India's education minister resigns, Cockroach Janta Party calls off protest
- Last updated: July 25, 2026 | 13:20
Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he had resigned, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who had demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks.
The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers.
Submitting his resignation, Pradhan reaffirmed his commitment to youth and education while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for support, framing it as a response to protect exam integrity and students' future.
In his letter, Pradhan said, "For over four decades, I have dedicated myself to the cause of students, teachers, and educational reform. I have always believed that a robust, inclusive, and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nation.
"I deeply respect the aspirations, sentiments, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth. Realising the dreams of India's young generation has been a moral commitment in our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership," he said.
He said that as soon as the irregularities regarding the NEET-UG examination came to light, the government, taking immediate cognisance of the matter, handed the investigation over to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and announced a date for a re-examination. Additionally, he said that a decision was made to conduct this exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode starting next year.
"Throughout this period, our primary priority was to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination for over 20 lakh students. We worked towards this using a 'whole-of-government' approach, in which state governments – and particularly district administrations – played a crucial role alongside the Government of India. With the cooperation of students and parents, the examination was successfully concluded on June 21, 2026," Pradhan said.
"From day one, I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it. I was determined not to let the potential of any meritorious student be ruined by the 'exam mafia' and to ensure that no student faced injustice," he added.
He said that during the re-examination results, "individuals holding responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students", an act, he said, caused him "deep distress".
"I have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely India's future; they are the torchbearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India. I am pained by the events of the past ten days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me," he added.
"Considering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country – to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting it, preserving national unity, ensuring that not a single Indian student's future gets entangled in legal complexities, and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers – I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister," Pradhan said.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for his "guidance, trust, and constant support" and to the Council of Ministers.
"Service to the nation is the highest priority of my life; I shall remain forever dedicated to it. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, I will continue to dedicate myself in every possible way to fulfilling the aspirations of Mother India, the people of Odisha, and the youth of the country in the future as well," he added.
Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said after Pradhan's resignation that all their demands had been met in another round of talks and that they were calling off the protests that were centred on the Jantar Mantar demonstration site in central New Delhi.
"We have done it," CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said to a thunderous response by hundreds of protesters. Senior minister JP Nadda, who met the CJP leaders for the third time on Saturday after Pradhan's announcement, said, "we have accepted their demands."
The protesters' other demands included compensation for those affected by examination irregularities and for legal cases against protesters to be dropped, CJP spokesman Ashutosh Ranka.
India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi threw his weight behind protesters in support of their cause, calling Pradhan's resignation a "huge step."
Rahul called for Modi to "apologise" and respect students and India's future generations.
"Action should be taken against those guilty of violence against students," he said.
Sunil, 27, who came to the protest site for the first time on Saturday to "experience the atmosphere", said it was "truly electrifying, especially after the minister's resignation."
"What the young people did was commendable," he said.
Federal authorities have restricted access to the internet and to 18 metro stations to try to limit the protest in the capital.
Anger has boiled over since police on Monday injured many students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas to deter crowds of protesters marching on Parliament.
The protests, led largely by young people and triggered by discontent over leaks of question papers for high-stakes entrance exams, reflect anger over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability.
Agencies