SSA funds to TN: CM

Reiterating that linking the two different Centrally sponsored SSA and PM SHRI Schools initiatives was fundamentally unacceptable, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the immediate release of Rs 2,152 crore of Samagra Shiksha funds for the state. The Prime Minister should intervene in the interest of cooperative federalism and welfare of lakhs of students and teachers, he said. "To dissipate the unrest caused due to this issue, Rs 2,152 crores of Samagra Shiksha funds for Tamil Nadu for 2024-25 may be released immediately, without linking it to the implementation of National Education Programme (NEP) 2020. Considering the sensitivity of the issue, I look forward to your personal intervention in this regard, Stalin said in a letter addressed to Modi. He expressed deep concern' over the recent remarks of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan indicating that SSA funds for Tamil Nadu would not be released until the state ..

Stalin condemns Pradhan for alleged NEP, 3-language policy rider for funds

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday accused Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of "blackmail" for allegedly taking a stand that Tamil Nadu would not be provided funds till such time it accepted the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three language formula. Tagging a video clip of Pradhan speaking to reporters in Varanasi on February 15, Stalin, in a post on 'X' quoted Pradhan as saying that Tamil Nadu has to come to the terms of the Indian Constitution and that the three languagae policy is the rule of law. Accusing Pradhan of "blackmail" for his alleged stand that Tamil Nadu would not be provided education related funds by the Centre till such time the state accepted the three language policy, the Chief Minister termed it as unacceptable, and Tamil people would not tolerate it. The state sought its due, from the Centre which is its right and if the central minister spoke arrogantly as if the state claimed his personal wealth, then, in that case, Delhi would have to ..

Draft UGC norms empower universities in faculty selection, says Pradhan

In a written response to a parliamentary question, Pradhan stated that the draft regulations aim to foster innovation, inclusivity, flexibility, and dynamism in higher education

Anger against corrupt, insensible 'Aapda' govt: Minister Pradhan slams AAP

Dharmendra Pradhan was addressing a community gathering in Shahapur Jat village under Greater Kailash Vidhan Sabha, Delhi, where many Oriya-speaking working people reside

Odisha, Singapore sign MoU to establish FinTech hub in Bhubaneswar

The Government of Odisha's Electronics and IT Department and Singapore's Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) signed an MoU to establish a Global Competency Centre in Bhubaneshwar to foster FinTech collaboration, with a focus on developing an inclusive and sustainable InsureTech and related areas.The MoU was signed during the official visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Odisha on Friday, according to a press release by GFTN. Tharman is on the State Visit to India from January 14 to 18. The initiative marks another positive step commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore in 2025.Commenting on the MoU, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, Odisha aims to leverage GFTN's global expertise and resources to drive innovation and create tailored Fintech solutions in the state."Odisha has emerged as a leader in India's IT sector and now aims to diversify its services sector. The state is fostering innovation and ...

UGC should hold talks with states before regulation changes: K'taka min

Karnataka Minister M C Sudhakar has written to Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan expressing his opposition to the recently published draft UGC Regulations, 2025. He said UGC should be engaging in a dialogue with state governments before proposing any changes. The University Grants Commission (UGC) called for public consultation of its draft for Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education Regulations. In a letter dated January 13, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education Sudhakar said the state strongly opposes certain provisions related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, which he said, strike at the root of the higher education system and powers of the state government. According to the minister, the draft guidelines provide no role for the state government in selecting the Vice-Chancellor of a university. "The guidelines provide

Congress selling lies about UGC hiring norms: Education Minister Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Monday attacked the Congress, accusing it of "selling lies" about the draft recruitment norms rolled out by the UGC and said the practice of governors appointing university vice-chancellors has been going on even before Independence. The University Grants Commission (UGC) released the draft regulations last week, proposing a major overhaul in the recruitment of assistant professors and vice-chancellors. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had alleged that the UGC draft regulations, 2025, give state governors extensive control over vice-chancellor appointments and allow non-academics to hold these posts and termed it a "direct attack on federalism and state rights". According to the draft regulations, industry experts, as well as senior professionals from public administration, public policy and public sector undertakings, might soon be eligible for appointment as vice-chancellors. The draft norms have also given power to chancellors or .

Important to have developed panchayats for developed India: Pradhan

He further emphasized that the strengthening of the Panchayati Raj system in Sambalpur aligns with the larger vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote decentralized development

DU to distribute laptops, tablets to orphaned, visually impaired students

The Delhi University will distribute laptops and tablets to orphaned female and single-parent female students along with visually impaired students on January 4, according to an official statement. The distribution will be done at the inaugural of DU Samarpan Samaroh event slated to be attended by Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan at the Vice Regal Lodge. The distribution of laptops and tablets will take place under the Sashakt Beti' and e-Drishti' programmes, with the vision of promoting digital inclusivity and academic excellence, the statement said. Under the programmes, female students who are either orphans or single-parent children with a family income of less than Rs 4 lakh, studying at the university are eligible to avail of the benefit. The University of Delhi Foundation, a non-profit company, established by DU will facilitate the distribution ceremony. The primary objective of the foundation is to build the endowment fund of the university by mobilising ...

Cong hated Ambedkar, included his shameful cartoon in NCERT books: Pradhan

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Thursday slammed the Congress, alleging it has always hated BR Ambedkar and had even included a cartoon in an NCERT textbook showing Jawaharlal Nehru "whipping" Ambedkar. He claimed that the "crocodile tears" of the Congress over Ambedkar are just pretence. "Suddenly the Congress has got a lot of respect for Babasaheb Ambedkar. These crocodile tears of the Congress for Babasaheb are just a pretence, there is a huge difference between their words and actions. The Congress party's hatred and contempt for Babasaheb is well known, Pradhan wrote in a post on X. The Union Education Minister said that during the rule of the Congress-led UPA-2 government, a shameful cartoon was included in the NCERT textbook for Class 11 in 2012 in which Pandit Nehru was shown "whipping" Babasaheb Ambedkar. "After strong opposition from BJP, then Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal apologised and announced to withdraw it. "Obviously, such a shameful act cannot

NTA to conduct only higher education entrance exams from 2025: Pradhan

The NTA will not conduct any recruitment exams from 2025, instead focusing only on higher education entrance tests, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Tuesday. The agency will be restructured next year and new posts are being created, he added. The move is part of examination reforms based on the recommendations of a high-level panel set up earlier this year following alleged leaks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance exam and a series of cancellations of others due to suspected leaks and other glitches. The education ministry is also in conversation with the health ministry on conducting NEET in the traditional pen-and-paper mode or switch to a Computer Based Test (CBT). "The National Testing Agency (NTA) will be limited to conducting only entrance exams for higher education and not conduct any recruitment exams from next year," Pradhan told reporters. He clarified that the Common University Entrance Test - Undergraduate ...

NCERT textbooks to get cheaper next year as printing capacity triples

Increased demand drives NCERT to boost printing from 50 million to 150 million textbooks next year, ensuring affordable prices and no financial burden on parents, says education minister