Pralhad Joshi – a dedicated RSS supporter and a long-time BJP member has been appointed as new Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). He replaced Raj Kumar Singh as he lost the election from Arrah. Joshi has been a member of parliament for the last five times from the Bharatiya Janata Party of Dharwad in Karnataka. He has good terms with our Prime Minister and Home Minister, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah respectively. In the last cabinet, he had some of the portfolios of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs.
The new ministry’s main challenge is to further promote the National Green Hydrogen Mission in the country. The government has already provided them with 19,744 crores for establishing electrolysers which will be used to produce hydrogen. The mission also provides incentives to produce green hydrogen and ammonia.
The ultimate goal to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power generation by 2030 will be completed if they make sure to add 50 GW capacity every year. India aims to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070.
A BJP leader said that Joshi has led several projects and initiatives that have benefited the Coal and Mining sector to become self-sufficient. He was also BJP President of Karnataka and a leader of ‘Rastradwaja Horata Samiti Sanchalak’, during a movement to hoist the tricolor at Idgah Maidan in Hubballi which although created a major issue. He also contributed to the “Save Kashmir Movement” during the 1990s.
Pralhad Joshi won the Lok Sabha elections by a major margin of 97,234 votes against Congress. The Minister of MNRE will work for the nation for the second time as a minister. In the 16th Lok Sabha, he was also chairperson of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas and various committees.
