Jantar Mantar protesters clear site after Education Minister resigns

Protesters began clearing out of Jantar Mantar as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following weeks of Gen Z-led demonstrations over competitive exam leaks. The departure marked the end of a historic, month-long sit-in that turned central Delhi into a national focal point for youth dissent and political pressure.

Pradhan tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his resignation letter, he stated that he wanted to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country. He noted that he took responsibility for the controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak, which affected millions of aspirants nationwide.

Media additions

President Droupadi Murmu immediately accepted the resignation under Article 75 of the Constitution of India, according to Times of India reporting. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who also holds the Consumer Affairs portfolio, received additional charge of the Ministry of Education.

The movement was spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical platform founded by Abhijeet Dipke. Dipke started the movement as a mocking response to a pointed comment from India's top judge, Justice Surya Kant, who likened India's unemployed youth in a speech to cockroaches.

Timeline of the Protests

• June 20, 2026: CJP launches sit-in protests at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability over NEET-UG exam irregularities.
• July 20, 2026: A "Sansad Chalo" march towards Parliament turns violent as police deploy batons and tear gas, injuring multiple students and officers.
• July 24, 2026: Protests conclude their 36th day as talks advance between protest leaders and federal ministers.
• July 25, 2026: Dharmendra Pradhan resigns; Pralhad Joshi assumes additional charge of the Education Ministry; CJP calls off the Jantar Mantar sit-in.

Following third-round talks with senior ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda at Vithalbhai Patel House, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka announced the withdrawal of the agitation in good faith. According to Yahoo News UK, the government agreed to drop all FIRs filed against peaceful protesters across all BJP-governed and allied states.

Despite the celebration at Jantar Mantar, where volunteers dismantled stages and cleared debris, CJP leaders emphasized that their campaign is far from over. CJP representatives noted that two major demands remain pending: financial compensation of one crore rupees to the families of all students who died by suicide, and strict legal action against the police personnel who used force against protesters on July 20.

Reactions from political figures poured in following the announcement. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati deemed the resignation appropriate while demanding strict legal action against police personnel who used force against female protesters. Congress leader Ashok Gehlot hailed the development as a major victory for Rahul Gandhi's campaign and student perseverance against an administration that had previously evaded accountability.

Meanwhile, Livemint noted that Pradhan is not the first minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to resign under public pressure, recalling similar exits by MJ Akbar during the #MeToo movement and Suresh Prabhu following railway safety controversies.

With the protest site cleared and security personnel withdrawing as metro services resumed, attention shifts to Parliament. Times of India reports that Dr. Jitendra Singh will move to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, introducing stricter penalties and specialized judicial mechanisms to tackle examination malpractice.