India's Education Minister Resigns Amid Protests Over Exam Leak Scandal

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stepped down, taking moral responsibility for irregularities surrounding the national medical entrance exam. The decision follows weeks of widespread protests by young people across the country, fueled by allegations of leaked exam papers for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The scandal has cast a shadow over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement, spearheaded the demonstrations, demanding the minister's resignation, government accountability, and compensation for students impacted by the controversy. The party announced an end to the protests on Saturday, July 26, 2026, after the government assured that compensation would be provided to affected families and that criminal cases against protesters would be dropped.

Pradhan stated that students should not suffer due to the actions of a few individuals and warned against anti-national forces exploiting the situation. The NEET exam, taken by over 2.2 million students, was initially canceled due to the leak, leading to a re-examination in June. The controversy has been particularly tragic, with reports indicating that at least 10 students died by suicide amidst the turmoil. Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who participated in a 26-day hunger strike, also ended his protest following the government's assurances.

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Students should not suffer due to the actions of a few individuals. The situation should not be exploited by anti-national forces.