Student movement "Cucarachas" forces India's Education Minister to resign over exam scandal

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation on July 25, 2026, following six days of student-led protests against widespread irregularities in university exams. The "Cucarachas" movement, an online group advocating for educational reform, spearheaded the demonstrations.

Pradhan announced his decision via a statement on social media platform X, stating, "I have sent my resignation letter to the prime minister." The "Cucarachas" movement celebrated the minister's resignation, proclaiming "Long live the power of students!" and "democracy has triumphed" on social media. The movement's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, expressed his elation on Instagram, saying, "We did it!"

Thousands of young people occupied an esplanade in central New Delhi, under heavy security presence, since Monday's crackdown on a student demonstration. Beyond exam fraud, protesters voiced concerns about difficulties in finding employment after graduation, despite the country's strong economic growth. They also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "authoritarian methods."

The minister's resignation came just hours before a scheduled meeting between the government and student representatives. The "Cucarachas" spokesperson, Ashutosh Rabka, reiterated the protesters' unchanged demands: Pradhan's dismissal, compensation for victims of canceled exams, and the dropping of charges against demonstrators. The government had previously approved an amendment to the law allowing for expedited judicial proceedings and severe penalties for exam irregularities.