Union Education Minister Resigns Amid NEET-UG Controversy
Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
File image of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Photo: @dpradhanbjp/X)
New Delhi, July 25: In response to widespread protests regarding alleged issues in the education sector and the NEET-UG exam leak, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding students' interests and preventing further turmoil.
In a social media message directed at the youth, Pradhan explained that his resignation aims to ensure that the ongoing unrest does not negatively impact students' futures.
He stated, "To prevent anti-national elements from exploiting the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the nation, to maintain national unity, and to ensure that no student's future is entangled in legal issues, I have submitted my resignation to the Hon'ble Prime Minister," as expressed in his letter in Hindi.
Facing increasing scrutiny over the NEET-UG situation, Pradhan acknowledged his accountability from the beginning and did not shy away from the crisis.
He noted that irregularities were identified following the May 3 NEET-UG exam, leading the Centre to initiate a CBI inquiry, annul the exam, and arrange for a re-test.
Additionally, he mentioned that the government plans to transition the examination to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format starting next year.
"From day one, I took responsibility and did not evade the situation. My commitment was to ensure that no deserving student would be hindered by examination mafias, nor would any student face injustice," he remarked.
Pradhan highlighted that the government's immediate focus was to facilitate the re-examination for over 20 lakh candidates through a collaborative effort involving the Centre, state governments, and local administrations.
He reported that the re-test conducted on June 21 was successful, thanks to the cooperation of students and parents, and the results announced on July 16 allowed many deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds to gain admission.
Without naming individuals, he accused certain people in influential positions of attempting to mislead students and create hurdles during the crisis.
"The events of the last ten days have deeply saddened me. This is not about personal pride for me. The youth of India is the true strength of our nation," he stated.
This resignation follows Prime Minister Modi's remarks in the Lok Sabha regarding the government's actions against examination malpractices and its commitment to protecting students' interests.
It also comes after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk concluded his 26-day hunger strike upon receiving assurances from the Centre, while student organizations and opposition parties continued to demand accountability regarding the NEET-UG issue and the integrity of competitive exams.