Raipur
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026.
In an official statement released on Saturday, Pradhan said he accepted moral responsibility for the situation and decided to step down so that students could focus on their studies without getting caught in legal complications or political distractions.
Following irregularities reported during the 3 May 2026 NEET-UG examination, the Central Government ordered a CBI investigation, cancelled the original exam and announced a re-examination.
The re-examination was conducted on 21 June 2026 across the country with support from State Governments and local administrations, covering more than 20 lakh students. The results were declared on 16 July 2026, with students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds performing successfully.
Pradhan expressed concern over political elements allegedly attempting to mislead students, referring to protests at Jantar Mantar and demonstrations across the country.
“To ensure anti-national forces do not take advantage of the situation, to safeguard national unity, and to protect the future of students from legal entanglements, I have submitted my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” Pradhan said.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues and officials of the Ministry of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan reaffirmed his commitment to serving the nation, the people of Odisha, and the youth of India.
