Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, CJP highlights three pending demands

Home India News Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, CJP highlights three pending demands

Pradhan said the NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory and that many meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds had succeeded in the examination. He also said that, during this period, people in responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students, which he said caused him deep pain. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday (July 25) said he has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the decision was taken to ensure the country’s youth do not remain caught in uncertainty and that no student’s future becomes entangled in legal complexities following the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 examination controversy.

Pradhan’s resignation was a non-negotiable demand from students protesting across many of India’s top cities, most prominent of which was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. CJP’s Demand Rooster Has Been Updated:

Dharmedra Pradhan must resign – ✅

2. Rs 1 Cr to the families of all students who died by suicide – Pending

3. No action against any of the student protesters – Pending

4. ⁠Public Apology From RAF & Delhi Police – Pending

Jantar Mantar…

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 25, 2026

The protests, which found momentum with the Ladakh-based educationist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, demanded accountability for the paper leak (which led to at least 20 suicides) in the medical entrance test, irregularities in the on-screen marking process of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), besides wider reforms in the conduct of public examinations. New Delhi: Security personnel stop Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) supporters as they raise slogans during a protest march, at Sansad Marg, in New Delhi, Monday, July 20, 2026. Delhi Police is on high alert ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and CJP’s proposed “Chalo Sansad” march on Monday. (PTI Photo/Salman Ali)(PTI07_20_2026_000500B) *** Local Caption ***
In his statement, the outgoing Education Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve the country and for his guidance, trust and continued support.

“Considering that anti-national forces should not take advantage of the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the unity of the nation remains intact, that the future of no student in India gets entangled in legal complexities, and that our children invest their time in studying and focusing on building their careers—with these thoughts in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honorable Prime Minister,” Pradhan added. “Accountability does not end with a resignation. The deeper failures that brought us here must now be addressed through transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and a commitment to ensuring that no young Indian’s future is jeopardised again,” Shashi Tharoor, a leader from the rival Congress party, said in a post reacting to Pradhan’s resignation on Saturday. ALSO READ | ‘Don’t insult intelligence of students’: Rahul Gandhi to PM Narendra Modi after his video message

First Published:

Jul 25, 2026 2:35 PM