Dharmendra Pradhan, in a post on X on Saturday (July 25, 2026), announced that he has tendered his resignation from the post of Union Education Minister.

Mr. Pradhan’s resignation comes amid Cockroach Janta Party-led protests at the Jantar Mantar, demanding his accountability over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking process, besides seeking wider reforms in the conduct of public examinations.

In a letter posted to X, Mr. Pradhan stated that in over to avoid “anti-national forces” from exploiting the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the nation, and “so that the unity of the country remains intact, so that the future of no student in India gets tangled in legal complexities, and so that our children spend their time studying and focusing on building their careers,” he has decided to quit from his position.

Jantar Mantar protest updates on July 25, 2026

“Keeping all of this in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the honourable Prime Minister,” Mr. Pradhan’s letter read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to provide any public comment on this.

“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for his guidance, trust, and constant support. I also extend my thanks to all my esteemed colleagues in the Council of Ministers, officials, and staff of the Ministry, as well as everyone I had the privilege to work alongside. Service to the nation remains the highest priority of my life, and I shall always stay dedicated to it,” Mr. Pradhan added.

Mr. Pradhan began his letter addressing the “young friends.” He noted that “for over four decades, I have been dedicated to students, teachers, and education reform. It has always been my firm belief that an empowered, inclusive, and forward-looking education system forms the bedrock of a strong nation.”

He went on to note that after irregularities came to light during the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026, the Government took immediate cognisance, and “handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and announced a new date for reexamination.”

“Additionally, it was decided that from next year onwards, this exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode.”

“During this period, our utmost priority was ensuring that the exam for over 20 lakh students was conducted smoothly,” Mr. Pradhan said adding that with the cooperation of students, guardians, and parents, the exam was successfully completed on June 21, 2026.

“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned my back on the situation. My resolve was that we will not let the future of any meritorious student be ruined by exam mafias, nor will we allow injustice to happen to any student.”

“However, even during this time, individuals sitting in responsible positions attempted to mislead students and cause disruptions, which pained me deeply,” Mr. Pradhan said, likely referring to Opposition leaders.

“With the blessings of Lord Jagannath ji, I will continue to dedicate myself in every possible way to serving Mother India, the people of Odisha, and fulfilling the aspirations of the country’s youth in the future,” Mr. Pradhan concluded.

Jubilation at Jantar Mantar protest site

Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party’s Abhijeet Dipke declared victory at the Jantar Mantar protest site, conveying the news of Mr. Pradhan’s resignation to the protesters.

“We have done it! Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned!” Mr. Dipke told a jubilant crowd.