New Delhi, July 25: In a major political development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on Saturday following days of nationwide student protests over the NEET-UG 2026 controversy. The resignation has been widely viewed as a significant victory for protesting students and youth groups that had been demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities.
Student Movement Forces Political ActionThe protests, which spread across several states, intensified after the NEET-UG controversy and demands for action against those responsible. Student organisations and opposition parties called for Pradhan’s resignation, arguing that the Education Ministry should take responsibility for the examination crisis.
On Saturday, Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation through an emotional letter addressed to the country’s youth, stating that his decision was taken to protect students’ futures and prevent the issue from creating further uncertainty.
‘I Took Responsibility From Day One’In his letter, Pradhan said he never distanced himself from the NEET-UG controversy and had accepted responsibility from the beginning. He highlighted that the government cancelled the examination after irregularities surfaced, handed the investigation to the CBI and conducted the re-examination to ensure justice for over 20 lakh candidates. He also announced that NEET would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from next year.
Resignation Meant to Protect StudentsPradhan said he did not want the ongoing protests and legal disputes to affect students’ careers. He added that his resignation was intended to ensure that young people remain focused on their education while preventing any attempt to exploit the situation for political or anti-national purposes.
Celebrations at Protest SitesSoon after news of the resignation broke, celebrations were reported at protest sites, including Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Students and youth activists raised slogans, distributed sweets and described the resignation as a victory for their movement demanding accountability in the education system.
Thanks PM Modi and Reaffirms CommitmentIn his resignation letter, Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his trust and support. He also expressed gratitude to ministry officials and colleagues, saying public service would continue to remain his highest priority and that he would keep working for the aspirations of India’s youth.