Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET-UG Controversy; Protesters Press for Remaining Demands
NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking moral responsibility following weeks of intense student protests over irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
In a letter addressed to the nation’s youth, Pradhan stated that he took full responsibility for the situation from day one. Recalling his four-decade commitment to education reform, he noted that the government acted promptly after irregularities surfaced in the May 3 exam by handing the investigation over to the CBI, canceling the initial paper, and conducting a re-test on June 21. He also highlighted that NEET-UG will transition to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format starting next year.
Explaining his decision to step down, Pradhan expressed anguish over the events of the past 10 days, stating that his resignation aims to protect students from legal complications and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the unrest. He urged students to step away from confusion and focus on their education.
Following the announcement, student leaders at Jantar Mantar and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) declared the resignation a major victory but emphasized that their demonstration will continue until all four demands on their updated charter are satisfied:
- Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan – Fulfilled
- ₹1 Crore compensation to families of deceased students – Pending
- No legal or police action against student protesters – Pending
- Public apology from the RAF and Delhi Police – Pending
Protesters remain stationed at Jantar Mantar as they await formal government action regarding their unfulfilled demands.
