From Student Leader To Ouster Over Students’ Protest: Highs & Lows of Dharmendra Pradhan’s Tenure

Published 25 July 2026 · india

From Student Leader To Ouster Over Students’ Protest: Highs & Lows of Dharmendra Pradhan’s Tenure Published By, Last Updated: July 25, 2026, 14:54 IST Timeline

From Student Leader To Ouster Over Students’ Protest: Highs & Lows of Dharmendra Pradhan’s Tenure Published By, Last Updated: July 25, 2026, 14:54 IST Timeline explained: Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure as Education Minister began in 2021 and was defined by national policy reforms alongside controversies concerning testing ecosystem Rapid Read Dharmendra Pradhan. (PTI File) Dharmendra Pradhan was on Saturday forced to quit as the Union Minister of Education following the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest over the NEET paper leaks. His tenure as Education Minister began in July 2021 and was defined by the ambitious rollout of major national policy reforms alongside severe administrative controversies concerning the testing ecosystem. Pradhan’s entire political career is rooted in student activism, a background that has drawn intense media comparisons during recent national testing crises. Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure as India’s Union Minister of Education spanned two consecutive terms under the Narendra Modi administration, marked by rapid policy implementation and intense systemic testing crises. Phase 1: Modi 2.0 Cabinet (July 2021 – June 2024) July 2021 (The Appointment): Appointed as Union Minister of Education in a major Cabinet reshuffle, succeeding Ramesh Pokhriyal. He concurrently retained the Ministry of Skill Development to structurally merge education and employment goals. 2022 (NEP 2020 Rollout): Spearheaded the grassroots implementation of the Education Policy (NEP) 2020 across central and state-run institutions.

He launched the Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) to overhaul early childhood learning. September 2022 (PM SHRI Launch): Launched the PM SHRI Schools initiative to convert 14,500 existing government schools into smart, tech-driven model institutions demonstrating the NEP curriculum. Late 2023 (NTA Reforms Initiated): Appointed a high-level committee led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan to suggest institutional and technological reforms for the Testing Agency (NTA) amid early administrative friction. May 2024 (NEET-UG Malpractice Under Scrutiny): Confronted severe political and legal backlash regarding paper leaks and arbitrary grace marks during the May 2024 NEET-UG exam. The Supreme Court ruled out large-scale systemic leakages but mandated stricter regulatory accountability. Phase 2: Modi 3.0 Cabinet (June 2024 – Present) June 10, 2024 (Reappointment): Following the 2024 general elections, he won the Lok Sabha seat from Sambalpur, Odisha, and was reinstated to officially assume charge as the Education Minister for a second term. July 2024 (Digital Overhaul): Championed expansion protocols for AI-driven multilingual education tools, integrating regional languages into core STEM textbooks and digital learning platforms. Mid-2026 (The NTA Crisis Escalation): Faced a massive political gridlock following fresh leaks and the subsequent cancellation of the May 2026 NEET-UG cycle. This triggered violent, youth-led blockades at Jantar Mantar and coordinated student hunger strikes. July 22, 2026 (State Ministers Conclave): Presided over a high-profile Conclave of State and UT Education Ministers to lay out the upcoming expansion of Samagra Shiksha 3.0 and NIPUN Bharat 2.0.