Following weeks of widespread student protests, street rallies, and hunger strikes across India, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday, July 25. The resignation comes in the wake of reports regarding entrance exam paper leaks and mounting criticism of India’s education system.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pradhan announced that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He written in the post that developments over the past 10 days had caused him deep concern and sorrow.
The outgoing minister stated that his decision aimed to prevent opposition groups from exploiting the current situation, to maintain national unity, and to spare students from becoming embroiled in lengthy and complex legal proceedings so they can focus on their education and future.
Some observers view Pradhan's resignation as the first clear concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the face of a growing wave of public protest. The demonstrations, led by a movement calling itself the "Cockroach People's Party" alongside student wings of various political parties, have emerged as one of the government’s most significant challenges in recent years.
Over recent weeks, thousands of students and demonstrators held rallies, sit-ins, and marches across various cities, demanding the education minister's resignation and structural reforms to national examinations. In the latest round of protests, security forces intervened as demonstrators attempted to march toward the Parliament building in New Delhi.
Security forces deployed tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds; despite these measures, large numbers of students and protesters continue to demonstrate, reiterating the urgent need for reforms in India's education system.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
