India’s Education Minister Resigns Following Student Protest Movement

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, following nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in a major entrance examination.

The resignation comes after weeks of demonstrations in several parts of the country, where students and youth groups called for accountability over examination-related concerns.

Resignation Announced Through Social Media

The minister confirmed his decision in a statement shared on social media, saying he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his statement, Pradhan said his decision was made in the interest of maintaining national unity and ensuring that students could focus on their education without further uncertainty.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting students’ academic futures and avoiding prolonged disruptions.

Student Protests Continue

The resignation follows a series of protests organized by student groups across India, with demonstrators demanding action over alleged examination paper leaks and the handling of the issue.

Protests were held in multiple cities, while discussions between student representatives and government officials were expected to continue.

The movement has also drawn attention from opposition political parties, which have raised the matter during the ongoing parliamentary session.

Government Response to Examination Concerns

In his statement, Pradhan said the government acted promptly after concerns emerged regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG).

According to the minister, authorities:

• Ordered an official investigation into the matter.
• Announced the cancellation of the affected examination.
• Scheduled a fresh examination.
• Decided that future editions of the exam would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

He said these measures were intended to strengthen the examination process and maintain public confidence.

Minister Reflects on the Situation

Pradhan stated that he had accepted responsibility for addressing the issue from the beginning and reiterated his respect for the aspirations of India’s students and young people.

He added that recent developments had been deeply concerning and expressed hope that students would be able to return their full attention to their education and future careers.

The government has not yet announced a successor for the position of education minister.