Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid weeks of nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, marking a major political development in the examination controversy. Pradhan said he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the larger interest of students and national unity. His announcement follows sustained demonstrations demanding accountability and greater transparency in examinations. Protest activity reportedly continued after the announcement, indicating that the resignation may not immediately resolve broader demands concerning the integrity of India's competitive examination system.
Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns After Weeks of Massive Student Protests Over NEET Paper Leak
Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education Minister, has resigned after weeks of nationwide protests against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. He said in his resignation letter that the decision was taken in the interest of the students and to safeguard national unity.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes as a significant political development after weeks of nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The Union Education Minister on Saturday said that he had sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was forced to do so due to the raging unrest and need to protect the future of the students.
In a letter to his “young friends”, Pradhan said that the situation at Jantar Mantar as well as across the country had reached a point where he felt it was in the larger public interest to resign. He said his decision was motivated by a desire to keep students focused on education and not mired in long legal or political battles.
He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing him to serve the country. Pradhan said he remained committed to education reforms, adding that his more than four decades of service to students, teachers and the education sector had been his life's mission.
Dharmendra Pradhan cites student welfare and national unity
In his resignation letter, Dharmendra Pradhan said he wanted to stop what he called “anti-national forces” from taking advantage of the situation. He said his decision was driven by the need to protect students' careers, preserve national unity, and ensure that anti-national forces did not exploit the ongoing unrest.
Pradhan said India's youth was the country's greatest strength and deserved an education system that was fair, transparent and merit-based. He added that young people should focus on preparing for their future rather than dealing with uncertainty around examinations.
He resigned after weeks of protests demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Student groups and protesters had gathered at Jantar Mantar, where the demonstrations continued even after the announcement.
Fresh clashes were also reported from the protest site and incidents of use of tear gas and stone-pelting during confrontations. Dipke and other protest leaders CJP promised to continue the demonstrations until all their demands were met.
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Government response after the NEET-UG 2026 controversy
Pradhan said in his letter that the government acted immediately after the irregularities in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026, came to light. He said the Government of India handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
He said the government had cancelled the examination, announced a new date for the re-examination, and decided that from next year the test would be conducted entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode to increase transparency and minimise the risk of future irregularities.
Pradhan said he had taken responsibility from the beginning of the controversy and was determined that deserving students should not be affected by what he called an examination mafia. He added that genuine candidates should not be deprived of opportunities because of alleged misconduct by others.
Referring to the NEET-UG results declared on July 16, Pradhan said many meritorious students, including those from economically weaker sections, had performed well. He added that the government remained committed to protecting deserving students throughout the process.
Resignation letter criticises attempts to mislead students
In another part of his letter, Pradhan said that some people in responsible positions had tried to mislead students during the controversy. However, he did not name any individuals, adding that such actions had deeply disappointed him.
Pradhan said the events of the past ten days had deeply saddened him, but maintained that the issue was never about his personal reputation. He added that his priority had always been to protect the interests of India's young people.
The NEET paper leak controversy is being investigated, and the CBI is still probing the alleged irregularities. As the political and legal process moves forward, attention will now focus on the implementation of examination reforms and the government's next steps. Sprouts News will continue to monitor verified developments surrounding the investigation, education reforms, and the impact on students across the country.
