Dharmendra Pradhan resigns: Education Minister sends resignation letter to PM Modi amid CJP protests due to NEET paper leak

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation amid mounting political and public pressure over the alleged National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy and calls for institutional accountability.

The resignation followed weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had made Pradhan's resignation one of its central demands, alleging that the Centre failed to adequately address concerns over alleged irregularities in NEET and broader issues affecting students.

Also read: Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as education minister amid CJP protests. Here's what he said in his letter

Pradhan says resignation meant to protect students, democracy

In a resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared on X, Pradhan said the developments of the past 10 days had "saddened" him, stressing that the issue was "not about my personal reputation" but about safeguarding the interests of the country's youth.

"I have always had unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and have deeply respected the aspirations, dreams and expectations of the youth. They are not only the future of India but also the builders of a new and developed India," he wrote.


Pradhan said his decision was guided by the need to ensure that "the energy of the nation's youth should not be trapped in a web of confusion". Referring to the protests at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere, he said the situation "should not be exploited by anti-national forces", adding that "the unity of the country must remain intact" and "no student of India should get entangled in legal complications".

"Keeping this in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister," he wrote.

The outgoing minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "guidance, trust and continuous support", along with his Cabinet colleagues, ministry officials and employees. He said serving the nation had "always been the highest priority" of his life and pledged to continue working for the aspirations of the people of Odisha and the youth of the country.

Also read: 'Long live student power': CJP celebrates Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

CJP hails resignation as 'student power' victory

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had spearheaded weeks of demonstrations demanding Pradhan's resignation, welcomed the development, describing it as a victory for student-led protests.

Reacting to Pradhan's announcement, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the resignation showed that sustained public pressure could force political accountability.

"Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. This is the proof that if you don't get scared, if you don't bow down in front of this government, you can take anyone's resignation. Don't be scared in democracy," Dipke said.

In a separate post, the party wrote: "The Education Minister has submitted his resignation. Long live Student Power!"

A CJP-led movement

Having staged demonstrations since early June, the movement reached a major flashpoint on July 20, when thousands of students and young professionals assembled at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, under the banner of the CJP, for a planned march to Parliament.

The protest, which organisers described as one of the largest youth-led demonstrations in recent years, centred on demands for greater accountability in the education system, stern action against those responsible for alleged examination irregularities and Pradhan's resignation as education minister.

In the days that followed, the demonstrations expanded beyond the capital, with protests and solidarity marches reported in several cities including Mumbai. The agitation also witnessed confrontations with police, detentions of protesters and appeals by CJP leaders for supporters to maintain peaceful demonstrations.

The protests drew their immediate trigger from allegations surrounding the conduct of NEET, one of the country's largest entrance examinations for undergraduate medical admissions.

Concerns over alleged paper leaks, irregularities and the integrity of the examination process had sparked nationwide outrage among students and parents, prompting multiple investigations by central agencies and legal scrutiny.

Modi vows 'strictest' punishment for NEET irregularities

On July 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said those responsible for compromising the sanctity of public examinations would face the "strictest punishment", while assuring students that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring accountability.

The Prime Minister's remarks were conveyed via Kiren Rijiju following NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on July 21.

The wider movement also brought renewed attention to other youth-centric issues.

The movement gained further momentum after education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation, launching an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students’ demand demanding Pradhan's resignation over the. His deteriorating health, subsequent hospitalisation, and repeated appeals by CJP leaders for him to end his fast drew nationwide attention to the protests, even as the organisation vowed to continue the movement until its demands were met.

As the protests intensified, Opposition parties extended varying degrees of support to the movement, while the government maintained that investigations into the alleged NEET irregularities were progressing and that anyone found guilty would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

Over the course of the agitation, the CJP maintained that its campaign was not confined to the NEET controversy alone, but represented a broader push for institutional accountability and greater responsiveness to issues affecting India's young population.