Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on Saturday amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and growing demands for accountability in the country's examination system.

Announcing his decision in a post on X, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that his decision was taken in the larger interest of students and the nation.

"To ensure that anti-national elements are not benefitted by the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the nation remains united, students in India do not get tangled in legal complexities and focus on their studies and their career, I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister," he said.

Says Decision Was Taken in Students' Interest

In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he has remained associated with students, teachers and education reforms for more than four decades and believes that a strong education system is essential for nation-building.

He said the events surrounding the alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities had deeply saddened him but stressed that the issue should not distract students from their academic future.

According to Pradhan, the government acted promptly after irregularities were detected in the May 3, 2026 NEET-UG examination by transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelling the examination and announcing a re-examination.

He also noted that beginning next year, the examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode to improve transparency and security.

CJP Welcomes the Resignation

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) welcomed Pradhan's resignation, calling it a victory for the student movement.

In a post on X, the organisation wrote, "Long live Student Power."

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the resignation was only one of the group's demands and announced that the protest would continue until the remaining demands are addressed.

He called for:

• ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET controversy.
• Action against police personnel accused of using excessive force during protests held on July 20.

Government Earlier Announced Reform Measures

Pradhan stated that protecting the interests of more than two million students remained the government's priority throughout the re-examination process.

He said the NEET-UG results announced on July 16 reflected the success of many deserving candidates, including students from economically weaker sections.

The resignation comes after days of demonstrations across several states and continued protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where students demanded accountability over alleged examination irregularities.

Read more: NEET Paper Leak Protest Enters Day 32 as Security Tightened Across Delhi

Political Significance

Pradhan's resignation marks a major political development amid one of the largest student-led protests in recent years.

The Centre is expected to announce further steps regarding education reforms and examination security as discussions with student representatives continue.