Understanding the Human Resource Development Ministry in Prime Minister Modi's Cabinet (February 2018)

The question asks to identify the individual serving as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet specifically during February 2018. The Ministry of Human Resource Development was a crucial portfolio responsible for overseeing education and literacy in India. Its functions covered school education, higher education, adult education, and skills development.

Prime Minister Modi's Cabinet Composition in Early 2018

The cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi underwent various changes throughout its tenure. To answer this question accurately, we need to determine the ministerial portfolios as they stood in February 2018.

Identifying the Human Resource Development Minister

Let's examine the options provided and their respective portfolios around the time of February 2018:

• Jual Oram: Around February 2018, Shri Jual Oram served as the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs.
• Suresh Prabhu: Shri Suresh Prabhu held multiple portfolios over different periods. In February 2018, he was the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry and also held the portfolio of Civil Aviation. He was not the HRD Minister.
• Prakash Javadekar: Shri Prakash Javadekar served as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development from July 5, 2016, until May 30, 2019. Therefore, he was indeed the HRD Minister in February 2018.
• Maneka Gandhi: Smt. Maneka Gandhi was the Union Minister for Women and Child Development around February 2018.

Based on the cabinet composition in February 2018, Prakash Javadekar was the minister holding the Human Resource Development portfolio.

Revision Table: Key Ministers in PM Modi's Cabinet (around Feb 2018)

Additional Information on the Ministry of Human Resource Development

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) was a ministry of the Government of India, responsible for universal access to education. It was bifurcated into two departments: the Department of School Education and Literacy, which deals with primary, secondary, and higher secondary education, adult education, and literacy, and the Department of Higher Education, which deals with university education, technical education, scholarships, and distance learning. In 2020, the Ministry of Human Resource Development was renamed the Ministry of Education following the National Education Policy 2020. This change reflected a focus on the core mandate of the ministry.