Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Full letter here
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation amid protests over the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy, saying he stepped down to ensure
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation amid protests over the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy, saying he stepped down to ensure that students' futures were not affected and the situation at Jantar Mantar was not exploited by "anti-national forces".In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he had always remained committed to students, teachers and education reforms, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance and support.ALSO READ | Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns: Education Minister sends resignation letter to PM Modi amid CJP protests due to NEET paper leak"The unity of the country must remain intact, no student of India should get entangled in legal complications, and our children should focus on their studies and building their careers. Keeping this in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister."He said that as soon as the irregularities regarding the NEET-UG examination came to light, the government, taking immediate cognisance of the matter, handed the investigation over to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and announced a date for a re-examination. Additionally, he said that a decision was made to conduct this exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode starting next year.ALSO READ | 'Long live student power': CJP celebrates Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation"Throughout this period, our primary priority was to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination for over 20 lakh students. We worked towards this using a 'whole-of-government' approach, in which state governments -- and particularly district administrations -- played a crucial role alongside the Government of India. With the cooperation of students and parents, the examination was successfully concluded on June 21, 2026," Pradhan said.— dpradhanbjp (@dpradhanbjp) "From day one, I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it.
I was determined not to let the potential of any meritorious student be ruined by the 'exam mafia' and to ensure that no student faced injustice," he added.He said that during the re-examination results, "individuals holding responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students", an act, he said, caused him "deep distress"."I have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely India's future; they are the torchbearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India. I am pained by the events of the past ten days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me," he added."Considering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country -- to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting it, preserving national unity, ensuring that not a single Indian student's future gets entangled in legal complexities, and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers -- I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister," Pradhan said.Dharmendra Pradhan resignation letterMy young friends,For more than four decades, I have remained dedicated to students, teachers and education reforms. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation.I deeply respect the aspirations, emotions and rightful expectations of the youth of the country. Fulfilling the dreams of India’s young generation remains the moral responsibility of our political and social life. I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership.However, irregularities came to light in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026.
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