LIVE | Pralhad Joshi gets additional charge of education ministry; CJP withdraws protest
CJP requests all protesters to retreat, says govt has promised to provide in writing by Tuesday that no action will be taken against CJP or other protesters
In a huge victory for NEET protesters, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union education minister on Saturday (July 25), taking moral responsibility for the NEET question paper leak and the subsequent chaos that broke out in the shape of student's protests in Delhi's Jantar Mantar led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and educationist-activist Sonam Wangchuk, which spread like wildfire across the country.
As the protests intensified, the Union Cabinet approved a draft Bill to ensure stricter punishments — 10 years' jail for paper leaks, fine up to Rs 10 crore — hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement. The draft Bill was approved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Parliament House complex on Friday.
Also read: The latest developments LIVE
The Bill seeks an amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and proposes a minimum punishment of five years' imprisonment for individuals involved in paper leaks and/or a fine. It proposes a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 10 crore in case of organised paper leaks.
Dipke, Wangchuk’s message
As Opposition leaders hailed this “victory of youth power”, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged people not to make him a hero for Pradhan’s resignation. “Don’t make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero...”
Dipke also said Pradhan’s stepping down showed that if people decide against bowing down before the Narendra Modi government, they can take the “resignation of anyone”. He asked people to raise their voice, which he said would keep the rulers “in line”. “Today, they consider themselves as kings while they are there because of us,” Dipke said.
Also read: ‘Don’t make me a hero, country ruined by making one person a hero’: Dipke after Pradhan quits
Later, the CJP held another round of talks with the government over their other two demands, including a compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of students who committed suicide in the wake of the NEET examination paper leak in May and an assurance that no legal measures would be taken against the CJP or any protester. The CJP withdrew its protest with immediate effect "in good faith" after the government agreed to meet all demands. The government has agreed to give it in writing on Tuesday.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving the Centre's written assurances, posted on X: “IT’S A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY… direct democracy... straight from the streets. It’s a victory of peace, patience and perseverance. Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation. FROM ACCOUNTABILITY, NOW TO REFORMS.”
Follow live updates of CJP's protest in Delhi, here.
Live Updates
- 25 July 2026 5:18 PM IST
Youth victory proves India is in safe hands, says Mehbooba Mufti on Pradhan's resignation
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti described Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a victory for the youth of India, who persevered through days of peaceful, non-violent protest. She added that by rejecting divisive narratives and upholding the "Idea of India," the nation's young people have shown that the country is in safe hands and taken a vital first step toward reclaiming Gandhi's vision for the nation.
- 25 July 2026 5:12 PM IST
‘Thanks for calling us cockroaches’: Dipke credits CJI’s remark for sparking CJP movement
Speaking from the stage at Jantar Mantar shortly after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union Education Minister, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke directed a message to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, thanking him for the label that birthed their movement. Dipke told supporters that had the CJI not referred to them as "cockroaches," he would never have returned to India and the movement would not have taken root.
The comment points back to the movement's origin on May 15, when the CJI remarked during a Supreme Court hearing on Senior Advocate designations that certain youngsters were like "cockroaches" without employment or standing in the profession. Although CJI Kant subsequently clarified that his statement was directed specifically at individuals holding fraudulent law degrees rather than unemployed youth generally, and accused sections of the media of misquoting him, his explanations failed to halt the remark's viral spread.
- 25 July 2026 5:02 PM IST
Celebrations erupt at Jantar Mantar following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
Protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar were seen celebrating following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- 25 July 2026 4:59 PM IST
Meeting of CJP, Union ministers underway after Pradhan's resignation
Another meeting between the government and the Cockroach Janta Party was underway on Saturday, shortly after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union cabinet.
Pradhan's resignation was the main demand of the CJP.
While the central government was represented by Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the CJP delegation comprises spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India here.
Facing spiralling protests for his ouster over the NEET paper leak issue, Pradhan resigned on Saturday, saying it is not a matter of "individual prestige" for him, and he wanted to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country.
It is to be seen how the government navigates the two other key demands of the CJP -- Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of those who died by suicide after the cancellation of the May 3 NEET-UG and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.
The outfit has been spearheading the protests that started at Jantar Mantar on June 20, seeking resignation of Pradhan and education reforms.
- 25 July 2026 4:49 PM IST
Pradhan's resignation major dent in Cabinet's stubbornness: RJD MP Manoj Jha
Opposition leaders described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on Saturday as an overdue admission of failure following weeks of intense student protests, with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha calling the move the first major dent in the ruling cabinet's stubbornness.
"This is just the beginning. The first peak of the arrogance and stubbornness that defined Modi Ji's cabinet has finally fallen today. This victory belongs to the spirit of the youth, their freedom, and their relentless questions," Jha said.
Calling for structural changes in the country's examination and educational apparatus, Jha urged the government to replace what he termed a compromised system with a transparent one.
"I bow to the students who proved that the entire system was compromised and lacked transparency. We now need a better, far more transparent mechanism with high accountability. I salute every young voice fighting for these answers," Jha said.
- 25 July 2026 4:45 PM IST
Pradhan's resignation a victory for youth, but key demands remain: Rahul Gandhi
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a symbolic yet major step toward rebuilding India's education system. Congratulating the youth for taking to the streets to defend democracy and the Constitution, he reminded the government that two key demands remain unfulfilled.
- 25 July 2026 4:44 PM IST
Police urge calm and peaceful dispersal, say monitoring situation
Special Commissioner of Police Devesh Chandra Srivastava stated that law enforcement is currently monitoring the ongoing dispersal of the crowd, appealing to the public to remain calm and leave peacefully. He assured that police forces are present to assist everyone and urged citizens to avoid creating any law and order disruptions to help maintain overall peace.
- 25 July 2026 4:39 PM IST
PM Modi should apologise to protesting students instead of making ‘silly videos’: Priyanka
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that he apologise to students protesting in New Delhi against alleged irregularities in the NEET exam for the "brutalities" they suffered at the hands of the police.
Vadra said that instead of apologising, the PM was "busy making silly videos", thanking people for helping him gain more followers on Instagram.
"It is ridiculous at this time. It is ridiculous. He is responsible for young children being out on the streets all over India. He is responsible for them being shot with pellet guns as if they're terrorists," she told reporters in Wayanad. "He (PM Modi) is responsible," she reiterated, adding that he had to answer to the nation. "He has to appear in Parliament. He has to make the changes that the students are asking for," she said.
The Congress MP alleged that the system had let down students, claiming that 152 paper leaks had occurred during the tenure of the current government. "The system has broken them (students) and shattered their future. Anybody who wants to take an exam is terrified. If a paper leaks, some rich child can buy it for Rs 30-40 lakh. What will the rest of the students do? They no longer have any faith in the system. And you are offering them a solution from the same system," she said.
- 25 July 2026 4:36 PM IST
'Accountability in democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded': Tharoor on Pradhan's resignation
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union Education Minister is an acknowledgment of the fact that accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded.
Tharoor, who was Minister of State for Human Resource Development during UPA-II, asserted that accountability does not end with this resignation and deeper failures must now be addressed through transparent reforms.
He said the students who marched, spoke out and peacefully persisted deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story. "The resignation of the Education Minister is an acknowledgment that accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded. It comes after weeks of determined, peaceful voices raised by students, parents and citizens across the country who refused to be ignored," Tharoor said on X.
The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said it also comes after far too many young Indians faced unnecessary police brutality and force for exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest. That should concern every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, he said.
"But accountability does not end with a resignation. The deeper failures that brought us here must now be addressed through transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and a commitment to ensuring that no young Indian's future is jeopardised again," Tharoor said.
- 25 July 2026 4:30 PM IST
Left-wing students hold demonstration, clash with police in support of Bihar bandh
Members of left-wing student organisations held demonstrations and clashed with police in several districts of Bihar on Saturday in support of the statewide bandh called against NEET paper leak and police action on protesting students, officials said.
The bandh turned violent in Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad and Bhagalpur, while districts like Samastipur, Nawada and Nalanda witnessed mild protests, police said.
Security has been tightened with heavy police deployment across all districts of the state.
Protesters pelted stones and bricks at police personnel at Dak Bungalow Chouraha in Patna, after which police detained several students.
"Protesters pelted stones at us. They even tried to break the barricade. We have detained several students. Police are on high alert. We will trace the troublemakers and take appropriate action against them," Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma told reporters.
Police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd to prevent it from swelling, an officer said.
