Kishtwar/New Delhi, July 25, 2026: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from the Union Council of Ministers amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination and protests by students at Jantar Mantar.
In a detailed message addressed to the country’s youth, Pradhan said he had dedicated more than four decades of his life to students, teachers and education reform. He said an empowered, inclusive and visionary education system had always been his conviction and the foundation for building an empowered nation.
Expressing respect for the aspirations and legitimate expectations of the youth, Pradhan said fulfilling the dreams of India’s young generation had been the moral resolve of his political and social life. He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation under his leadership.
Referring to the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3, 2026, Pradhan said irregularities were detected in the examination. He said the Government of India immediately took cognizance of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination and announced a re-examination.
He further said that from next year, NEET-UG would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
According to Pradhan, the government’s primary challenge during the crisis was to ensure that the examination for more than 20 lakh students was conducted smoothly. He said the process was undertaken through a “whole of government approach”, with State Governments and district administrations playing an important role alongside the Central Government.
With the cooperation of students and parents, the re-examination was successfully conducted on June 21, 2026, he said.
Pradhan stated that he had taken responsibility for the situation from the very beginning and had remained committed to ensuring that the future of meritorious students was not destroyed by the examination mafia.
He said the NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory, with several meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds succeeding in the examination.
However, he alleged that during the period of crisis, certain people holding responsible positions attempted to obstruct and mislead students, which, he said, caused him deep pain.
“Seeing the sequence of events over the last 10 days, my heart is deeply pained,” Pradhan said, adding that his decision was not a matter of personal prestige.
Referring to the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar and the situation prevailing across the country, Pradhan said he had decided to resign in order to prevent the issue from becoming a source of further confusion for the country’s youth.
He said the decision was taken keeping in mind the need to ensure that “anti-national forces” did not take advantage of the situation, national unity remained intact, and the future of students did not become entangled in legal complications.
Pradhan said the country’s youth power was India’s true strength and that he did not want the nation’s young people to be trapped in a “vicious cycle of confusion”.
“I have submitted my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he said.
The outgoing Education Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance, trust and continuous support. He also thanked his ministerial colleagues, officials and employees of the Ministry of Education, as well as everyone with whom he had worked during his tenure.
Pradhan said that service to the nation remained the highest priority of his life and that he would continue to remain dedicated to it.
Invoking the blessings of Lord Shri Jagannath, he said he would continue to work in every possible way to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Odisha, the youth of the country and “Mother India” in the future.
