New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday, citing moral responsibility for the developments surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination and stating that his decision was aimed at safeguarding the interests of students.
In a post on X, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the move was intended to prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the prevailing situation and to ensure that students remained focused on their education and careers instead of becoming entangled in legal disputes.
In his two-page resignation letter, Pradhan said he had accepted moral responsibility for the issues related to the NEET-UG 2026 examination from the very beginning. He noted that after alleged irregularities in the May 3 examination came to light, the government handed the investigation over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelled the exam and successfully conducted a re-examination on June 21.
He also announced that the government has decided to conduct the NEET examination in the computer-based test (CBT) format from next year as part of measures to strengthen the examination process.
Pradhan said it was unfortunate that, even after the declaration of the NEET results on July 16, some people allegedly attempted to mislead students. He maintained that the issue was “not about personal prestige” but about protecting the future of the country’s youth.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance and support, Pradhan said he would continue to serve the nation and work for the welfare of young people.
The resignation comes amid protests and political pressure over the alleged NEET question paper leak, with Opposition parties demanding accountability from the Centre over the conduct of the examination.
