Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan officially resigned on July 25, 2026, following a sustained 37-day protest at Jantar Mantar, spearheaded by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protests focused on the significant issue of NEET-UG paper leaks, which had raised serious concerns among students and educational stakeholders.
In a pivotal moment for accountability in the education sector, President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation. To ensure continuity in leadership, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been appointed to take interim charge of the Ministry of Education.
In his resignation statement, Pradhan emphasised his decision was motivated by a commitment to serve the larger interests of students and to prevent further exploitation of the situation. He acknowledged his moral responsibility in light of the testing controversies, marking a significant step towards restoring integrity within the education system. This action has been perceived as a victory for the protesting students and a positive move towards enhancing transparency and accountability in educational assessments.