Home Minister Shah, Cabinet Colleagues Extend Birthday Greetings to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
·2 hours ago·6 min read
Key Points
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior ministers extended birthday greetings to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Bhubaneswar, Jun 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior Union ministers on Friday extended birthday greetings to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, praising his leadership, organisational skills and contributions to education reforms and nation-building.
Pradhan, regarded as one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's senior leaders and key strategists, has played a pivotal role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, expanding skill development initiatives and strengthening India's higher education ecosystem.
PM Modi Extends Greetings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the greetings, commending Pradhan's commitment to education, youth empowerment and national development. He wished the Union minister good health, happiness and a long life dedicated to public service.
Home Minister Shah Praises Public Service
Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his birthday wishes, appreciating Pradhan's unwavering commitment to public service and his efforts to strengthen India's education system. Shah wished him continued good health and success in serving the nation.
Cabinet Colleagues Laud Pradhan's Contribution
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Pradhan as a grassroots leader devoted to serving both the BJP and the country. He wished him good health and a long life.
Pradhan, regarded as one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's senior leaders and key strategists, has played a pivotal role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, expanding skill development initiatives and strengthening India's higher education ecosystem.
PM Modi Extends Greetings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the greetings, commending Pradhan's commitment to education, youth empowerment and national development. He wished the Union minister good health, happiness and a long life dedicated to public service.
Home Minister Shah Praises Public Service
Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his birthday wishes, appreciating Pradhan's unwavering commitment to public service and his efforts to strengthen India's education system. Shah wished him continued good health and success in serving the nation.
Shah also conveyed his best wishes, appreciating Pradhan's dedication to strengthening India's education system and his continued service to the nation.केंद्रीय शिक्षा मंत्री श्री @dpradhanbjp जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 26, 2026
महाप्रभु जगन्नाथ आपको स्वस्थ रखें एवं दीर्घायु प्रदान करें, यह कामना करता हूँ।
Cabinet Colleagues Laud Pradhan's Contribution
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Pradhan as a grassroots leader devoted to serving both the BJP and the country. He wished him good health and a long life.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari extended birthday greetings to his Cabinet colleague and prayed for his good health, long life and a fulfilling future.Greetings to Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on his birthday. He is a grassroots leader who has devoted himself to serving the party and the country. Wishing him good health and a long life. @dpradhanbjp
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 26, 2026
केंद्रीय कैबिनेट में मेरे साथी श्री @dpradhanbjp जी आपको जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।💐 ईश्वर से आपके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य, दीर्घायु और मंगलमय जीवन की प्रार्थना करता हूं।
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— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 26, 2026 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on X, "Best wishes to my Cabinet colleague Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji on his birthday."
"Heartfelt birthday wishes to my colleague @DPradhanBJP ji in the Union Cabinet. Your efforts in promoting education and innovation through the National Education Policy are commendable. I pray to God for your good health and long life," Goyal posted on X.
Greetings Pour In From Across The Union Cabinet
Birthday wishes also poured in from Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav; Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi; Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Minister Manohar Lal; Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram; Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri; Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya; and Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy.
Other Union ministers who extended greetings included Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh; Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy; MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi; Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh; Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal; Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar; Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi; Communications and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia; Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; and Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan.
Union Ministers of State Dr Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Jayant Chaudhary also conveyed birthday wishes to Pradhan.
Also Read: PM Modi Extends Birthday Wishes to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; Praises His NEP Implementation Efforts
A Trusted Leader
Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, is among the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has held several key portfolios in the Central government. He currently represents the Sambalpur constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Born on June 26, 1969, in Talcher, Odisha, Pradhan is the son of former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan.
Pradhan began his political career through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's student organisation. His organisational skills saw him rise steadily within the ABVP, eventually serving as its National Secretary before taking on larger responsibilities within the BJP.
His electoral journey started in 2000 when he was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Pallahara constituency. Four years later, he entered Parliament after winning the Deogarh Lok Sabha seat, becoming a member of the 14th Lok Sabha.
In 2012, Pradhan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, marking his transition into national politics. Later, he served as an MP of Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh between 2018 and April, 2024. Over the years, he established himself as one of the BJP's prominent leaders and played an active role in the party's organisational and parliamentary affairs.
Following the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's victory in the 2014 general elections, Pradhan was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. Two years later, he was elevated to the Cabinet and entrusted with the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
In September 2017, he assumed charge as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. During his tenure, he also briefly served as Steel Minister and became a permanent member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), one of the government's top decision-making bodies.
Also Read: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Calls 1975 Emergency India’s Darkest Chapter
Pradhan holds the distinction of being India's longest-serving Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, continuing in the role throughout the first and second terms of the Narendra Modi government until 2021.
After the Cabinet reshuffle in July 2021, he was appointed Union Minister for Education while continuing to oversee the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship till June 2024.
As Education Minister, Pradhan has spearheaded the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, one of the most significant reforms in India's education sector. His ministry has focused on improving access to quality education, promoting multidisciplinary learning, strengthening digital education, and enhancing skill-based training to improve employability.
Over the course of his public life, Pradhan has been recognised with several honours for his contributions to politics and public service. These include the Best Legislator Award, the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman for 2002-03, and the Odisha Citizens' Award in 2013.
Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju praised Pradhan's commitment to empowering India's youth through education and skill development, wishing him good health, happiness and many more years of public service.Best wishes to my cabinet colleague Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji on his birthday.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 26, 2026
Wishing him good health, happiness, and continued success in the service of the nation.@dpradhanbjp
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted Pradhan's role in implementing the National Education Policy.Heartfelt birthday wishes to my Hon Union Minister of Education Shri @dpradhanbjp ji
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 26, 2026
Your commitment to empowering the youth of our nation through education are truly commendable.
May you be blessed with good health, happiness & many more years of impactful public service. pic.twitter.com/iuwUyaOUEY
"Heartfelt birthday wishes to my colleague @DPradhanBJP ji in the Union Cabinet. Your efforts in promoting education and innovation through the National Education Policy are commendable. I pray to God for your good health and long life," Goyal posted on X.
Greetings Pour In From Across The Union Cabinet
Birthday wishes also poured in from Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav; Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi; Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Minister Manohar Lal; Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram; Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri; Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya; and Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy.
Other Union ministers who extended greetings included Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh; Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy; MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi; Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh; Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal; Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar; Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi; Communications and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia; Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; and Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan.
Union Ministers of State Dr Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Jayant Chaudhary also conveyed birthday wishes to Pradhan.
Also Read: PM Modi Extends Birthday Wishes to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; Praises His NEP Implementation Efforts
A Trusted Leader
Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, is among the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has held several key portfolios in the Central government. He currently represents the Sambalpur constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Born on June 26, 1969, in Talcher, Odisha, Pradhan is the son of former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan.
Pradhan began his political career through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's student organisation. His organisational skills saw him rise steadily within the ABVP, eventually serving as its National Secretary before taking on larger responsibilities within the BJP.
His electoral journey started in 2000 when he was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Pallahara constituency. Four years later, he entered Parliament after winning the Deogarh Lok Sabha seat, becoming a member of the 14th Lok Sabha.
In 2012, Pradhan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, marking his transition into national politics. Later, he served as an MP of Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh between 2018 and April, 2024. Over the years, he established himself as one of the BJP's prominent leaders and played an active role in the party's organisational and parliamentary affairs.
Following the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's victory in the 2014 general elections, Pradhan was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. Two years later, he was elevated to the Cabinet and entrusted with the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
In September 2017, he assumed charge as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. During his tenure, he also briefly served as Steel Minister and became a permanent member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), one of the government's top decision-making bodies.
Also Read: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Calls 1975 Emergency India’s Darkest Chapter
Pradhan holds the distinction of being India's longest-serving Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, continuing in the role throughout the first and second terms of the Narendra Modi government until 2021.
After the Cabinet reshuffle in July 2021, he was appointed Union Minister for Education while continuing to oversee the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship till June 2024.
As Education Minister, Pradhan has spearheaded the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, one of the most significant reforms in India's education sector. His ministry has focused on improving access to quality education, promoting multidisciplinary learning, strengthening digital education, and enhancing skill-based training to improve employability.
Over the course of his public life, Pradhan has been recognised with several honours for his contributions to politics and public service. These include the Best Legislator Award, the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman for 2002-03, and the Odisha Citizens' Award in 2013.
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