Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on Saturday, days after nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak intensified. His resignation follows sustained demonstrations by students and opposition parties demanding accountability for the examination controversy.
In his resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said his decision was guided by the larger interests of students and aimed at ensuring that the country’s youth remained focused on their future rather than being caught in prolonged uncertainty.
Pradhan, who has long been associated with the education sector, said he remained committed to strengthening India’s education system and supporting the aspirations of young people. He noted that education reforms had always been central to his public life and described a strong education system as the foundation of national development.
Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, Pradhan said the Central Government acted swiftly after irregularities were detected in the examination conducted on May 3. According to him, the matter was immediately handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the examination was cancelled, and a fresh test was announced. He also pointed out that the government has decided to conduct the examination in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from next year to strengthen transparency and security.
He said the government’s priority throughout the crisis was to ensure that more than two million candidates were able to appear for the re-examination without their academic future being affected. He added that he had accepted responsibility for the situation from the outset and remained focused on protecting the interests of deserving students.
Pradhan said the NEET-UG 2026 results, declared on July 16, reflected the success of meritorious candidates from diverse backgrounds, including economically weaker sections.
At the same time, he expressed disappointment over what he described as attempts by certain individuals to mislead students and create unnecessary obstacles during the crisis. He said the protests should not be allowed to distract young people from their education or be exploited by elements working against the nation’s interests.
Thanking Prime Minister Modi for the opportunity to serve as Education Minister, Pradhan also expressed gratitude to his Cabinet colleagues, officials of the Ministry of Education and other staff members for their support during his tenure.
His resignation comes amid continuing nationwide protests over the NEET-UG controversy and follows activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Meanwhile, the Centre is preparing to introduce a strengthened anti-paper leak framework that includes Special Fast-Track Courts, a Special Task Force (STF) and stricter legal provisions to deal with examination-related offences across the country.
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