Government sources said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will not resign despite student protests demanding his removal over a NEET paper-leak controversy.

The standoff highlights growing tension between the Indian government and medical aspirants who allege systemic failures in the administration of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. The demand for accountability has turned into a political flashpoint, with student groups insisting that the minister's departure is the only acceptable resolution.

Protests occurred on July 2, 2026 [2], in Mandya, Karnataka, where demonstrators gathered near the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The agitation was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). These groups allege that the NEET-UG exam paper was leaked, compromising the integrity of the medical entrance process.

A senior government source said, "Pradhan's resignation is not on the cards" [1]. The administration has remained firm in its position, effectively ruling out the CJP's demand for a change in leadership at the education ministry.

Pradhan, 57 [1], continues to lead the ministry while the government addresses the fallout from the leak allegations. The protesters in Mandya have made the minister's resignation a primary condition for ending their agitation, but officials said that such a move is unlikely to happen.

The government's refusal to yield to the protesters' demands suggests a strategy of weathering the public outcry rather than implementing high-level personnel changes. This decision maintains the current leadership structure despite the intensity of the student-led demonstrations in Karnataka.

“"Pradhan's resignation is not on the cards"”

The government's refusal to remove the Education Minister signals a determination to maintain stability within the cabinet despite significant public pressure. By rejecting the demands of the CJP and NSUI, the administration is betting that the controversy will subside without the need for a high-profile political sacrifice, though this may further galvanize student activists across India.