NEW DELHI/UKHRUL: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced his resignation, saying he had stepped down in the interest of students and to prevent the ongoing NEET-UG controversy from being exploited further.
In a two-page letter written in hindi addressed to “My young friends,” Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to prime minister Narendra Modi after the developments surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination and the protests that followed.
Dharmendra Pradhan said irregularities were detected after the NEET-UG examination held on May 3. He noted that the Centre immediately handed the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelled the examination, announced a fresh test, and decided that from next year the examination would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
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He said the re-examination, conducted on June 21, was completed successfully through the coordinated efforts of the Centre, state governments, district administrations, students and parents.
“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from the situation,” Dharmendra Pradhan wrote, adding that his priority was to ensure that no deserving student’s future was affected because of what he described as an “exam mafia.”
The former minister said the NEET-UG results declared on July 16 enabled many meritorious students, including those from economically weaker backgrounds, to secure admission opportunities. At the same time, he alleged that “people in positions of responsibility” attempted to mislead students and create obstacles during the period.
Saying the events of the past ten days had deeply disturbed him, Pradhan said the issue was “not a matter of personal prestige.” He described India’s youth as the country’s greatest strength and said they should not be allowed to become victims of confusion or prolonged uncertainty.
Explaining his decision, Dharmendra Pradhan said he had resigned to ensure that the situation was not exploited by “anti-national forces,” that students’ futures were not caught in legal complications, and that they could return their focus to education and careers.
“I have sent my resignation letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he said.
Dharmendra Pradhan thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for his guidance and support, expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the Union Cabinet and officials of the Ministry of Education, and said he would continue to serve the nation in every possible way.
