India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his position following weeks of large-scale youth-led protests over alleged irregularities and paper leaks linked to major entrance examinations. His resignation is being seen as a major victory for the protesters, who had been demanding that he take responsibility for the crisis.
The demonstrations were largely led by the newly formed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which emerged as a youth movement and quickly gained support across the country. Protesters gathered in large numbers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other locations, calling for accountability and reforms in India’s examination system.
The controversy intensified after alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination affected millions of students. The protests grew into a wider youth movement, with opposition parties also backing calls for accountability. Clashes between protesters and police, including the use of tear gas and baton charges, further increased tensions.
Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, saying that he respected the aspirations and expectations of the country’s youth. He submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the protests continued to put pressure on the government.
The resignation comes shortly before another planned meeting between CJP representatives and government ministers. Protesters celebrated the development as a significant achievement, while the wider movement has also raised concerns about examination reforms, government accountability and the future of millions of Indian students.
