New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday welcomed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following weeks of sustained youth-led demonstrations over irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Hailing the political movement that swept through Jantar Mantar and across the nation, Wangchuk emphasised that the minister’s departure marks a victory for peaceful, grassroots activism.
“IT’S A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY direct democracy… straight from the streets. It’s a victory of peace, patience & persévérance. Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation. FROM ACCOUNTABILITY, NOW TO REFORMS,” Wangchuk posted.
IT'S A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACYdirect democracy… straight from the streets.It's a victory of peace, patience & persévérance.Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation.… pic.twitter.com/rSLOfvba2R
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 25, 2026
How Dharmendra Pradhan’s Exit Unfolded
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation marks the political culmination of the months-long NEET-UG 2026 controversy that snowballed into one of the country’s biggest student-led movements.
In an emotional two-page letter addressed to India’s youth, Pradhan said he was stepping down in the “larger interest of students” so that their futures would not remain trapped in legal disputes and administrative uncertainty. While defending the Centre’s handling of the crisis, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his trust and reiterated that serving the nation would remain his lifelong commitment.
The controversy began on May 3, 2026, when widespread irregularities disrupted the NEET-UG examination. As outrage mounted, the Centre transferred the probe to the CBI, announced a transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for future examinations, and conducted a fresh test on June 21 for more than 20 lakh candidates. However, public anger showed little sign of easing, even after the re-examination results were declared on July 16.
What started as scattered protests by students soon evolved into a nationwide youth movement under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The agitation gathered significant momentum after educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests at Jantar Mantar, launching a hunger strike that became the movement’s defining moment.
Backed in its later stages by several opposition parties, the campaign drew further strength from reports that at least 21 students across the country had died by suicide amid the paper leak controversy, intensifying calls for accountability and systemic reforms.
With pressure mounting both on the streets and politically, the Union government unveiled a series of sweeping measures within a 24-hour period alongside Pradhan’s resignation.
The decisions included:
- Legal reforms: Fast-track courts dedicated to examination fraud cases and a new Bill to further strengthen anti-paper leak laws.
- Administrative overhaul: Replacement of the Education Secretary and the removal of 47 National Testing Agency (NTA) officials.
- Relief for protesters: Withdrawal of cases against student demonstrators and financial compensation for the families of students who died by suicide.
According to sources, these announcements represent only the first phase of the government’s response. A broader structural overhaul of the National Testing Agency is expected in the coming weeks as the Centre seeks to restore confidence in India’s examination system.