Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 26, 2026, following weeks of nationwide youth-led protests over NEET-UG paper leaks and reported student suicides. The demonstrations, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), culminated in a 'Sansad Chalo' march in New Delhi where police used tear gas, baton charges, and pellet guns. The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc, demanded a public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accountability from Home Minister Amit Shah for the use of lethal force against students.

While the Supreme Court of India ordered the release of arrested minors and called for an independent probe into police atrocities, the government has maintained a dual approach of crackdown and outreach. The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a Gen Z-focused social media campaign, while Delhi Police filed reports against users who posted abusive content about the prime minister. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari praised the government's zero-tolerance policy on exam fraud and labeled some protesters as fundamentalists intending to destabilize India.

Despite the resignation of Pradhan and the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke argues these measures are insufficient. Dipke has warned of larger agitations if the government does not withdraw FIRs against students, suggesting that Prime Minister Modi should resign and become a social media influencer rather than govern.