Delhi: Major news has emerged from Delhi amidst student protests. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday. Students protesting across the country, including in Delhi, over irregularities in the NEET exam had been demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the youth. He wrote, “…To ensure that anti-national elements do not exploit the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the nation remains united, and that India’s students do not get entangled in legal complications but instead focus on their studies and careers, I have submitted my resignation to the Prime Minister.”
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
Pradhan wrote, “My young friends, for over four decades, I have been dedicated to students, teachers, and education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive, and visionary education system is 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 all our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership.”
He further wrote, “Irregularities were found in the NEET-UG exam held on May 3, 2026. Taking immediate cognizance of this, the Government of India handed over the investigation to the CBI and cancelled the exam. Simultaneously, a date for the re-examination was announced.” “Additionally, a decision has been made to conduct this exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode starting next year.”
“He stated that the priority throughout this process was to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination for over 20 lakh students. Efforts were made adopting a ‘whole-of-government’ approach, with the state governments—and the district administrations in particular—playing a crucial role alongside the Government of India. Furthermore, the exam was successfully concluded on June 21, 2026, with the cooperation of students and parents. I took personal responsibility for this from day one and never turned away from the situation. I was resolved that the prospects of meritorious students would not be ruined by the ‘exam mafia,’ nor would any student 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 period, individuals in positions of responsibility attempted to create obstacles and mislead students, which caused me deep distress.”
With Pradhan’s resignation, the student protests that had been ongoing for the past few days at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar—under the banner of the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’—are now expected to end.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had met the students at his Delhi residence. He later stated that the students were demanding the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, insisting that there would be no compromise on this issue.
