Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.
The resignation follows a period of intense civil unrest and widespread student protests. This leadership change signals the government's attempt to contain political instability following allegations of systemic failure in national examinations.
Students have been protesting for more than one month [1] regarding the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak [2]. The unrest reached a critical point with the involvement of the CJP, represented by Sonam Wangchuk, who said that the "resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan non-negotiable" [3]. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after 26 days [4] as the government shifted its stance.
In a statement regarding his departure, Pradhan said, "I am deeply distressed by attempts by people in 'responsible positions' to mislead students and create obstacles for political gain" [5].
The political fallout has extended to the opposition. Rahul Gandhi said that Amit Shah authorized pellet guns on students [6]. While some reports indicate the meeting between Shah and Modi occurred shortly after the resignation, other accounts suggest further consultations with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh were pending.
The high-level consultation in the capital aims to address the grievances of the medical aspirants, and stabilize the administration's image. The protests, centered largely around Jantar Mantar, had become a focal point for demands for accountability in the education sector.
“"Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan non-negotiable,"”
The resignation of a cabinet minister under pressure from student-led protests marks a rare concession by the current administration. By pairing the resignation with a high-level strategy meeting between the Home Minister and the Prime Minister, the government is treating the NEET-UG 2026 leak not merely as an administrative failure, but as a national security and stability concern.
