Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET-UG 2026 Protests New

New Delhi

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stepping down amid nationwide student protests over irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

In a statement shared on X, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation keeping in mind the larger interest of students. He cited the need to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting the situation at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country, preserve national unity, ensure that no student’s future gets entangled in legal complications, and allow young people to focus on their studies and careers.

“The events of the past 10 days have saddened me. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me,” Pradhan wrote. He recalled that irregularities were detected in the NEET-UG exam held on May 3, 2026. The government immediately handed the probe to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and conducted a re-test on June 21 in computer-based mode. Results were declared on July 16. From the outset, he said, he took responsibility and remained determined that no meritorious student’s prospects would be ruined by the “exam mafia.”

Pradhan, who has served as Education Minister since 2021, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to education and the youth of the country, ending the note with a reference to the blessings of Lord Jagannath and his dedication to Odisha and India.

The resignation comes after more than a month of sustained protests, primarily led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Demonstrators had made Pradhan’s exit a non-negotiable demand, along with broader reforms in the examination system, compensation for families of students who died by suicide amid the controversy, and withdrawal of cases against peaceful protesters. Tensions had escalated earlier this week with police action during a march towards Parliament.

CJP leaders described the development as a victory for students and democracy. While welcoming the resignation, they indicated that other demands, including adequate compensation and accountability measures, remain on the table.

The Centre has already announced plans for a stringent anti-paper-leak law, special fast-track courts, and a shift towards computer-based testing for major national exams from next year. No successor has been named yet.

For students and parents in Varanasi and across Uttar Pradesh — many of whom appear for NEET and other national entrance tests every year — the episode underscores the urgent need for transparent, leak-proof examination systems. As a major education hub with a large number of coaching centres and aspirants, Banaras continues to watch developments closely. The resignation marks one of the rare instances of a Union minister under the current government stepping down in response to sustained public pressure over an education-related controversy.

Dalimss News will continue tracking the appointment of the new Education Minister and any further reforms announced by the government.