- Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister.
- Resignation follows nationwide protests over NEET paper leak.
- Cited national unity and student welfare as reasons.
NEET Paper Leak Row: Amid the ongoing nationwide protests over the paper leak, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced his resignation. While sharing his resignation letter in a post on X, Pradhan informed that he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan further stated that the recent developments had affected him, adding that the issue was not a matter of personal reputation.
'Tendered My Resigntsion To PM'
"To ensure that anti-national elements are not benefitted by the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the nation remains united, students in India do not get tangled in legal complexities and focus on their studies and their career, I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister," Pradhan's letter read.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
"The developments of the past ten days have saddened me. This is not a matter of my personal reputation. The youth of India are the nation's greatest strength. It is my resolve that our young people must not fall into the trap of misinformation and confusion," he added.
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Students Must Focus On Studies: Pradhan
Pradhan further suggested the students to focus on their studies and stay away from those trying to mislead and divert them.
CJP Protest At Jantar Mantar
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led students have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar for the past one month. The protest was joined by renowned educationist and scientist Sonam Wangchuk, who went on a hunger strike for 26 days. While he ended his hunger strike earlier on Friday, the protest at Jantar Mantar continued, building pressure on the centre.
Opposition MPs Pressure
Apart from this, the opposition parties, including Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) insisted on the demands of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation in the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament. While the government had agreed to have a discussion on the paper leak, the opposition leaders asked for the resignation first.
With Pradhan's resignation, the intensified protests across the nation, especially in Delhi, Bihar, and West Bengal is likely to de-escalate in the coming hours.