New Delhi, July 25, 2026: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday resigned from his post, submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid intense nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Pradhan announced the decision through a two-page statement posted on X. Addressing the country’s youth, he said he had dedicated more than four decades to students, teachers and education reforms. He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve under his leadership.
Referring to the irregularities detected in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026, Pradhan noted that the government had immediately handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the exam, conducted a re-examination on June 21, and decided to shift the test to computer-based mode from next year. He said he had taken full responsibility from the beginning to protect meritorious students from the “exam mafia” and ensure no injustice was done.
The minister stated that the developments of the past 10 days had saddened him and that the issue was not one of personal prestige. “India’s youth are the true strength of this nation,” he wrote. “It is my resolve that we will not allow the country’s youth power to become trapped in a web of confusion.”
Citing the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, Pradhan said he was resigning so that anti-national forces could not exploit the circumstances, national unity would be preserved, no student’s future would get entangled in legal complications, and young people could focus on their studies and careers.
The resignation comes after more than a month of continuous protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The agitation, which began over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations including the NEET paper leak, intensified following police action on July 20. CJP leaders had made Pradhan’s resignation a non-negotiable demand for further dialogue with the Centre.
This is the first instance of a Union minister stepping down under sustained public pressure during the current government’s tenure. Protesters at Jantar Mantar and other locations celebrated the development, calling it a victory for democracy and student power. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and supporters hailed the move but said the agitation would continue until remaining demands — including compensation for families of affected students and accountability for police action — were fulfilled.
The government is yet to formally accept the resignation. Officials have earlier indicated plans to bring a stringent anti-paper-leak law with provisions for fast-track courts and a special task force.
Pradhan, a senior BJP leader from Odisha, had been handling the education portfolio since 2021.