India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In one of the biggest administrative move in the NEET UG paper leak 2026, the Central government has replaced Education Secretary Vineet Joshi on Thursday (July 23).
On Thursday, July 23, the Central government replaced Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, appointing Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary for Higher Education amidst administrative reshuffles linked to ongoing protests over exam paper leaks.
Informing that the government has appointed Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary in the Department of Higher Education. The appointments were announced through an official government notification issued late on Thursday night.
Who Is Vineet Joshi?
A 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Manipur cadre – Vineet Joshi, has been transferred from the Education Ministry and appointed as the Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
It must be known that Joshi had been serving as the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and oversaw several major education-related initiatives during his tenure. His transfer is part of the latest administrative reshuffle announced by the Centre.
Who Replaced Joshi? Naresh Pal Gangwar
Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre has been appointed in place of Vineet Joshi.
Before his new assignment, Gangwar was serving as the Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. With his appointment, Gangwar will now head the Department of Higher Education and oversee key policies related to universities, higher education institutions and national education programmes.
Reshuffle Comes During Ongoing Student Protests
This is one of the biggest move as the change in the post within the Education Ministry under intense public scrutiny followed by allegations of competitive exams paper leaks.
Student organisations and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been holding protests demanding greater accountability in the examination system. One of their major demands has been the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
While the government has not linked the transfer directly to the ongoing protests, the timing of the reshuffle has drawn attention as debates over examination reforms continue across the country.
