New Delhi/Patna: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
Pradhan shared his decision on social media platform X, saying he respected the aspirations and expectations of India’s youth and had taken responsibility for the developments surrounding the examination process.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
Pradhan Cites NEET-UG Irregularities
In his resignation letter, Pradhan referred to alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. He said the government handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelled the examination, and announced a re-examination process.
He said the government’s priority was ensuring a fair examination process for more than 20 lakh candidates and that the re-examination was conducted with the cooperation of central and state authorities.
Pradhan said the NEET-UG examination was later conducted on June 21, 2026, and the results were declared on July 16. He stated that several students from underprivileged backgrounds also secured success.
Student Protests Over Examination Row
The resignation comes amid continued student protests in Delhi and other parts of the country over alleged examination irregularities. Student groups had been demanding accountability from the Education Ministry and calling for Pradhan’s resignation.
A Bihar Bandh was also called by student organisations on July 25 over issues linked to the examination system and alleged paper leaks.
Minister Says He Will Continue Public Service
In his statement, Pradhan said the issue was not about personal prestige and that his decision was aimed at ensuring students were able to focus on their education and careers.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Council of Ministers, officials of the Education Ministry, and others who worked with him during his tenure.
Pradhan said he would continue working towards the aspirations of the youth and the country.
