• Elected to the Lok Sabha from the Dharwad constituency for five consecutive terms.
• A leader who garnered widespread attention on two occasions by winning with a massive majority.
• Joshi hoisted the national flag at the Dharwad Eidgah Maidan during 1992–94.
• The Supreme Court eventually delivered a favorable verdict regarding this ground.
• Manages assigned portfolios with unwavering commitment.
• Oversees the distribution of food grains to 800 million people through the PDS.
• Implemented the “Bharat Dal” scheme to regulate onion prices.
• Holds a prominent and secure position within the Karnataka BJP.
Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, hails from Karnataka. He currently serves as the 13th Minister in charge of the Food and Public Distribution portfolio and as the 10th Minister for New and Renewable Energy. Between 2019 and 2024, he also held the portfolios of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines. Since 2004, he has represented the Dharwad constituency as a Member of Parliament. He served as the President of the Karnataka State BJP between 2014 and 2016. From 2014 to 2018, he served on the Panel of Chairpersons in the Lok Sabha. He was born on November 27, 1962, in Bijapur, which was then part of Mysore State. His father’s name is Venkatesh Joshi, and his mother’s name is Malatibai Joshi; Pralhad Joshi is the third child of this couple. He completed his primary education at a Railway School, while his secondary and high school education took place at the New English School in Hubballi. He earned his degree from the Kadisiddheshwar Arts College in Hubballi. From his childhood, he developed a keen interest in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and began his journey within the organization as a dedicated “Karyakarta” (activist). Subsequently, he actively participated in various RSS training camps.
Between 1992 and 1994, he hoisted the National Flag at the Eidgah Maidan in Hubli (Karnataka) under the aegis of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. By participating in this event on behalf of the RSS, Pralhad Joshi became a widely recognized figure. The Supreme Court subsequently delivered a verdict regarding the ownership of this Eidgah Maidan. It gave orders that the property to be handed over to the Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
Pralhad Joshi has consecutively represented the Dharwad parliamentary constituency in the elections held in 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024. Although he began his career as an industrialist, he gained immense public prominence overnight by leading the National Flag hoisting ceremony at the Eidgah Maidan in Hubli between 1992 and 1994. During this same period, he became a household name across the entire state by spearheading a movement titled “Save Kashmir.” Since then, he has cemented his position as a prominent and recognized politician within the state. Subsequently, he was elected as the BJP President for the Dharwad district. He contested for the Lok Sabha for the first time in 2004 from the Dharwad constituency. In this election, he defeated the Congress party candidate, B.S. Patil. Following this, he was elected to this same parliamentary seat for three consecutive terms and currently continues to represent this constituency. In the 2009 elections—held for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka—he distinguished himself as the leader who secured the second-highest majority in the entire state. Notably, this election witnessed the defeat of many Union Ministers and MPs; thus, he demonstrated his leadership prowess even during a period when the BJP faced political headwinds in the state. Once again, in the 2019 elections, he proved his mettle by winning the Dharwad seat with a majority of over one lakh votes.
In May 2019, he took the oath as a Union Minister. Subsequently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed him as the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines. He continued to hold these portfolios until June 2024. After securing victory once again in the 2024 elections, he was entrusted with the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy. He currently oversees these ministries. It can truly be said that Pralhad Joshi has set a record by being elected five consecutive times from the same constituency. However, he expressed slight dissatisfaction regarding the reduced margin of his victory this time around. Mr. and Mrs. Joshi have three daughters. He possesses an immense passion for Indian classical music and cricket.
He works very actively to safeguard consumer rights and to foster appropriate awareness among the public. In particular, he focuses on irregularities within the Public Distribution System and strives to curb them. His primary objective is to ensure food security for all citizens. He pays close attention to ensuring the accuracy of weights and measures, consistently introducing and implementing modern technologies in this regard. Through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), he takes measures to ensure strict adherence to quality standards. In doing so, through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs he currently heads, he lends his support to the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India” initiatives. Furthermore, he constantly monitors the Public Distribution System to ensure that food grains reach 800 million underprivileged people across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. After assuming ministerial responsibilities in 2024, he launched the “Bharat Dal” scheme and has been taking measures to ensure that essential commodities—such as onions—remain available to the public at affordable prices.
