New Delhi: Dharmendra Pradhan The Union Education Minister on Saturday resigned from the post of Union Education Minister, taking moral responsibility for the NEET-UG paper leak controversy that has rocked the country’s examination system, sparked massive student protests and triggered a political confrontation.In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said he has dedicated more than four decades to the cause of students, teachers and education reforms. He said that after irregularities came to light in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, the government had taken immediate action, ordering the cancellation of the examination. CBI Investigate and decide to conduct fresh examination. He also said that the examination will be conducted in computer-based mode from next year.
cjp jantar mantar protest update
Pradhan said that from day one he had tried to ensure that no meritorious student faced problems due to the examination mafia. He said he was saddened by the unrest at Jantar Mantar and across the country and was resigning to prevent anti-national forces from taking advantage of the situation and to protect the unity of the country.Read this also Dharmendra Pradhan resigns from the post of Union Education Minister amid massive protests by studentsThe Odisha-born BJP leader had served as the Education Minister since 2021 and was reappointed after the BJP’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Cockroach Janata Party chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party has been called for the third round of talks and talks will continue until a written commitment is made. He described the expected result as a ‘big victory’.Click here to follow live blog updates Here are the major incidents that led to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation:
The leak sparked outrage
The crisis started after allegations of paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3. Investigators later said that a question set described as a ‘guess paper’ was circulated among students a few weeks before the exam and many of the questions closely resembled the actual paper.The National Testing Agency canceled the examination on 12 May and the government referred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a full investigation. The exam, which is used for admission to undergraduate medical and dentistry courses, was taken by around 22.79 lakh students. Cancellation marks the first complete termination NEET In its 13 year history.Read this also WATCH: CJP’s Abhijeet Dubke collapses on stage after being told Dharmendra Pradhan has resignedThe government later announced that the re-examination would be held on June 21 and no fresh registration would be required. It also said that the fees already paid will be refunded and the exam will be shifted to online mode from 2027.
CBI expanded the scope of investigation
The CBI swiftly stepped up its investigation, conducting searches at dozens of locations across multiple states and locating the alleged source of the leaked physics, chemistry and biology questions. The agency said it has identified a network of accused persons, coaching links and middlemen involved in circulating the questions.Those arrested included Dr Manoj Shirure, a doctor from Latur, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics faculty member from Pune. Investigators said Dr Shirure helped three students access the leaked chemistry questions, while Shah allegedly forwarded physics questions obtained from another accused who was already in custody.
Earlier, the CBI had also arrested chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni, whom it said was a key figure in the leak. The agency said he had conducted special coaching sessions at his residence in Pune, where questions and answers were fixed and later matched with the actual NEET paper.
protest movement grows
The examination controversy soon became a major student movement. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a satirical youth-led campaign, launched a protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 June, demanding Pradhan’s resignation and accountability over the paper leak and other examination irregularities.The movement gained momentum after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and started an indefinite hunger strike. His deteriorating health attracted widespread attention on social media and his subsequent hospitalization further fueled public anger. Ultimately, after receiving written assurance from the government, he ended his 26-day hunger strike.CJP said that the agitation will continue till Pradhan resigns. Its leaders also demanded compensation for the families of students who died by suicide, withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters and a written guarantee that no such cases would be registered in future.
Center changed strategy
The Centre’s response changed over time. At first, many BJP leaders rejected the protest, but later the government initiated talks and announced several measures to calm the situation.PM Modi said paper leaks are not an ordinary matter and announced fast-track courts to ensure speedy punishment for those involved. He also said that the government has worked to ensure that an academic year of about 22 lakh students is not wasted.The Union Cabinet later approved amendments to the anti-paper-leak law, proposing a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine of up to Rs 10 crore and above as minimum punishment. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the bill will be brought in Parliament soon.At the same time, the National Testing Agency began a major internal overhaul, dismissing 47 officials and recruiting new personnel in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and testing-center operations. Officials said the changes are aimed at restoring confidence and tightening exam security.
Deadlock continues in talks
Even as the government expanded its response, its talks with the CJP remained unresolved. The second round of discussions between Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh and CJP representatives ended without any breakthrough. The CJP said the Center has sought time till Saturday afternoon to respond to its main demand of Pradhan’s resignation.The group said the other two major demands, compensation for the bereaved families and withdrawal of cases against peaceful protesters, have been accepted in principle. But it insisted that any further meetings should be held at a neutral venue, such as the Constitution Club of India, rather than at a minister’s residence.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi repeated his attack on the government, accusing Pradhan of presiding over the collapse of the education system. He also joined in paying tribute to students who committed suicide due to disputes with opposition leaders and accused the Center of using force against peaceful protesters.
Opposition increased pressure
As protests spread across the country, opposition parties stepped up demands for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, accusing the Center of failing to protect the integrity of competitive exams. Parliament witnessed repeated disruptions as India Bloc MPs insisted that the education minister step down before any discussion could begin on the NEET controversy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emerged as one of the strongest critics of the government, calling Pradhan a ‘symbol of the decline of our education system’ and saying, “He has to go.” He also said that the students were making three major demands: removal of the Education Minister, action against those responsible for the alleged use of pellet guns and lathi charge on protesters and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the affected youth.The opposition also organized protests and candlelight marches to show solidarity with students and families affected by the alleged paper leak and exam-related suicides. Rahul Gandhi later brought to the media a protester whom he claimed was injured by a pellet gun during the Jantar Mantar protest, alleging that the government had falsely denied the use of pellet guns against the protesters. Gandhi accused the Center of attacking the future of the country’s youth instead of addressing their concerns, saying, “Their eye has been damaged and they have lost their vision.”
Court and Parliament
The Supreme Court agreed to hear petitions over alleged excessive police action against protesters. The court also clarified that reports that it has refused to hear the case are false.Parliament was also repeatedly disrupted as opposition MPs pressed for Pradhan’s resignation before any debate could begin. The government said it was ready for discussions without any preconditions and accused the opposition of blocking parliamentary proceedings.Meanwhile, Delhi Police warned that passports of those directly involved in violence during protests could be cancelled. The warning comes after clashes near Jantar Mantar in which several policemen and protesters were injured.
what does resignation mean
Pradhan’s resignation is the biggest political fallout of the NEET controversy so far. It is the result of weeks of criticism over repeated exam irregularities, its handling of protests and the government’s initial response, which opponents described as too slow and dismissive.The CBI investigation into the alleged leak has spread to several states, with arrests and searches conducted in several cities. The case has also prompted the government to enact a strict anti-paper leak law, while the National Testing Agency has initiated massive changes in its staff and security arrangements.
