Guwahati, July 25 -- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned additional charge of the Ministry of Education after the President's office accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down amid nationwide protests over examination paper leaks.

The appointment was announced through an official communique from the President's Office on Saturday. Joshi, who currently heads the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, will now also oversee the Ministry of Education.

Pradhan resigned on the 35th day of the ongoing protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. In his resignation letter, the 57-year-old said he had decided to step down to prevent "anti-national forces" from taking advantage of the situation.

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