New Delhi, 25 July (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday stepped down from the Council of Ministers amid the row over the NEET-UG paper leak. The resignation came after days of protests and mounting pressure, with his exit having been a key demand of the protesters.

In a detailed resignation letter posted on X, Pradhan said he had dedicated more than four decades to students, teachers and education reform. He described a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system as the foundation of a strong nation.

He said he deeply respected the aspirations and legitimate expectations of India’s youth and considered helping them achieve their dreams a moral responsibility. Pradhan also thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the country under his leadership.

Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, Pradhan said irregularities in the examination led the government to hand the matter to the CBI, cancel the test and announce a re-examination. He said a decision was also taken to hold the exam in computer-based test mode from next year.

Pradhan said that throughout the process, the government’s priority was to ensure a smooth examination for more than 20 lakh students. He added that he had taken full responsibility from the beginning and had never backed away from the situation.

He further said he was pained by developments over the past ten days and was determined not to allow the country’s youth to be trapped in confusion. He said his resignation was intended to ensure that the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country was not exploited by anti-national forces, that national unity remained intact, and that no student’s future became entangled in legal complications.

Pradhan concluded by saying that children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers, and that, keeping these concerns in mind, he had submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar