Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25.

• The decision came after weeks of massive student protests demanding his resignation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking process.

• Pradhan, who has been a two-time Education Minister, faced a similar controversy in 2024 over alleged NEET and NET paper leaks.

• Students and members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been holding a sit-in since June 20.

• Protests had spiralled since the CJP-led march to Parliament on July 20 that saw violence, with police and protesters blaming each other for it.

• The CJP hailed it as the first victory of their 36-day agitation. 

• However, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said their agitation will continue until the government fulfils their other demands as well.

• The CJP has been demanding Rs 1 crore to the families of students who died by suicide over the NEET paper leak, no legal action against protesters and punitive measures against police personnel who committed “atrocities” on protesters.

Key points on Dharmendra Pradhan:

• Dharmendra Pradhan was born on June 26, 1969, in Talcher, Odisha.

• He graduated from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in Arts, and MA (Anthropology).

• Pradhan started his political career as an Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist in 1983, and has served in ABVP as secretary. 

• He has also worked as an election in-charge in Bihar and as an in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Odisha.

• In 2000, Pradhan was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Pallahara assembly.

• Pradhan received the Best Legislator Award (the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman) for his work during the 2002-2003 term as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

• In 2004, he was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha. 

• He was also appointed national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in the same year.

• In 2014, when the NDA government came into power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan became the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• In September 2017, he became the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

• In 2019, in the second term of PM Modi, Pradhan was appointed the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel.

• In July 2021, Pradhan became the Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. 

• He spearheaded the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in the country.

• Following his election to the 18th Lok Sabha in June 2024, he assumed office as Union Minister of Education.