Dharmendra Pradhan tenders resignation as Union Education Minister; CJP calls off protests
As student protests over the paper leaks spread across states and snowballed for the Narendra Modi government, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday (July 25, 2026) resigned as education minister, prompting the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to call off the protests at Jantar Mantar, which had become the epicenter of the last 36 days.
Also Read: Jantar Mantar Protest LIVE
President Droupadi Murmu accepted Mr. Pradhan’s resignation on the Prime Minister’s advice and appointed Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in the evening.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, published on X, Mr. Pradhan said he was resigning on his own account so that “anti-national” elements did not abuse the situation created by the protests.
As soon as the news of the resignation broke in the afternoon, protesters at Jantar Mantar erupted in joy. “We did it,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told the cheering crowd.
Thank you all, says Wangchuk
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike gave impetus to the protests, called them a victory for democracy, peace, patience and perseverance. “Congratulations to CJP, the Gen Z of the nation, and thank you to all citizens for letting go of fear and fear of fear and rising up from all corners of the nation,” he wrote on X.
The resignation came moments before Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das to discuss ending the protests.
Govt. assurance
In a joint press conference with the ministers, the CJP spokesperson said they were withdrawing it in “good faith” as the government had agreed to their two demands: ₹1 million to the families of all the students who committed suicide due to the NEET paper leak, and no action against any of the student protesters.
Mr. Nadda said the government would provide “honorable compensation” under the rules to the families of students who died of suicide after the NEET test was canceled and ensure withdrawal of all FIRs registered against the protesters.
“As far as their (CJP’s) charter for broader education reforms is concerned, we will consider them and engage with them,” Mr Nadda told a press conference.
PM should apologize: Congress
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi congratulated the students on their victory and said Mr. Pradhan’s removal was a “symbolic” but huge step in revamping the education system.
But the opposition leader said there were two more demands: whoever beat up the students should be held accountable and the prime minister should apologize to the students.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
“It is also a signal to other sections of society, farmers, workers, poor people, whoever is attacked and oppressed by this regime, it is wisdom and courage to stand up. Daro mat (don’t be afraid). Let’s get rid of this regime,” Mr Gandhi said.
In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologize to the youth. Strict action should be taken against those who unleashed lathis and pellet guns.”
With the first week of the monsoon session of Parliament winding down due to opposition demands for Mr Pradhan’s resignation, the government now expects both houses to function.
Three police officers injured
Amid the jubilation at Jantar Mantar, there were also tense moments as three senior police officials were injured in stone pelting near the protest site, at the intersection of Tolstoy Marg and Sansad Marg. However, the police personnel quickly restored order with tear gas and mild lathi-charge.
Sources said the government had come to the conclusion on Friday evening that it would be necessary for Mr. Pradhan to step down to end the protests that appeared to be spreading across the country.
With Delhi University set to open soon and protests spreading to tier-II cities, discretion was considered the better part of valor, sources added.
Mr Pradhan received a lot of support from his cabinet colleagues, with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh saying on X that the former had contributed to public service and creating an inclusive, future-ready India.
Mr Pradhan is the second Union minister in Mr Modi’s tenure to resign following a public controversy. The first was MJ Akbar, who resigned as External Affairs Minister in 2018 after sexual harassment allegations surfaced against him during the #MeToo movement.
VIDEO | Delhi: As Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sends a letter stating that he has sent his resignation to PM Modi, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke says, “We have done it. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned.”
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/M7XmkgYhRG
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 25, 2026
Published – 25 Jul 2026 14:32 IST