Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Council of Ministers on Saturday, saying his decision was driven by the need to ensure that students are not caught in what he described as a “web of confusion” amid the continuing NEET-UG 2026 controversy.
His resignation comes as protests over the examination continue across the country. In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said the issue had moved beyond personal considerations and that the country’s youth should be allowed to focus on their education without further uncertainty.
Dharmendra Pradhan says students’ future must remain the priority
Pradhan said he had spent more than four decades working with students, teachers and education reforms. He described a strong and inclusive education system as the foundation of nation-building.
“The events of the past 10 days have saddened me. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me… It is my resolve that we will not allow the country’s youth power to become trapped in a web of confusion. The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces… Keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he wrote.
Minister recounts Centre’s response to NEET-UG controversy
Referring to the alleged irregularities in the May 3 NEET-UG examination, Pradhan said the Union government acted immediately after the issue surfaced.
“However, irregularities were found in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. The Government of India immediately took cognisance of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and announced a date for the re-examination. Along with this, it was decided that from next year onwards, the examination would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode,” he said.
He said the government’s focus throughout the episode was to ensure that the re-examination was conducted smoothly for more than two million candidates.
“During this period, our primary concern was to ensure that the examination for more than two million students was conducted smoothly… From the very first day, I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it. My resolve was that we would not allow the prospects of any meritorious student to be harmed because of the examination controversy,” he said.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
Pradhan alleges attempts to mislead students
The Sambalpur MP said the NEET-UG results declared on July 16 reflected the performance of deserving candidates, including students from economically weaker backgrounds.
“The NEET-UG results announced on July 16 were satisfactory, with many meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds also achieving success,” he said.
Pradhan also alleged that some people holding positions of responsibility had sought to mislead students during the controversy.
“However, during this period, several individuals in positions of responsibility tried to create obstacles and mislead students, which deeply saddened me,” he wrote.
Resignation comes amid continuing protests
The resignation comes against the backdrop of nationwide protests over the examination controversy. It also follows activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Meanwhile, the Centre is preparing legislation aimed at tackling examination paper leaks. According to the government, the proposed law will provide for Special Fast-Track Courts, a Special Task Force and other measures intended to curb such offences.