Dharmendra Pradhan Tenders Resignation Amid NEET Student Protests

New Delhi, 25th July 2026: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid continuing student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar had made Pradhan’s resignation one of their principal demands.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Pradhan said he had dedicated more than four decades to students, teachers and educational reform. He emphasised that a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system was essential to building a strong nation.

Pradhan said he deeply respected the aspirations and legitimate expectations of India’s young people. He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve the country.

Referring to the controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026, Pradhan said irregularities had emerged in the examination conducted on May 3. The government subsequently handed the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, cancelled the examination and announced a re-examination for June 21. Official records confirm that the CBI registered a case over the alleged irregularities and that the re-examination was conducted on June 21.

Pradhan said the government’s priority had been to ensure that the examination was conducted smoothly and fairly for nearly 20 lakh candidates. The National Testing Agency said close to 20 lakh students appeared at 5,440 centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 cities abroad. The results, announced on July 16, showed that 11.21 lakh candidates had qualified.

The government has also announced that NEET-UG will move from the pen-and-paper format to a computer-based test from 2027 as part of efforts to improve examination security.

Pradhan said he had accepted responsibility for the situation from the beginning and had never attempted to avoid accountability. He maintained that his objective was to ensure that no deserving student’s future was damaged by examination-related malpractice.

Explaining his decision, Pradhan said he did not want the situation at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country to be exploited by disruptive forces. He added that students should be able to focus on their studies and careers rather than become entangled in protests and legal proceedings.

Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Modi for his guidance and support. He also expressed gratitude to his Cabinet colleagues, ministry officials, employees and others with whom he had worked. He pledged to remain committed to serving India, the people of Odisha and the country’s youth.