Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET‑UG Leak; CJP Demands Candle March

After a week‑long uproar that saw students, teachers and activists thronging Jantar Mantar, the Union’s education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his brief statement he said he was stepping down “in the larger interest of students” so that the nation’s youth would not be trapped in a web of confusion.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which had been spearheading the protests, greeted the resignation as “a win for the common man.” Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka told ANI that the party now expects the government to put three of its demands in writing: Pradhan’s resignation, a compensation of ₹1 crore for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide, and the withdrawal of FIRs lodged against demonstrators.

Ranka added, “If you accept our three demands in writing, we will go home. We have requested permission to organise a peaceful candle march across the country at 6 p.m. tomorrow.” The candle march is meant to be a silent, symbolic reminder of the students who lost hope.

Pradhan, in a short note addressed to the prime minister, reminded officials of his four‑decade‑long involvement with education reforms. He emphasized that a strong, inclusive system is the backbone of a vibrant nation, and said the government had acted swiftly once irregularities were detected in the May 3, 2026 NEET‑UG exam.

He recounted the steps taken: the Central Bureau of Investigation was handed the case, the compromised exam was cancelled, a fresh date announced and, from the following year, the exam would shift to a computer‑based testing (CBT) format.

The resignation came after a month‑long agitation led by CJP and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who fasted for 26 days. The movement’s climax was the “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, which met with police resistance but managed to keep the pressure on the administration.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, reacting to the news, said, “We have done it. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. This proves that if people do not bow down, we can force any official to step down.” The party reiterated that the candle march would be a non‑violent way to honour the students and keep the conversation alive.