After a month-long massive student agitation in Delhi seeking his resignation over exam irregularities and NEET paper leaks, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. Pradhan sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
He announced the move on his X handle just hours before the third round of talks between the Cockroach Janta Party and the Centre.
Pradhan’s resignation was the main demand of the protesters camping at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for over a month.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
The talks between the CJP and the Centre were deadlocked over the demand for Pradhan’s resignation. On Saturday morning, the CJP had made it clear that there can be no discussions if government refuses to sack Dharmendra Pradhan.
The key demands put forth by the protesters were:
- Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
- No legal action against the student protesters, and
- Compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after NEET paper leak.
The Centre had assured the CJP on the latter two demands during the Friday, but had remained silent on the resignation demand.
In his X post announcing his resignation Pradhan said: “I hold deep respect for the aspirations, sentiments, and rightful expectations of the youth of this country. Realising the dreams of India’s young generation has been the moral resolve of our political and social life. I express my gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister for the opportunity given to me to serve the nation under his visionary leadership.”
“It is my resolve that we will not allow the youth power of the country to be trapped in a web of confusion,” Pradhan added.
“Keeping in mind that anti-national forces should not take advantage of the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the unity of the nation remains intact, that the future of even a single student of India does not get entangled in legal complications, and that our children devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers — I have submitted my resignation to Hon’ble Prime Minister.
The protest site at Jantar Mantar erupted in celebration the moment news of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation arrived.
Reacting to the news of resignation, the CJP posted: “Long Live Student Power.”
“We have done it,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said, announcing the news of Pradhan’s resignation from the Jantar Mantar stage.
“They used to say that no one resigns in this government. But we have done it.”
The student protests, which have spread of dozens of cities across the country in the last few days, had become a big political issue with the Opposition throwing its weight behind the movement and cornering the government.
