PANAJI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday resigned from the Union Council of Ministers amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Announcing his decision, Pradhan said he was stepping down in the larger interest of students to ensure that the country's youth do not become "trapped in a web of confusion."
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan reflected on his long association with the education sector and reiterated his commitment to the aspirations of students. "For more than four decades, I have been associated with students, teachers and the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation," he wrote.
Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, Pradhan said the Centre acted promptly after irregularities were reported in the May 3 examination. Explaining his decision to resign, he said the ongoing protests should not be allowed to distract students or be exploited by "anti-national forces."
The resignation comes amid widespread protests across the country over the alleged examination irregularities and follows a 26-day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar.
