Dharmendra Pradhan: Education Minister Resigns Amid NEET exam irregularities and student protests across India. The Union Education Minister sent his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing his deep concern for the youth and the nation’s unity.
In his resignation, Dharmendra Pradhan recalled his four decades of public service and stressed that the interests of students remain his priority. He acknowledged the NEET-UG examination irregularities from May 2022, noting that the government immediately ordered a CBI probe and successfully conducted a re-examination on June 21. The results, declared on July 16, were satisfactory, with many economically weaker students performing well. However, recent agitations at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere disturbed him deeply.
Dharmendra Pradhan took full responsibility from the beginning and ensured that no student faced injustice, he said. But he was affected by the mishandling of students by some in positions of responsibility. He also expressed concern that anti-national forces might exploit the situation for their own gain. His resignation, he said, was taken to protect the country’s unity rather than waste students’ time.
This resignation carries significant political weight and is expected to increase the government’s focus on student-related issues. With Dharmendra Pradhan stepping down from his education post, the nation now waits to see who will lead the ministry next. His final words thanked Prime Minister Modi for his guidance, reaffirming that national service is his life’s priority.