Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Row; Protests End

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, 2026, taking moral responsibility for the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET-UG exam irregularities and paper leaks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed receiving constructive feedback from students, while the government prepares to introduce a stringent anti-cheating bill in the Lok Sabha. The high-profile exit marks a major turning point in the national response to testing scandals that have affected millions of medical aspirants across India.

The resignation stands as a significant victory for the Cockroach Janta Party, a Gen-Z activist group led by Abhijeet Dipke that coordinated weeks of protests at Jantar Mandar. Tensions peaked when the Rapid Action Force used excessive force against demonstrators; Rapid Action Force Inspector General Seema Dhundhia later admitted to the misuse of power and banned pellet guns and electric shock weapons during capital agitations. Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike, and police in Assam arrested six Students' Federation of India members for holding solidarity rallies.

The upcoming Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Bill proposes fast-track courts, Special Task Forces, and harsh penalties including heavy fines and long-term imprisonment for organized syndicates. Cockroach Janta Party national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka announced the withdrawal of all demonstrations after the Centre accepted a five-point charter of demands, including quashing First Information Reports against students. The administration must now appoint a successor and overhaul the National Testing Agency to restore trust in the merit-based selection process.