New Delhi, July 25: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced his resignation, saying the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination should not cast a shadow over the future of millions of students or become a source of national division.
In a detailed public letter addressed to the youth of the country, Pradhan said he had dedicated over four decades of his life to students, teachers and educational reforms and believed that a strong, inclusive and visionary education system formed the foundation of a strong nation.
Referring to the irregularities detected in the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3, Pradhan said the Central Government acted swiftly by ordering a CBI probe, cancelling the examination and conducting a fresh computer-based test (CBT). He said the government's priority was to ensure that more than 20 lakh students received a fair examination, which was successfully conducted on June 21 with the support of state governments, district administrations, parents and students.
Pradhan said he had accepted moral responsibility from the very first day and remained committed to ensuring that no deserving student's future was compromised because of examination irregularities. He added that the results declared on July 16 enabled many meritorious students, including those from economically weaker backgrounds, to succeed.
Expressing anguish over the developments of the past several days, Pradhan said attempts had been made by people holding responsible positions to mislead students and create confusion. He described the situation as deeply painful.
"The youth are the real strength of India. They must not be pushed into a cycle of misinformation or prolonged uncertainty," he said, adding that no student's future should become entangled in legal disputes.
Pradhan said he had conveyed his views to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing the need to preserve national unity and allow students to focus on their education and careers.
Announcing his resignation, Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Modi for his guidance, trust and support, as well as the Council of Ministers, officials of the Education Ministry and all those who had worked with him. He said serving the nation would remain his highest priority and pledged to continue working for the aspirations of the youth and the development of the country in whatever role assigned to him.
The resignation comes amid weeks of nationwide protests over the NEET-UG controversy and growing political pressure demanding accountability in the wake of the examination irregularities.
