India’s Education Minister resigns after youth-led protests over exam irregularities

India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has resigned following days of nationwide youth-led protests over alleged irregularities in major public examinations.

 

Thousands of young people staged demonstrations in New Delhi and other parts of the country under the banner of the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding reforms in the education sector and Pradhan’s resignation.

 

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

“I am pained to see the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me,” Pradhan said. “I have sent my resignation letter to the prime minister.”

 

Following the announcement, the CJP said the government had accepted its demands during another round of talks, prompting the group to call off the protests centred at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

 

The demonstrations had intensified earlier in the week, with police using tear gas and batons to disperse protesters attempting to march to parliament.

 

Although the government held two rounds of negotiations with protest leaders on Monday and Friday, no breakthrough was initially reached as the protesters insisted on their demands. Pradhan announced his resignation before a scheduled third round of talks.

 

“India’s youth power is the real strength of this nation. My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get trapped in a vicious cycle of confusion,” Pradhan said.

 

The announcement sparked celebrations among demonstrators.

 

“We have done it,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told cheering supporters.

 

Beyond examination concerns, the movement expanded to include demands for greater employment opportunities for young people and criticism of what protesters described as the increasingly authoritarian style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

 

The protests have become one of the most significant challenges facing Modi’s government since his re-election in 2024.

 

Among the protesters’ demands were compensation for students affected by examination irregularities and the withdrawal of legal cases against demonstrators.

 

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed Pradhan’s resignation, describing it as “a huge step,” while urging Prime Minister Modi to apologise to students and ensure those responsible for violence against protesters are held accountable.

 

One protester, Sunil, 27, described the atmosphere after the resignation as “truly electrifying,” saying the youth movement had achieved a commendable victory.