Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday following weeks of protests over examination paper leaks that affected millions of students.

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, marking a significant development in response to widespread youth-led protests. Demonstrators had spent weeks demanding accountability for leaks in high-profile medical college entrance exams. The resignation occurred as police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in New Delhi, just before scheduled talks between protest leaders and government officials.

Protests and Political Impact

The protests, which began in June, escalated after police used batons and tear gas on Monday to disperse students marching toward Parliament. The movement, led by groups including the Cockroach Janta Party, drew support from opposition lawmakers and reflected broader public concerns regarding job shortages, corruption, and government accountability. In response to the unrest, federal authorities restricted internet access and closed 18 metro stations in the capital on Saturday. Pradhan, 57, is a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and has served as a minister since 2014. He is only the second minister to resign over a scandal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure.

Examination Leaks and Student Response

The unrest was triggered by the leak of a medical college entrance exam in May, which forced the government to cancel results and order a retest. The incident affected approximately 2 million students. Following the resignation announcement, protesters gathered at the Jantar Mantar site in New Delhi to celebrate, with activists like Sonam Wangchuk describing the move as a victory for the movement.