Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Union Education Minister, Cites NEET-UG Controversy and Youth Interest
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced his resignation, stating that he has submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of developments surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination and the events that followed over the past several days.
In a two-page letter addressed to the country’s youth and the Prime Minister, Pradhan said he had dedicated more than four decades of his public life to students, teachers and education reforms, and reiterated his belief that a strong, inclusive and transparent education system is the foundation of a strong nation.
Referring to the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026, Pradhan acknowledged that irregularities had come to light after the examination. He said the Central Government acted immediately by handing over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelling the examination and announcing a fresh date. He added that the government had also decided that from next year the examination would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Pradhan said the government’s priority during the crisis was to ensure that the examination for more than 20 lakh students was conducted smoothly through a “whole of government approach”, with the cooperation of the Central Government, state governments, district administrations, students, parents and guardians. He noted that the re-conducted examination was successfully held on June 21, 2026.
He stated that from the very first day he had accepted responsibility for the situation and had remained committed to ensuring that the future of meritorious students was not harmed because of the examination malpractice. He also said no student should suffer injustice due to the actions of those involved in irregularities.
According to the letter, the NEET-UG results declared on July 16, 2026 were satisfactory and several meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds had secured success. However, he expressed disappointment that despite these efforts, certain persons holding responsible positions allegedly attempted to mislead students and create obstacles, which he said caused him deep anguish.
Pradhan said the developments of the past ten days had saddened him and emphasised that the issue was not one of personal prestige. He described India’s youth as the nation’s real strength and said he remained committed to ensuring that they were not trapped in confusion or misinformation.
He also expressed concern over the situation at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country, saying anti-national forces should not be allowed to exploit the prevailing circumstances. He said the country’s unity must be preserved and that no student’s future should become entangled in prolonged legal disputes. Instead, students should be able to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers.
Pradhan said these considerations prompted him to submit his resignation to the Prime Minister.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance, trust and continued support, Pradhan also thanked his Cabinet colleagues, officials and staff of the Ministry of Education, and all those with whom he had worked during his tenure.
He said service to the nation would remain the highest priority of his life and affirmed that he would continue working for the aspirations of the people of India, the people of Odisha and the country’s youth with the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
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