TNI Bureau: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, taking moral responsibility following intense nationwide student protests over irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
The protests escalated over the past week after reports of a paper leak and other malpractices surfaced in multiple states.
Student organizations and opposition parties to hold demonstrations demanding accountability from the Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency.
The NEET paper leak controversy had triggered protests in Delhi, Patna, Lucknow, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bhubaneswar and several other cities, with students demanding transparency and strict action against those responsible.
With protests intensifying, Pradhan stepped down taking moral responsibility.
In an open letter addressed to the nation’s youth, Pradhan—who highlighted his four decades of service to students, teachers, and education reform—stated that he took the step to ensure students’ futures are not entangled in legal issues or social unrest, and to prevent “anti-national forces” from misguiding the nation’s youth.
Addressing the irregularities detected in the May 3, 2026 examination, he noted that the government acted swiftly by transferring the investigation to the CBI, cancelling the original test, announcing a re-examination, and deciding to transition NEET-UG to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode starting next year. The re-examination for over 20 lakh candidates was successfully conducted on June 21, 2026, using a “whole-of-government approach” alongside state and district administrations, leading to satisfactory results declared on July 16 that benefited many deserving, underprivileged students.
Taking full responsibility from day one to protect students from the “exam mafia,” Dharmendra expressed deep pain over recent misleading narratives and demonstrations across the country. Concluding his statement, he extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister, cabinet colleagues, and officials, while pledging his continued commitment to the welfare of the youth, the people of Odisha, and the nation.
