Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Row; Pralhad Joshi Takes Charge

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, July 25, 2026, taking moral responsibility for the NEET-UG exam paper leak scandal that occurred in May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed receiving constructive feedback from students, while senior BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, defended Pradhan's record. Following his exit, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Pralhad Joshi as the new Union Education Minister, who will also retain his current portfolios in Consumer Affairs and Renewable Energy.

The high-profile resignation marks a historic victory for the Cockroach Janta Party, a Gen-Z activist group led by Abhijeet Dipke that organized 36 days of protests at Jantar Mantar. The movement's unique name derived from a controversial comment by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on May 15 regarding fake degree holders. Demonstrations turned volatile as three police officers, including Special Commissioner Anil Shukla, were injured during stone-pelting, prompting security forces to use tear gas and a mild lathicharge. Rapid Action Force IG Seema Dhundhia later admitted to misuse of power and banned pellet guns and electric shock weapons during the capital agitations.

The Centre agreed to accept a five-point charter of demands, including the withdrawal of police cases against student demonstrators and financial compensation for families of students who died by suicide. Concurrently, the government is preparing to introduce the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Bill in the Lok Sabha, which proposes fast-track courts and heavy penalties for organized syndicates. Cockroach Janta Party national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka announced the official withdrawal of all protests following the settlement.