The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026. This happened due to nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, which eventually resulted in the deaths of about 21 students aspiring to become doctors. This year, an unfortunate NEET paper leak happened due to some NTA (National Testing Agency) officials who weren't responsible enough, and the security of the question paper wasn't secure either.
Engineer, educationist, scientist, and activist Sonam Wangchuk initiated this protest. He started fasting beside the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 28, 2026. Later, some members of the CJP party also joined him, including the party’s president Abhijeet Dipke himself, hence showing full support.
Various students joined the protest as well. They unanimously demanded a valid answer from the government. They further demanded a promise from the government that such leaks aren't to happen in the future and that the education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had to resign. The protesters got support from all over the country, and food for them was sent via Swiggy and Zomato, with constant sharing of the ongoing status of the protest on social media and so on.
It can definitely be said that Wangchuk wasn't the only one to lead this moment, but also a large mass of the population backing him up. Such as CJP leaders coming up to speak for him. Prominent personalities such as Arundhati Roy, Prakash Raj, Ayesha Khan, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhaskar, HanumanKind and etcetera, also showed support by joining the protest happening in Jantar Mantar.
There were students, parents, teachers, and the common crowd from all over the country defending the protestors and speaking up in their support. This moment, the resignation of the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, followed by the plea of millions of people, would not have been possible without people coming together in unison.
By coming together and having achieved a common target, we, the people of India, have once again proved that when united, we stand. It is thereby proved and ensured that India will always remain and thrive as a democratic nation. Activists and members from groups like the All India Students' Association (AISA) also joined and coordinated the physical mobilisation on the ground.
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali Angmo, Co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives and a fellow activist, also actively represented and helped steer public actions and march commitments during the ongoing fasts.
The Indian government also gave responses from its side. They responded with forced crackdowns, public dismissals, and some government officials gave answers to the press.
Prime Minister Narendra Damodhar Modi responded to this by posting a tweet and giving clarifications on his Instagram account via a reel. He stated that he forgives the young protesters who used abusive language against him and his late mother during the Jantar Mantar demonstrations. He urged society to guide the youth with compassion rather than punishing or harassing them. The government did its part by conducting Re-neet in a safe and secure way.
This makes it a massive victory for the common people wanting justice and for the government to bear responsibility overall. Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday (July 25, 2026) described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as "a victory of democracy", and credited the nationwide student-led agitation and citizens' participation for the outcome.
“Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation, and thank you, all citizens, for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising from every corner of the nation”, said Sonam Wangchuk.
This protest became one of the biggest displays of resistance against Narendra Modi's government in years, with thousands camping in Delhi as demonstrations spread nationwide.
The movement further gained a lot of popularity after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly rushed into the hospital. He ended his 26-day hunger strike on Friday, July 23. Union ministers J. P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh then visited him in the hospital and helped him break his fast.
The government tried force first. It didn’t work. It tried talking for the second time. That worked better. A minister is gone, and the tactic that came before the resignation- the one that carried a starving man off by force instead of sending someone to hear him out- didn’t produce the resolution. It only delayed it. As Sonam Wangchuk has said, this marks a victory for a democratic India.
Sources: