India education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid student protests

India education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid student protests

India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, following weeks of nationwide demonstrations sparked by alleged leaks in competitive entrance exams and broader systemic irregularities. The resignation was announced by Pradhan via a post on X, representing the first major concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to a significant wave of public dissent.

The protests were spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical movement that takes its name from a comment made by the chief justice of India's Supreme Court, who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. The CJP declared the resignation a victory for democracy.

The unrest began in June after reports emerged of paper leaks in high-stakes entrance tests, specifically the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. According to reports, around 2 million students were affected by these leaks, which have been linked to several student suicides. While the government handed the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and set a re-examination date for June 21, 2026, protesters argued these steps did not address government accountability.

In a letter to students, Pradhan stated that he had spent more than four decades associated with education reform and expressed his belief that a visionary education system is the foundation of a strong nation. He noted that the NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory and that many students from underprivileged backgrounds succeeded. However, he wrote that he decided to resign to ensure the unity of the nation and to prevent anti-national forces from taking advantage of the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country.

The movement, which began as a call for education reforms, evolved into a broader protest against unemployment, economic opportunity and corruption. Demonstrations occurred in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. In New Delhi, protesters used placards featuring portraits of Prime Minister Modi; one depicted the leader in a saree, while another bore the text, Can’t See Your Democracy, My Lashes are Too Long.

Tensions reached a peak on Monday, when police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse thousands of protesters attempting to march toward Parliament, resulting in injuries to several students. On Saturday, the day of the resignation, authorities restricted internet access and closed 18 metro stations in New Delhi to limit the scale of the protests. Even as Pradhan announced his departure, police were reported to be firing tear gas to scatter crowds.

The resignation followed a Friday meeting between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party and Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Following those talks, the CJP stated the government had requested one day to decide on Pradhan's resignation.

"We have done it. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. And this resignation is proof that if you people are not afraid, if you people do not bow down to this government, then we can take the resignation of anyone."

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, via Yahoo News

Despite the resignation, movement leaders say the campaign will continue. Future demands include compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the exam leaks and legal action against police officers accused of using excessive force during the crackdowns.

Pradhan, 57, is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and had been viewed as a rising figure within the party. The government has previously attempted to mitigate the crisis by announcing fast-track courts for exam leak cases and proposing new legislation to strengthen measures against cheating.