After weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday resigned from the post of Union Education Minister, saying he was doing so to prevent the ongoing controversy over the NEET-UG examination “from harming the future of students” and to ensure that “anti-national forces do not take advantage of the situation”.
In a message in Hindi addressed to the country’s youth and published on the X website, Pradhan said he took moral responsibility for the developments surrounding the medical entrance exam while defending the government’s handling of the crisis.
“From day one, I accepted responsibility and never backed down from this situation,” Pradhan wrote. He said that as soon as irregularities were discovered in the NEET-UG exam conducted on May 3, 2026, the Narendra Modi government immediately transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), canceled the exam, announced and conducted a new exam. The re-examination conducted on June 21 was successfully conducted through a “whole-of-government approach”, involving the Centre, state governments and district administrations, the former minister said.
“An attempt to mislead”
At the same time, he claimed that “individuals in responsible positions” attempted to mislead students during the controversy, saying those efforts caused him “profound suffering.”
He did not identify any individuals or organisations, although he attacked opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the past few days.
Pradhan said that the events of the past ten days saddened him, but stressed that the issue was “not a matter of personal prestige.”
Instead, he said his decision came out of the need to protect students and preserve national unity.
“In view of the situation that has arisen in Jantar Mantar and across the country, and to ensure that anti-national forces do not take advantage of it, that the unity of the country remains intact, that the future of a single student does not get entangled in legal complications, and that our children devote their time to study and build their careers, I have tendered my resignation to the honorable Prime Minister,” he wrote. He called for not allowing young people to fall into the “trap of misinformation and confusion.”
The full text of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, as translated from the Indian publication X
My young friends,
For more than four decades, I have remained loyal as a student and teacher and to the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, comprehensive and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation.
I have always deeply respected the aspirations, feelings and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth. Fulfilling the dreams of India’s young generation has been a moral obligation throughout our political and social life. I express my gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation under his wise leadership.
However, irregularities were revealed in the NEET-UG exam held on May 3, 2026. The Government of India immediately took note of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, canceled the exam and announced a new date for the re-examination. It has also been decided that from next year onwards, the exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
During this period, our top priority was to ensure the smooth running of exams for more than 20,000 students. We have worked on a whole-of-government approach. Besides the Government of India, state governments, especially district administrations, played an important role. With the cooperation of students, parents and guardians, the examination was successfully completed on June 21, 2026.
From day one, I took responsibility and never backed down. My resolve was that we would not allow the prospects of any meritorious student to be ruined by the examination mafia, nor would we allow injustice to be done to any student.
The NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory, with several meritorious students from poor backgrounds also achieving success.
But even during this period, people in responsible positions tried to create obstacles by misleading the students, which caused me deep pain.
I have always had an unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and have always respected the aspirations, dreams and expectations of our young people. Not only do they represent India’s future, they are also the torchbearers, builders and architects of a new and progressive India.
The developments of the past ten days have saddened me greatly. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.
India’s youth are the country’s greatest strength.
I am determined not to allow the country’s youth to fall into the vicious cycle of confusion and misinformation.
Considering the situation that has arisen in Jantar Mantar and across the country, to ensure that anti-national forces do not take advantage of it, that the unity of the country remains intact, that the future of a single student is not entangled in legal complications, and to ensure that our children devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers, I have tendered my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
I express my sincere gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister for his guidance, trust and continued support. I also thank all my distinguished colleagues in the Council of Ministers, the Ministry’s officials and employees, and everyone I had the honor of working with.
Serving the nation is the top priority in my life. I will always be devoted to her.
With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, I will continue to devote myself in all possible ways to fulfill the aspirations of Mother India, the people of Odisha and the youth of the country.
for you,
Dharmendra Pradhan
