Indian Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns
India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday.
Announcing that he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan stated he made this decision to prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the situation created by ongoing protests over exam irregularities.
In his resignation letter shared on the social media platform X, Pradhan wrote: "The situation arising at Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country must not be exploited by anti-national forces. The unity of the nation must remain intact. The future of every student in India should not get entangled in legal complexities."
He further added, "Keeping all these aspects in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honorable Prime Minister."
Pradhan's resignation comes amid nationwide protests against examination irregularities and follows a 26-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar led by social activist Sonam Wangchuk.
He mentioned that he has always had unwavering faith in India’s democracy and holds deep respect for the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the younger generation.
Expressing deep sadness over the events of the past 10 days, he said, "This is not a matter of my personal prestige. India's youth power is the real strength of the country. It is my firm resolve not to let the country's youth fall into a vicious cycle of confusion and delusion."
Defending the government's actions regarding the NEET-UG exam controversy, Pradhan noted that following irregularities found in the exam conducted on May 3, 2026, the Central Government handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), canceled the exam, and conducted a re-examination.
He said, "From day one, I took responsibility for this situation and never backed down. My goal was to ensure that no justice was denied to the future of any eligible student."
According to Pradhan, the re-examination—involving over 20 million students—was successfully conducted on June 21 with the cooperation of state governments, district administrations, students, parents, and stakeholders.
He also announced that starting next year, the examination will be conducted entirely through a computer-based testing system.
Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan stated that serving the nation will remain the highest priority of his life.
Meanwhile, the Government of India is preparing to introduce strict legislation to prevent question paper leaks across the country. (ANI)
