New Delhi, July 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday resigned from the Union Cabinet, saying he was deeply pained by the developments of the past 10 days and had stepped down to safeguard the interests of students and prevent the controversy over examination irregularities from being exploited by anti-national forces.
In his resignation statement, Pradhan said he had devoted more than four decades to the cause of education and remained committed to students, teachers and educational reforms. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude for his guidance and support.
The resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities, with student groups demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system.
Pradhan said the Centre acted promptly after alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination surfaced by transferring the probe to the CBI, cancelling the examination, announcing a re-test and deciding to conduct future examinations in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
He said the government’s priority had been to ensure the smooth conduct of the re-examination for more than 20 lakh students with the cooperation of state governments, district administrations, students and parents.
Pradhan maintained that he had accepted responsibility for the situation from the outset and was determined to ensure that deserving students did not suffer because of the activities of the “exam mafia.” He also alleged that certain individuals holding responsible positions attempted to mislead students during the re-examination process.
Describing the resignation as a decision taken in the larger national interest, Pradhan said it would help preserve national unity, protect students from prolonged uncertainty and allow them to focus on their academic and career goals. He affirmed that he would continue serving the nation and working for the welfare of the youth in the future.
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