Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns After Nationwide Student Protests

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, 2026, following weeks of nationwide protests over the NEET-UG paper leak and systemic examination irregularities. The movement, spearheaded by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supported by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who conducted a 26-day hunger strike, culminated in a mass 'Sansad Chalo' march on July 20. During that march, Delhi Police used tear gas, batons, and allegedly pellet guns to disperse crowds, resulting in numerous injuries to both students and officers.

In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan stated he stepped down to prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the unrest and to protect students from "legal complications." The CJP withdrew its agitation after the government accepted several key demands, including the minister's resignation, the withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters, and honorary compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the leaks.

Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, hailed the exit as a victory for democracy, though they continued to demand a formal apology from Narendra Modi and accountability for police brutality. To address the root cause, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, introducing a 10-year jail term and ₹10 crore fines for leak culprits, while transitioning the NEET-UG to a computer-based testing format.