India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after a week of mass student demonstrations led by the newly formed Cockroach Janata Party demanding his removal over alleged NEET‑UG exam paper leaks. Pradhan said he submitted his resignation to the prime minister and cited the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, writing that he respected the aspirations and legitimate expectations of the youth. The protests, which began in May, escalated this week into nationwide mobilisations in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, with tens and hundreds of thousands joining sit‑ins, hunger strikes and rallies. Police responded with teargas and baton charges in Delhi, leaving hundreds injured, and the movement says more than a dozen students affected by the scandal have taken their own lives. Pradhan’s resignation came hours before CJP leaders were due to meet senior BJP ministers to press their demand for his ouster, and protesters at Jantar Mantar greeted the announcement with ecstatic cheers. Observers noted this is the first time in 12 years of BJP rule that one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most loyal ministers has been forced out by public pressure. The immediate consequence is a tactical victory for the CJP and momentum for the youth movement as talks with the government proceed.
