On 25 July 2026, the President of India accepted the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President invoked clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. Concurrently, Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi was assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education. This development is crucial for constitutional polity regarding executive appointments, the "pleasure of the President" doctrine, and cabinet reshuffles.
On 25 July 2026, the President of India formally accepted the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Council of Ministers. The resignation was accepted with immediate effect under the provisions of Article 75(2) of the Indian Constitution. Simultaneously, Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Education.
The official press communique was released by the President's Secretariat in New Delhi on the evening of 25 July 2026. The changes take place at the highest executive level of the Union Government of India.
This event is highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance). It practically demonstrates the application of Article 75(2), which governs the doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility and the "pleasure of the President." It also impacts the administrative continuity of the Ministry of Education, a critical ministry handling national human resource policies. Finally, it reinforces the absolute constitutional authority of the Prime Minister in dictating the composition of the Union Council of Ministers.
📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]
📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]
India follows the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy, heavily inspired by the United Kingdom. In both systems, the Head of State (the President in India, the Monarch in the UK) holds the formal power to appoint and dismiss ministers. However, this power is not discretionary; it is exercised strictly on the binding advice of the Head of Government (the Prime Minister).
The transition at the Ministry of Education requires Pralhad Joshi to balance his existing cabinet duties with the expansive portfolio of national education. This may lead to a brief administrative adjustment period. Furthermore, an isolated resignation often fuels political speculation regarding a broader, upcoming cabinet reshuffle or reorganization of government departments in the near future.
Core Concept: Union Council of Ministers
Q1. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the President accept the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan? [Easy]
A) Article 72
B) Article 74
C) Article 75(2)
D) Article 75(3)
Answer: C
Explanation: The official press communique states the resignation was accepted under clause (2) of Article 75.
Q2. Who advises the President of India on assigning additional cabinet portfolios to a minister? [Easy]
A) The Chief Justice of India
B) The Vice President of India
C) The Prime Minister
D) The Cabinet Secretary
Answer: C
Explanation: The press release explicitly mentions that the President directed the reallocation of the portfolio "as advised by the Prime Minister."
Q3. The phrase "pleasure of the President" in the context of Union Ministers implies that: [Moderate]
A) The President can dismiss a minister at their own personal discretion.
B) A minister holds office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister.
C) The President must consult the Supreme Court before dismissing a minister.
D) A minister can only be removed through a parliamentary impeachment process.
Answer: B
Explanation: While ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President (Article 75(2)), this pleasure is exercised exclusively on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Q4. Who was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation? [Moderate]
A) Amit Shah
B) Rajnath Singh
C) Pralhad Joshi
D) Nitin Gadkari
Answer: C
Explanation: The press communique confirms that Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi was assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education.
Q5. Which of the following bodies officially issued the press communique regarding this ministerial change? [Moderate]
A) The Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
B) The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
C) The Cabinet Secretariat
D) The President's Secretariat
Answer: D
Explanation: The official notification regarding the resignation and portfolio allocation was issued by the President's Secretariat.
Q6. Which constitutional amendment act limited the size of the Council of Ministers to 15% of the Lok Sabha? [Tricky]
A) 42nd Amendment Act
B) 44th Amendment Act
C) 91st Amendment Act
D) 97th Amendment Act
Answer: C
Explanation: The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act (2003) capped the size of the Council of Ministers to prevent jumbo cabinets.
Q7. Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution deals with which of the following principles? [Tricky]
A) Individual responsibility of ministers to the President
B) Collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha
C) The binding nature of the Cabinet's advice on the President
D) The maximum permissible size of the Union Cabinet
Answer: B
Explanation: While Article 75(2) deals with individual responsibility, Article 75(3) establishes the collective responsibility of the ministers to the lower house.
Q8. If the Prime Minister of India resigns, what happens to the Union Council of Ministers? [Tricky]
A) The senior-most Cabinet Minister automatically becomes Prime Minister.
B) The Council of Ministers continues to function under the President's direct rule.
C) The entire Council of Ministers is automatically dissolved.
D) The Lok Sabha Speaker appoints a new Prime Minister from the existing Council.
Answer: C
Explanation: The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers; their resignation or death automatically dissolves the entire Council.
PYQ 1:
Which of the following constitutional provisions empowers the President of India to reallocate business among Ministers of the Government of India?
A) Article 74
B) Article 75(2)
C) Article 77(3)
D) Article 78
Answer: C
Explanation: Under Article 77(3), the President makes rules for the more convenient transaction of government business and the allocation among Ministers. ⚠️ [SOURCE NEEDED]
PYQ 2:
Consider the following statements regarding the Union Council of Ministers:
1. The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Parliament.
2. A minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall cease to be a minister.
3. The ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because the 15% cap is based on the total strength of the Lok Sabha, not the entire Parliament. Statements 2 and 3 are correct constitutional provisions under Article 75.
PYQ 3:
Assertion (A): The President of India can dismiss a Union Minister on their own accord if they are dissatisfied with the minister's performance.
Reason (R): Article 75(2) states that the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true but R is false.
D) A is false but R is true.
Answer: D
Explanation: The Assertion is false because the President cannot dismiss a minister on their own accord; they can only do so on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Reason is true as a direct quote from the Constitution.
Question 1 (150 words): Analyze the significance of the "pleasure of the President" doctrine in the context of the Union Council of Ministers.
The "pleasure of the President" doctrine, enshrined in Article 75(2) of the Indian Constitution, is a cornerstone of individual ministerial responsibility. While the Constitution states that ministers hold office during the President's pleasure, in practice, this pleasure is exercised exclusively on the advice of the Prime Minister.
This provision grants the Prime Minister the vital authority to drop underperforming ministers or reshuffle portfolios, as seen on 25 July 2026 when Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was accepted and Pralhad Joshi was given the Education Ministry. This ensures the Prime Minister maintains absolute control over the executive team, preserving political and ideological cohesion. Furthermore, it enforces discipline within the ruling party. Ultimately, the doctrine strikes a balance between formal executive authority vested in the Head of State and the real political power wielded by the Head of Government in a parliamentary democracy.
Question 2 (250 words): The Constitution of India balances individual ministerial responsibility with collective responsibility. Discuss this statement in light of Articles 74 and 75, highlighting the absolute role of the Prime Minister in cabinet formation and dissolution.
The Indian Constitution elegantly balances two distinct but complementary principles of executive accountability: individual ministerial responsibility and collective responsibility. This balance is meticulously defined through Articles 74 and 75, which establish the framework of the Westminster model in India.
Collective responsibility, embedded in Article 75(3), ensures that the Council of Ministers functions as a unified team accountable to the Lok Sabha. If the government loses a no-confidence motion, the entire council must resign. This guarantees that policies are owned by the government as a whole. Conversely, individual responsibility is outlined in Article 75(2), which dictates that ministers hold office during the "pleasure of the President."
This "pleasure," however, is a formal mechanism utilized by the Prime Minister. The recent reallocation of the Ministry of Education to Pralhad Joshi following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on 25 July 2026 illustrates this principle in action. The Prime Minister alone decides who enters the cabinet, what portfolios they hold, and when they must exit. The President acts strictly on the Prime Minister's advice under Article 74.
This immense power makes the Prime Minister the linchpin of the cabinet. Their resignation or death automatically dissolves the entire Council of Ministers. Ultimately, while collective responsibility ensures democratic accountability to the legislature, individual responsibility provides the Prime Minister with the necessary administrative flexibility to enforce discipline, ensure efficiency, and maintain a cohesive executive body capable of decisive governance.
For Prelims, examiners love testing the specific sub-clauses of Article 75 (especially distinguishing 75(2) from 75(3)) and the exact parameters of the 91st Amendment Act. For Mains, expect analytical questions on how the Prime Minister acts as the "first among equals" and the practical application of individual vs. collective responsibility. In Interviews, you may be asked to opine on the necessity of cabinet reshuffles and whether large cabinets hinder governance. Prediction: A statement-based Prelims question on the constitutional process of portfolio reallocation and the role of the Cabinet Secretariat is highly probable this year.