Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday resigned from the Council of Ministers amid the continuing controversy over the NEET-UG examination and protests at Jantar Mantar, saying he had taken the decision so the episode would not damage students’ careers or be misused by hostile elements.

In a letter addressed to his “young friends” and posted on X, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after considering the situation that had developed in Delhi and across the country.

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Duty before distinction, or so the letter insists

Pradhan framed the move as an act of responsibility rather than personal concern.

“From the very first day, I accepted responsibility and never turned away from this situation,” he wrote in the letter. He said irregularities in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026, were immediately taken cognizance of by the government; the probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI); the examination was cancelled; and a fresh test was announced.

He also said the government decided that, from next year, the exam would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

Order restored, if the record is to be believed

The minister said the government’s immediate priority was to ensure a smooth examination process for more than 20 lakh students and said this was done through what he called a “whole-of-government approach” involving the center, state governments, and district administrations.

He added that the re-examination held on June 21 was conducted successfully and that the results declared on July 16 were satisfactory, including for students from poorer backgrounds who performed well.

A word of caution amid the clamour

At the same time, Pradhan accused unnamed people in responsible positions of trying to mislead students and create obstacles during the controversy.

He said the situation had caused him “deep anguish” and stressed that the issue was “not a matter of personal prestige” for him.

The letter repeatedly returned to the theme of youth and education, with Pradhan writing that India’s youth were the nation’s strength and warning against what he described as “confusion and misinformation.”

A closing note with unmistakable resolve

In the most pointed line of the letter, Pradhan said he had resigned “to ensure that anti-national forces do not exploit the situation arising at Jantar Mantar and across the country,” and to make sure that national unity remained intact.

He said no student’s future should get tangled in legal complications and that young people should focus on studying and building their careers.

The letter ended with Pradhan thanking the Prime Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, and ministry staff and reaffirming that “serving the nation remains the highest priority of my life.”

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FAQs

Q1: Why did Dharmendra Pradhan resign as Union education minister?

Dharmendra Pradhan said he resigned to protect students’ interests and ensure that “anti-national forces” do not exploit the NEET-UG controversy.

Q2: What did Dharmendra Pradhan say about the NEET-UG controversy?

He said the government acted promptly by ordering a CBI probe, cancelling the exam, conducting a re-test, and planning CBT-based examinations from next year.