India’s Education Minister resigns amid exam controversy

India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid growing pressure

India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid growing pressure over a nationwide controversy involving alleged examination paper leaks.

His resignation comes after weeks of protests by students and opposition parties. Demonstrators have demanded greater accountability and changes to the country’s examination system.

The controversy has intensified criticism of the government’s handling of the issue. Students and opposition leaders have called for stronger measures to prevent examination irregularities and protect the credibility of competitive exams.

Pradhan’s departure marks a significant development for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as pressure continues to mount over the examination crisis.

The resignation is expected to fuel further debate over examination reforms, transparency and accountability in India’s education system.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to establish fast-track courts to swiftly punish officials involved in examination paper leaks, attempting to contain a widespread youth-led protest movement that has rocked New Delhi and disrupted Parliament. Posting on X in his first public remarks on the crisis, Modi declared that “those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared”.

The satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), coined after India’s top judge reportedly likened unemployed youths to “cockroaches”, promptly rejected Modi’s proposal as a superficial “Band-aid” measure. The CJP continues to demand educational reforms and the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced intense pressure following 152 recorded paper leaks over the past decade.