Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid massive student protests over NEET leak fiasco

Dharmendra Pradhan, whose resignation as Education Minister was the core demand of the protesters, announced his decision in a lengthy post on X. Pradhan underlined that stepping down was not a matter of personal prestige.

In Short

• Pradhan resigns taking moral responsibility on his own, say sources
• His resignation was the core demand of student protesters
• Pradhan says stepping down not a matter of personal prestige

Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation as Union Education Minister on Saturday, saying the decision was driven by the need to protect the future of students and prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the massive youth protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. It marks a rare case in which a senior Modi government minister has stepped down amid sustained street protests and political pressure.

Pradhan, whose resignation was the core demand of the protesters, announced his decision on X hours before the third round of talks between the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre. Ahead of the third round of talks, the CJP leaders said Pradhan's resignation was "non-negotiable".

A couple of hours later, Pradhan announced his resignation in a lengthy social media post, triggering jubilation at Jantar Mantar - the site where activist Sonam Wangchuk began his indefinite fast and where the protesters found a home.

Sources told India Today that Pradhan resigned taking moral responsibility on his own and was not sacked. It suggests that the government was keen on giving him a dignified exit. The Odisha-born BJP leader first took office as Education Minister in 2021 and was re-appointed after the party won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

WHAT DHARMENDRA PRADHAN SAID IN RESIGNATION LETTER?

Pradhan, who had come under flak over a spate of exam paper leaks, made it clear at the outset that stepping down was "not a matter of personal prestige". The NEET-UG paper leak in May seemingly became the final nail in the coffin for Pradhan.

"The developments of the past ten days have saddened me deeply. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me," he said. In the next sentence, he stressed, "India's youth are the country's real strength."

"From the very first day, I took responsibility for the matter (NEET leak) and never turned away from this situation. My resolve was that we would not allow the examination mafia to destroy the prospects of any meritorious student," he said.

In his letter, Pradhan underlined that developments of the past 10 days had left him "deeply saddened", referring to the massive July 20 violence during the students' march to Parliament. Over 180 student protesters and cops were injured in the violence.

Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after considering the larger national interest.

However, in the same breath, he made it clear that a key reason behind his resignation was that he didn't want the situation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to be used by forces working against the nation's interests.

It was likely a veiled swipe at the opposition and the Congress, which took the fight to the Prime Minister's doorsteps earlier this week. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi and several Congress leaders were detained during their flash protest outside PM Modi's residence.

"Keeping in mind that anti-national forces should not take advantage of the situation... that the unity of the nation must remain intact, that the future of even a single student should not get entangled in legal complications, and that our children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers, I have sent my resignation to the Prime Minister," Pradhan said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju praised Pradhan's "sincere dedication" to strengthening the education ecosystem and "keeping millions of young students at the centre of every decision".

JUBILATION AT JANTAR MANTAR

Jantar Mantar erupted in celebration as the news of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation spread. After all, a sustained month-long agitation, devoid of any opposition scaffolding or political support, eventually bore fruit.

"Cockroaches won, democracy won," the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) posted on X. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke took a dig at PM Modi, "Subah ho gayi mamu (Time to wake up)," - a reference to Sanjay Dutt's iconic dialogue from his movie Munnabhai MBBS.

Dipke said the protests would continue until the government accepted two more demands - compensation of Rs 1 crore each for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide, and action against the police officers involved in the July 20 "brutality".

Wangchuk, who gave the CJP movement a face, described it as "a victory of direct democracy... straight from the streets". He called off his hunger strike on Friday after the government assured that no punitive action would be taken against "peaceful" student protesters.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said the government eventually had to bend. "It is a victory for the youth and the students of India," Priyanka said.

MOMENTS LEADING TO PRADHAN'S RESIGNATION

In fact, the pressure was mounting on the Modi government after it was caught off guard by the sheer speed and scale of the student protests.

Despite Wangchuk being removed and shifted from the protest site and the July 20 crackdown, people from all strata of society continued to throng Jantar Mantar. The protests largely became organic as they gave vent to public anger that had been lurking beneath the surface over government policies.

It was on Thursday that the government scrambled to contain the situation. The Prime Minister himself led the outreach to students, announcing fast-track courts to ensure strict punishment for those involved in paper leaks.

But it did little to douse the anger at Jantar Mantar. The CJP remained firm on its demand for Pradhan's resignation.

Meanwhile, the protests also started affecting normal life in the heart of Delhi due to the closure of an unprecedented 18 metro stations in central Delhi due to the protests. The anger deepened.

Against this backdrop, the government shunted out the education secretary - the first such action since the May NEET-UG paper leak.

Just before midnight, PM Modi again reached out to the students. In a selfie video, PM Modi said stricter actions against paper leaks would follow.

He also announced that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act would be amended to include stronger penal action against paper leaks. The bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Friday, will be introduced in Parliament next week.

FULL TEXT OF DHARMENDRA PRADHAN'S RESIGNATION

Read the full text of Dharmendra Pradhan’s letter announcing his resignation here:

My young friends,

For over four decades, I have dedicated myself to the cause of students, teachers, and educational reform. I have always believed that a robust, inclusive, and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nation.

I deeply respect the aspirations, sentiments, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth. Realizing the dreams of India's young generation has been a moral commitment in our political and social lives.

I express my gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership. However, irregularities came to light regarding the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026.

Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, the Government of India handed the investigation over to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and announced a date for a re-examination. Additionally, a decision was made to conduct this exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode starting next year.

Throughout this period, our primary priority was to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination for over 20 lakh students. We worked adopting a 'whole-of-government' approach; state governments—and district administrations in particular—played a crucial role alongside the central government.

With the cooperation of students and parents, the examination was successfully concluded on June 21, 2026. From day one, I took full responsibility and never turned away from the situation. I was resolved that no meritorious student's potential would be ruined by the 'exam mafia,' and that no student would face injustice.

The NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory, with many meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds achieving success. However, even during this time, individuals in responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students, which caused me deep distress.

I have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and have deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely India's future; they are the torchbearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India.

I am pained by the events of the past ten days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me. India's youth power is the true strength of this nation. It is my resolve not to let the country's youth get trapped in a web of confusion.

Considering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country—with the aim of preventing anti-national forces from exploiting it, preserving national unity, ensuring that not a single Indian student's future gets entangled in legal complexities, and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers—I have submitted my resignation to the Honorable Prime Minister.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the respected Prime Minister for his guidance, trust, and constant support. I also extend my thanks to all my esteemed colleagues in the Council of Ministers, the officials and staff of the Ministry, and all those individuals with whom I had the privilege of working.

Serving the nation is the highest priority of my life; I will always remain dedicated to this cause. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, I will continue to dedicate myself in every possible way to fulfilling the aspirations of Mother India, the people of Odisha, and the youth of the country in the future as well.

Yours, Dharmendra Pradhan.

- Ends