Pressure forces Pradhan's resignation; CJP calls off protests as Centre agrees to all demands

The protests sparked by the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak came to an end on Saturday after the Centre agreed to all three demands put forward by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), in a series of developments that began with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

The CJP announced that it was withdrawing its agitation after the Centre accepted all its demands. The party had sought Pradhan's resignation, ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged paper leak, and the withdrawal of all cases registered against protesters, along with an assurance that no fresh cases would be filed.

Pradhan tendered his resignation on Saturday afternoon, paving the way for talks between a CJP delegation and Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and J P Nadda.

Following the meeting, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das announced that the party was calling off the agitation in good faith, expressing confidence that the agreed terms would be implemented within the stipulated timeline.

With Pradhan's resignation, two of the party's demands remained. Das said the Centre had assured the CJP during the talks that all cases and FIRs registered against protesters would be withdrawn and that ₹1 crore in compensation would be provided to the families of students who died by suicide, in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.

Earlier in the day, Pradhan's resignation came as a major victory for the youth amid the continuing nationwide student protests led by the CJP over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His resignation came just ahead of the scheduled third round of talks between CJP representatives and Union ministers on Saturday afternoon.

Announcing on social media that he had sent his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dharmendra Pradhan said he had dedicated over four decades to students, teachers, and education reform. "It has always been my firm belief that a strong, inclusive, and visionary education system serves as the cornerstone of a powerful nation," Pradhan wrote, expressing his deep regard for the aspirations of India's youth and gratitude to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve under his leadership.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the May 3, 2026, NEET examination, Pradhan detailed the government’s swift response to the reported irregularities, which included handing the probe over to the CBI, cancelling the initial exam, and scheduling a re-examination. He also highlighted the decision to transition the exam to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode starting next year.

Pradhan emphasised that conducting the re-examination for over two million candidates smoothly remained the primary objective. Adopting a "whole of government" approach alongside state governments and district administrations, the test was successfully reconducted on June 21, 2026.

"From day one, I took full responsibility and never turned away from the situation," Pradhan affirmed, reiterating his commitment to protecting meritorious students from the exam mafia and preventing injustice. While describing the July 16 results as satisfying, notably for students from underprivileged backgrounds, he alleged attempts by individuals in responsible positions to mislead students and create obstacles.

Reflecting on the recent demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and across the country over the past 10 days, Pradhan expressed concern that the unrest could be exploited by anti-national elements or entangle students in prolonged legal hurdles. It was to preserve national unity, protect the interests of students, and allow youth to focus on their education and careers that he submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister, Pradhan claimed.

Earlier, the Centre had dismissed 47 National Testing Agency (NTA) employees in connection with the controversy. Officials confirmed that legal action would be initiated against select individuals, noting that these terminations were part of an upcoming overhaul and broader structural reforms within the testing agency.