Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following widespread protests over a NEET paper leak [1].
The resignation marks a significant concession by the government to student-led demonstrations and political pressure regarding the integrity of national medical entrance examinations.
Protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had converged on Jantar Mantar in Delhi to demand Pradhan's removal [1, 3]. The movement focused on the fallout from the leaked NEET exam paper, which critics argued compromised the fairness of the testing process [3, 5].
Security remained tight in the capital despite the announcement. Security forces kept roads leading to Jantar Mantar blocked and closed 18 Delhi Metro stations to manage the crowds [2].
Supporters of the movement celebrated the news at the protest site. Abhijeet Dipke said the development was a "big win" [4]. Actor Salman Khan also expressed support for the students, saying that the paper leak is a very serious issue and that the students were courageous and brave [4].
While some reports indicated the resignation had occurred [1], other updates from the scene suggested that protests continued with the primary demand still being the minister's removal [3]. This discrepancy highlights the volatility of the situation as news filtered through the security cordons at Jantar Mantar.
Sonam Wangchuk, who had been involved in the demonstrations, ended his hunger strike following the news [1, 3]. The government had previously held talks with CJP leaders to address the grievances before the resignation was tendered [2].
“Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation on Saturday, July 25, 2026”
The resignation of a Union Minister under public pressure suggests a critical failure in the administration of the NEET exams and a growing intolerance among the youth for academic irregularities. By yielding to the Cockroach Janta Party's demands, the government may be attempting to quell civil unrest, but the scale of the security lockdown—including the closure of 18 metro stations—indicates a deep-seated fear of further escalation.
