Modi blinks as Dharmendra Pradhan resigns; Ex-Education Minister addresses youth on X

Pradhan's announcement came as the student-led protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered the 35th day.

Published Jul 25, 2026 | 2:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2026 | 3:30 PM

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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Synopsis: After thirty-five days of ceaseless protest and resistance from the students, the government has been forced to accept one of the core demands. Dharmendra Pradhan will not be Education Minister anymore. But has this bought the government peace? There are at least two more non-negotiable demands that are pending…

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has on Saturday, July 25, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The enormity of Pradhan’s removal and the success of India’s youth who were protesting against the broken education system and the paper leaks can be gauged by the fact that this is probably the first dismissal of such a senior minister under public pressure, Earlier, in October 2018, MJ Akbar had to quit his post following the MeToo scandal, but he was only serving as the Minister of State for External Affairs then.

Pradhan’s announcement came as the student-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar entered the 35th day.

The Centre, which had been forced on the back foot ever since the July 20 Chalo Sansad march and Delhi Police’s crackdown on the student protesters, had initiated talks with the protesters three days ago. Well-informed sources indicated that the demand for Pradhan’s removal had not been shot down in Friday’s meeting between the student representatives and the government.

With the protests gathering momentum and gaining international attention, Prime Minister Modi himself had been compelled to take to Instagram in the wee hours of Friday and Saturday and post self-shot videos, termed to be of the ‘uncle selfie’ kind and which experts said were attempts aimed at regaining the narrative. Others noted how the protesters had given the PM sleepless nights.

Earlier in the day, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had addressed the media with student protesters, and stated that Pradhan’s sacking was non-negotiable as far as the students were concerned.

He termed Pradhan corrupt, incompetent and misaligned and a symbol of the destruction of the most valuable asset this country has: our students and their future.

Rahul also said that the students wanted the “organisers and implementers of the violence” against them during the protests to be held accountable.

“The third (demand) is that the leader of this whole machinery, Narendra Modi, needs to apologise to the students,” he announced.

“The person who is the main chief in charge must apologise to the educational institutes/students for them being beaten, assaulted, and disrespected,” he insisted.

Rahul went on to say that “these people are not going to step back. They are India’s future—take a good look at them. No one can fight this. Narendra Modi is India’s past. The past can never fight the future.”

Pradhan’s full post

Fittingly, a protest that has seen the students trump the government on social media learned of earning one of its prized scalps through the platform.

It was on X that a defensive Pradhan announced his resignation while admitting that ‘India’s youth power is the true strength of this nation’.

Pradhan’s full post that has been translated from the Hindi original is below:

For more than four decades, I have dedicated myself to students, teachers, and educational reform. It has always been my firm belief that a strong, inclusive, and visionary education system is the bedrock of a strong nation.

I deeply respect the aspirations, sentiments, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth. Fulfilling the dreams of India’s young generation has been a moral commitment in all of our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for allowing me to serve the nation under his visionary leadership.

However, irregularities were found in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. Taking immediate cognisance, the Government of India handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the exam, and announced a re-examination date. Alongside this, a decision was made to conduct this exam in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode starting next year.

During this period, our primary focus was to ensure that the exam for over 20 lakh students was conducted smoothly. For this, work was done under a “whole-of-government approach.” In this, along with the Government of India, the state governments—especially the district administrations—played a crucial role. Furthermore, with the cooperation of students, guardians, and parents, this exam was completed on June 21, 2026.

From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned my back on the situation. My resolve was that we would not allow the prospects of any meritorious student to be ruined by the examination mafia, nor allow injustice to happen to any student.

The NEET-UG results declared on July 16 were satisfactory, with many meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds achieving success.

However, even during this time, people sitting in responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead several students, which deeply pained my heart.

I have always held unwavering faith in the power of our democracy and have deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely the future of India, but also the carriers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India.

Looking at the chain of events over the past 10 days, my heart is deeply saddened. For me, this is not a matter of personal prestige.

India’s youth power is the true strength of this nation.

It is my resolve that we will not let the country’s youth power fall into a vicious cycle of confusion.

Considering that anti-national forces should not take advantage of the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the unity of the nation remains intact, that the future of no student in India gets entangled in legal complexities, and that our children can focus their time on studying and building their careers—with these thoughts in mind, I have submitted my resignation to the Honorable Prime Minister.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for his guidance, trust, and continuous support. I also express my gratitude to all my respected colleagues in the Council of Ministers, officials and employees of the ministry, and all those individuals with whom I had the privilege to work. Service to the nation is the highest priority of my life, and I will always remain committed to it.

With the blessings of Lord Shree Jagannath Ji, I will continue to dedicate myself in every possible way to serving Mother India, the people of Odisha, and fulfilling the aspirations of the country’s youth in the future.