India's Education Minister Resigns Amid Protests Over Leaked Exam Papers

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stepped down following widespread student and opposition-led protests against a scandal involving leaked medical college entrance exam papers. The protests, which saw clashes between demonstrators and security forces, led to injuries on both sides, with police deploying tear gas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has responded by establishing special courts to expedite the investigation into the exam leak. The scandal has cast a shadow over the future of more than 10 million students, with reports of some losing their lives and the annulment of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) results for May 2026 sparking public outrage.

The protests were amplified by the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party, whose founder, Abhijeet Dipke, had called for Pradhan's resignation. The group, which has gained millions of social media followers, has become a significant voice in the movement demanding educational reforms. Dipke, who returned from the United States to lead protests in New Delhi, previously studied at Boston University.

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protests would continue across the country until Dharmendra Pradhan steps down.