Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned Amid 36 Day NEET Paper Leak Protest

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned following a 36 day protest at Jantar Mantar. The decision comes after intense pressure regarding the NEET paper leak controversy.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has officially resigned from his position following intense pressure and a 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar regarding the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The minister announced his resignation by posting a letter on his social media handle, taking full responsibility for the situation that has affected millions of students across the country. The protesters, who had been camping at Jantar Mantar for over a month, had remained firm on their demand for his resignation as the only acceptable outcome.

Protests and the Role of Cockroach Janta Party

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led the charge against the Education Minister, organizing a continuous sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar that lasted for 36 days. Following the announcement of the resignation, the CJP reacted by stating that the cockroach has won. The protest also saw significant support from social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who undertook a hunger strike for 26 days to demand accountability for the paper leak. The government eventually bowed to the growing public outcry and the persistent demands of the student community and activists.

Dharmendra Pradhan Statement on Responsibility

In a detailed post on social media, Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the youth and the nation, explaining his decision to step down. He stated that from the very first day, he had taken responsibility for the irregularities and never turned away from the situation. He emphasized his resolve to ensure that the prospects of meritorious students aren't ruined by the exam mafia and that no student faces injustice, while he mentioned that he has been dedicated to students, teachers, and educational reforms for more than 4 decades and believes that a strong, inclusive, and visionary education system is the foundation of a powerful nation.

Timeline of the NEET-UG Controversy

The controversy began with the NEET-UG examination held on May 3 2026, where irregularities were discovered. The Government of India took immediate notice and handed over the investigation to the CBI. Consequently, the exam was cancelled, and a new date for the re-examination was announced. Pradhan highlighted that the re-examination was successfully conducted on June 21 2026, with the cooperation of state governments and district administrations, ensuring that more than 20 lakh students could participate smoothly. The results of this exam were declared on July 16 and were described as satisfactory, with many students from poor backgrounds achieving success.

Reasons for Resignation and Future Reforms

Explaining the specific reasons behind his resignation, Pradhan noted that the confusion created at Jantar Mantar and across the country shouldn't be exploited by anti-national forces, while he stated that his resignation is aimed at maintaining national unity and ensuring that students don't get entangled in legal complexities. He urged students to focus on their studies and careers. Also, he announced that from next year, the examination would be conducted in CBT (Computer-based-test) mode to prevent such issues. Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the nation and stated that he remains committed to the aspirations of the youth and the people of Odisha under the blessings of Lord Jagannath.