India Education Minister Resigns After NEET Protest Victory

Student protesters celebrate at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi after India's education minister resigned following nationwide demonstrations over the NEET examination paper leak.

 India's Education Minister Resigns After NEET Protest Movement Victory

NEW DELHI — July 25, 2026

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after days of nationwide youth protests over the leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper. The resignation marks a major political setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and a significant victory for the student-led protest movement.

Large celebrations broke out at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest site as thousands of young demonstrators gathered to mark the announcement. Protest organizers from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led the demonstrations, declared that they would end their campaign following an agreement with the government.

Pradhan announced his resignation in a public statement, saying he stepped down to prevent what he described as "anti-national forces" from taking advantage of the situation. He also said he respected the aspirations and legitimate concerns of India's youth.

The protests began after the leak of the NEET medical entrance examination paper earlier this year. The scandal forced authorities to cancel the original results and organize a fresh examination, affecting around two million students across the country. The controversy fueled wider public frustration over government accountability and employment opportunities for young people.

The demonstrations became one of the largest protest movements India has seen in recent years. Opposition parties expressed support for the students, while lawmakers repeatedly disrupted parliamentary proceedings over the issue. Earlier in the week, clashes between police and protesters, including the use of tear gas and baton charges, drew criticism and intensified public anger. Authorities maintained that security measures were necessary to preserve public order.

Student leader Abhijeet Dipke described the resignation as a victory for peaceful public action. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently completed a 26-day hunger strike in support of the movement, also welcomed the development, calling it the result of patience and peaceful determination.

Later on Saturday, senior government ministers met with representatives of the protest movement. After the meeting, protest leaders announced that demonstrations would end under an agreement that authorities would not pursue action against participants.

As celebrations continued, crowds waved Indian flags, sang the national anthem and distributed sweets at the protest site. Security remained heavy, with around 1,000 police officers deployed in the area, while nearby roads were temporarily closed because of the large gatherings. Authorities also restored mobile internet services around Jantar Mantar after restrictions that had been in place for most of the week.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed the minister's resignation but called for accountability over the police response to the protests and urged Prime Minister Modi to apologize for the use of force against students.

Pradhan, who had served as education minister since 2021, became only the second federal minister to resign during Prime Minister Modi's tenure following a major public controversy. The NEET protests have highlighted growing concerns among many young Indians about fairness in public examinations, government transparency and future employment opportunities.