Jantar Mantar protest updates: President accepts Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
Jantar Mantar protest updates: President accepts Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Pralhad Joshi to take charge of Education Ministry
Dharmendra Pradhan, in a post on X on Saturday (July 25, 2026), announced that he has tendered his resignation from the post of Union Education Minister.
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio.
Prime Minister Narendra is yet to provide any public comment on this.
Also Read | The ‘cockroaches’ who refuse to crawl away
Loud cheers erupted at the Cockroach Janata Party protest site at Jantar Mantar after its founder Abhijeet Dipke announced Mr. Pradhan resignation announcement before the gathering, declaring that the movement had achieved its first breakthrough. Mr. Dipke, however, made it clear that the agitation would continue.
With Mr. Pradhan stepping down, Dipke described it as the movement’s “first victory” but reiterated that the remaining demands — compensation for the bereaved families and action against those responsible for the alleged paper leak — were yet to be fulfilled.
President accepts Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Pralhad Joshi to take charge of Education Ministry
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio.
- Nistula Hebbar
- July 25, 2026 23:30Pradhan’s resignation 'first step towards end of BJP': Andhra Congress chief
Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as the “first step towards the end of BJP” and said it is time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow suit.
“Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned..Now it’s time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi…The resignation of the Education Minister is a testament to the growing discontent among the people of the country. It’s the first step toward the end of the BJP,” said Ms. Sharmila in a post on X.
PTI
- July 25, 2026 23:14Pradhan's resignation victory of democracy, time for reforms now: Wangchuk
Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday welcomed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as “a victory of democracy”, but stressed that “accountability” must now be followed by reforms in education and governance.
He also urged the Centre to fulfil its commitments on Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
In a video statement issued after Pradhan stepped down, Wangchuk said the resignation marked the success of a peaceful democratic movement but cautioned that “resignation alone does not make a nation.” “I welcome the decision taken by the government and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on his resignation. It shows sensitivity on the part of the government. It is a victory of democracy, and we should all cherish it,” he said.
Declaring that the agitation has entered a new phase, Wangchuk said, “There has been accountability. Now it is time for reforms in education so that we have a robust system that makes us a great nation.” “Resignation alone does not make a nation,” he said, adding that no child or family should have to undergo the ordeal faced by students affected by the alleged NEET paper leak.
- PTI
- July 25, 2026 23:13Delhi Police Ikshna van at Jantar Mantar protest site
- July 25, 2026 23:08This decision is a victory for the movement: TMC Kunal Ghosh
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, “Those who were leading the movement have a major role in this. This step should have been taken much earlier. The police action against students in Delhi was unfair, and this decision is a victory for the movement and for the voices that have risen across the country.”
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- July 25, 2026 21:49U.P. opposition parties hail Pradhan's exit, say it's victory of children who stood their ground
Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh termed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday a “victory of children who fought on the streets” and the result of a “revolution”.
State Congress president Ajay Rai credited the victory to “lakhs of hardworking students who stood their ground on the streets” as well as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, “who strongly raised the matter at the national level”.
“Undoubtedly, this is our victory, a victory of our leader Rahul Gandhi, who strongly raised this matter at the national level. Unlike others who left the field, Rahul Gandhi remained firm and stood with the protesting students,” Mr. Rai told PTI videos.
He pointed out that on Friday, the youth who sustained pellet injuries in police action against protesters during the July 20 Parliament march was introduced to the entire nation by Gandhi.
- PTI
- July 25, 2026 21:47Pradhan’s resignation victory of students’ struggle, marks end of BJP’s arrogance: Patwari
Madhya Pradesh Congress on Saturday termed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation a historic victory for crores of students, parents and youth, claiming it marked the beginning of the end of the BJP government’s “arrogance”.
Mr. Pradhan resigned from his post earlier in the day following protests by students across the country over irregularities in the exam system and the NEET paper leak.
In a statement, the party’s MP president Jitu Patwari claimed that the BJP government’s “stubbornness, arrogance and authoritarian attitude” had finally given way to public pressure.
He claimed that 21 students had died, more than 152 examination paper leaks had taken place during the BJP’s tenure, 7.5 crore students and their families had been affected, and over 50 examinations had been cancelled.
Mr. Patwari accused the ruling party of repeatedly jeopardising the future of the youth.
- PTI
- July 25, 2026 21:29Joy, tears at Jantar Mantar as Pradhan resigns and protest withdrawn
Jubilant scenes erupted at Jantar Mantar on Saturday as chants of “Hum Jeet Gaye” (We have won) rang out across the protest site after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, following weeks of demonstrations over examination paper leaks.
As the celebrations continued, authorities began overseeing the winding down of the demonstration, urging protesters to disperse peacefully, while the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) reopened all entry and exit gates at nearby stations to facilitate their movement.
Celebratory chants and slogans echoed through the historic protest site, marking a dramatic climax to weeks of mounting public outrage and agitations over examination paper leaks and systemic flaws in national competitive tests.
For many, the moment was deeply personal. Among those was Rajesh Thapa, father of late NEET-UG aspirant Riya Thapa, who lost her life due to the examination uncertainty. Holding on to the memory of his daughter, he spoke to PTI about why he chose to stand alongside the student community.“Children are fighting for their rights, if my daughter were here, she might have joined them too. I thought to myself, since she isn’t here, I should go in her place, so that nothing like this ever happens to anyone else’s child,” Mr. Thapa said, his voice heavy with emotion.
- PTI
- July 25, 2026 21:25J&K political parties describe Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as victory for youth
Political parties in Kashmir on Saturday welcomed the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, describing it as a victory for the country’s youth.
Mr. Pradhan stepped down from his post on Saturday, 35 days after a clamour for his resignation over irregularities in the exam system and the NEET paper leak galvanised thousands of students in an unprecedented protest spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Pradhan’s resignation was a victory for the youth who remained hungry and thirsty but did not indulge in violence. “I think it’s a victory for the youth of India. The youth who stood there for so many days, hungry and thirsty, absolutely did not indulge in any violence,” Ms. Mehbooba told reporters in Srinagar.
She said Mahatma Gandhi’s India is reclaiming its space now.
National Conference (NC) chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said it was the victory of every single student who came out to speak for their rights. “I think it is a good thing that the students of this country have been heard. I feel this is their victory, and it is a victory for every single student who came out and spoke up for their rights,” Mr. Sadiq told reporters in Srinagar.
- PTI
- July 25, 2026 21:07Pradhan's resignation appropriate; Centre must act against police: Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati termed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation “appropriate”, and said it would have been better had this step been taken earlier.
In a post on X in Hindi, Ms. Mayawati said, “The decision by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign today, in the wake of the protests by students and youth, is appropriate, though it would have been better had this step been taken earlier. Furthermore, our party expects the Central Government to take strict action against the police personnel who brutally assaulted -- using batons and sticks -- the unarmed young men and women peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar, leaving many of them seriously injured.” She said the male police personnel who engaged in indecent and shameful misconduct and used force against the female protesters must be identified.”
-PTI
- July 25, 2026 20:59Youth rid country of fear; Sunday’s rally to be held to congratulate them: Uddhav, Raj
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have said the rally organised by their parties in Mumbai on Sunday (July 26) will take place as planned to congratulate the youth, who have brought the country out of an “atmosphere of fear”.
Raj Thackeray said that they would go ahead with their scheduled rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on Sunday, originally planned to support the CJP’s agitation demanding Pradhan’s resignation, to congratulate the youth on their victory.
-PTI
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