In an open letter shared on X, Pradhan says he stepped down to safeguard students’ future, uphold national unity and prevent anti-national elements from exploiting the situation.
TFP Bureau, New Delhi, July 25,2026: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that he has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing moral responsibility in the wake of the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
In an open letter shared on his official account on the social media platform X, Pradhan said he was deeply distressed by recent developments and believed that the interests of students and the nation must remain above all else.
He stated that the country’s youth should not be trapped in an atmosphere of confusion and uncertainty, nor should the future of millions of students become entangled in prolonged legal disputes.
Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had made every possible effort to safeguard the interests of students and improve opportunities for the nation’s youth. However, he added that he had decided to step down so that “the country’s enemies and anti-social elements do not exploit the prevailing situation.”
Referring to the NEET-UG 2026 examination, Pradhan said irregularities were detected following the test held on May 3. He noted that the Central Government responded promptly by handing over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cancelling the examination and announcing a fresh schedule for the re-examination.
He also highlighted that the government had decided to shift the NEET examination to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format from next year to strengthen transparency and examination security.
According to Pradhan, the re-examination was conducted through a “whole-of-government” approach, with active coordination between the Central Government, state governments and district administrations. With the support of students, parents and officials, the examination was successfully held on June 21.
The Union Minister said the NEET-UG 2026 results, declared on July 16, reflected the hard work of students across the country, including many meritorious candidates from economically weaker sections. However, he expressed disappointment that certain individuals in positions of responsibility allegedly attempted to mislead students and create obstacles during the process.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan said the developments of the past ten days, including protests at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country, had caused him deep anguish. He said his decision to resign was intended to prevent anti-national forces from taking advantage of the situation, preserve national unity and ensure that the academic future of students remained unaffected by prolonged controversies.
“I have submitted my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister so that not even a single Indian student’s future gets entangled in legal complexities and our children can focus on their education and careers,” he wrote.
Concluding his message, Pradhan said that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, he would continue serving the nation, the people of Odisha and the country’s youth in every possible capacity in the years ahead.
Note: The report is based on the contents of the resignation letter shared by Dharmendra Pradhan on his official X account. An official announcement regarding the acceptance of his resignation by the Prime Minister’s Office was not mentioned in the statement provided.
