Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns following exam protests

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, handing a major victory to youth protesters who had demanded he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks, according to reporting from Ariananews and the Irish Times. The resignation marks a rare political departure under the administration, as the official is only the second minister to resign following a scandal since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, following M.J. Akbar's departure as junior foreign minister.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party that led the protests, declared We have done it to loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, according to Reuters reporting published by Ariananews.af and the Irish Times.

Media additions

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his departure in a post on the social media platform X. According to Ariananews.af and the Irish Times, Pradhan wrote that he sent his resignation letter to the prime minister in order to prevent anti-national forces from taking advantage of the situation that had arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country. Pradhan added in his statement, as reported by both outlets: I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.

The timing of the announcement coincided with heightened security confrontations. Ariananews.af reported that the minister made his post public just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi, hours before student leaders were scheduled to hold another round of talks with government ministers.

Protests erupted after a high-profile medical college entrance test paper leaked in May, forcing the cancellation of results and a government-ordered retest that affected millions of young people. Activists point out that the movement reflects broader frustrations over job scarcity, corruption, and government accountability. Demonstrators belonging to the youth-led "cockroach" movement had maintained protests since June, but anger intensified after police launched baton charges and fired tear gas on a Monday march toward parliament, injuring dozens of students, as detailed by Ariananews.af.

As news of the resignation reached the Jantar Mantar site, participants celebrated by shouting the patriotic slogan Jai Hind—meaning "Victory to India"—while the national anthem played on loudspeakers and crowds distributed sweets. At least one thousand police officials stood nearby guarding the area, according to Reuters journalists cited by Ariananews.af. Demonstrator Tluanga Ralte, walking with a copy of the Indian constitution at the site, remarked on the youth presence and the resilience of the generation, according to Ariananews.af.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had maintained a hunger strike in support of the youth movement, described the resignation on X as a victory of peace, patience, and perseverance, as reported by Ariananews.af.

The unrest expanded well beyond the capital. Students, youth activists, and opposition supporters staged demonstrations across the states of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, carrying placards demanding the minister's resignation and boycotting classes in certain areas, according to Ariananews.af.

Federal authorities attempted to contain the demonstrations on Saturday by restricting access to the internet and closing 18 metro stations in the capital, continuing a series of restrictive measures. These widespread street protests represent one of the most significant political challenges to Prime Minister Modi's government in recent years, drawing participation from politicians who joined the youth in demanding official action, as noted by the Irish Times.

Pradhan, a senior leader of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, had served as a minister since Modi took office, holding portfolios in petroleum and natural gas, steel, and skill development before taking over the education ministry in 2021, according to Ariananews.af.