Step down follows weeks of youth demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, though movement leaders vow to continue until remaining demands are met.
NEW DELHI, July 25, 2026:India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down on Saturday, taking moral responsibility for the widespread irregularities and paper leak controversies surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The resignation follows more than a month of youth-led demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, marking a major political concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
Pradhan submitted his resignation in a formal letter addressed to the Prime Minister and published the statement directly on his X handle. Addressing the country’s youth, he stated that the decision was taken to ensure students’ futures were not caught in prolonged legal battles.
“The events of the past 10 days have saddened me,” Pradhan wrote. “This is not a matter of personal prestige for me. India’s youth power is the real strength of this nation. My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get trapped in a vicious cycle of confusion.”
He highlighted that the government had already handed the investigation over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ordered a re-examination, and decided to transition the NEET-UG test to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format starting next year.
Demands Persist Beyond Exit
The resignation fulfilled a primary demand of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the youth group spearheading the sit-in at Jantar Mantar. However, movement leaders insisted the protest would continue until all their objectives were fulfilled.
Reacting to the announcement, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the exit was a triumph of democratic pressure but emphasized that two crucial demands remained unaddressed.
“This is democracy. He has resigned. We have two more demands. We won’t go like this,” Dipke told supporters at Jantar Mantar.
Dipke demanded ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of students who committed suicide due to exam-related stress and called for legal action against police officers involved in a force deployment against protesters on July 20.
Renowned education reformer and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently concluded a 26-day hunger strike in solidarity with the demonstrators, termed the development a “victory of democracy… straight from the streets” driven by peace, patience, and perseverance. Wangchuk urged the youth movement to turn its focus toward systemic, long-term educational reforms.
Security Grid and Legal Escalation
Security around the protest site remains tight. Delhi Police deployed nearly 3,000 personnel and 18 Deputy Commissioners of Police to monitor movement around Jantar Mantar. Authorities are using Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras, which police sources said have flagged more than 2,000 individuals with prior criminal records among the estimated 10,000 attendees.
Tensions expanded on the legal front as Delhi Police registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) at Kartavya Path Police Station. The new FIR invokes charges of attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside counts of rioting, unlawful assembly, and assault on public servants, bringing the total number of FIRs connected to the July 20 clashes to approximately 15.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das condemned the security buildup, alleging that police were executing unconstitutional detentions and blocking essential supplies, including food, water, and medicines, from reaching the encampment. The group warned it would march on Delhi Police Headquarters if access restrictions were not lifted and announced plans for a nationwide candle march on Sunday, July 26, at 6:00 PM.
Political Support and Institutional Clarifications
Opposition figures have increasingly aligned with the youth movement. Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar visited Jantar Mantar to address the demonstrators, commending their resilience against police intimidation.
Separately, Safdarjung Hospital released a clarification on Saturday regarding a viral video involving Sonam Wangchuk. Hospital officials clarified that the footage was recorded on July 21 inside a designated no-videography zone before the formal transfer order from the Delhi High Court arrived. The hospital stated that Wangchuk was safely transferred to a medical team from Medanta Gurugram at 6:40 PM that evening once official paperwork was finalized.
