Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Indian Education Minister Amid NEET-UG Controversy and Student Protests

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet amid the ongoing NEET-UG controversy and sustained student protests. Moments after the announcement, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke declared from the Jantar Mantar stage, “We have done it. They used to say that no one resigns in this government. But we have done it.”

In a detailed statement addressed to the nation’s youth and shared publicly, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision follows weeks of pressure from CJP-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which had made the minister’s exit a non-negotiable demand over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

Pradhan, who also held the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio, began his letter by reflecting on his long association with education. “For more than four decades, I have remained dedicated to students, teachers and education reforms. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation,” he wrote. He expressed deep respect for the aspirations of India’s youth and thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve under his leadership.

Recalling the sequence of events, Pradhan noted that irregularities came to light in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. The government responded promptly by handing the probe over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelling the exam, and scheduling a re-examination. It was also decided that from the following year the exam would shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Over 20 lakh students appeared for the re-test on June 21, conducted with a “whole-of-government approach” involving the Centre, states, and district administrations. Results declared on July 16 were described as satisfactory, with many meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds succeeding.

“From the very first day, I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it. My resolve was that the future of any deserving student should not be harmed because of examination fraud, and no student should face injustice,” Pradhan stated. He expressed distress over attempts by some individuals in positions of responsibility to mislead students during the process.

The minister made clear that his resignation was not about personal prestige. Referring to the protests of the past 10 days, including those at Jantar Mantar, he said: “The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces. The unity of the country must remain intact, no student of India should get entangled in legal complications, and our children should focus on their studies and building their careers. Keeping this in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister.”

Pradhan thanked the Prime Minister for his guidance and support, as well as Cabinet colleagues, ministry officials, and staff. He reiterated that serving the nation remains his highest priority and invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath, pledging continued dedication to the aspirations of Bharat Mata, the people of Odisha, and the country’s youth.

Earlier reports of a possible resignation circulating via AI-generated videos claiming “personal reasons” had been debunked by official fact-checkers as digitally altered. The government has indicated it is preparing stricter measures, including an anti-paper-leak law with provisions for special fast-track courts and a Special Task Force, to address systemic issues in national examinations. Acceptance of Pradhan’s resignation by the Prime Minister and any subsequent Cabinet changes are awaited.