New Delhi, July 25, 2026: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post amid protests and growing criticism over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
In a statement, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the decision was taken in view of the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country.
The resignation comes after the government took action following alleged irregularities related to the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. The examination was cancelled, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a re-examination was announced. The government also decided to conduct NEET-UG in computer-based test (CBT) mode from next year.
Pradhan said that ensuring the smooth conduct of the re-examination for more than 20 lakh students was the government's primary priority. The re-examination was conducted on June 21, 2026, with the involvement of the Centre, state governments and district administrations.
He said he had taken full responsibility for the situation from the beginning and was determined to ensure that the future of meritorious students was not affected by what he described as the “exam mafia”.
The NEET-UG 2026 results were declared on July 16, 2026. In his resignation statement, Pradhan said the results were satisfactory, with several students from underprivileged backgrounds achieving success.
He also said he was “pained” by developments over the previous 10 days and emphasised that his resignation was not a matter of personal prestige.
“India's youth power is the true strength of this nation,” Pradhan said in his statement.
He added that his decision was aimed at preventing confusion among students, protecting national unity and ensuring that students' futures were not caught up in legal complications.
Pradhan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance and support, as well as to his colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers, ministry officials and staff.
He concluded by saying that he would continue to work for the aspirations of India, Odisha and the country's youth.
Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation: Key Points
- Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation as Union Education Minister on July 25, 2026.
- The resignation came amid protests and criticism linked to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
- The NEET-UG 2026 examination was held on May 3, 2026.
- The government cancelled the examination and handed the investigation to the CBI.
- A re-examination was conducted on June 21, 2026.
- NEET-UG is set to shift to computer-based testing from next year.
- NEET-UG 2026 results were declared on July 16, 2026.
- Pradhan said the resignation was intended to prevent confusion and protect the interests of students.
Disclaimer: This report is based on the resignation statement and information provided in the source material. The News Strike has independently edited and structured the content for clarity, readability and search optimisation. Any allegations or claims regarding examination irregularities should be understood in the context of official investigations and proceedings.
