India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after weeks of Gen Z-led protests demanding that he take responsibility for an examination paper leak that affected millions of students.
The resignation marked the first major concession from prime minister Narendra Modi’s government after a movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) resulted in weeks of nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes.
Soon after, the spokespersons of the group, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, in a joint press conference with union ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda, announced the withdrawal of the agitation “in good faith”. The announcement followed CJP spokespersons meeting with the ministers for a third round of talks regarding their demands.
The government, in turn, agreed to withdraw all cases against student protesters.
“Cockroach Janta Party declares that we withdraw the agitation in good faith, with the understanding that the agreed-upon terms will be executed within the agreed-upon timelines,” Das said. “Our second demand was that all the FIRs filed against the protesters, not just in Delhi but in all BJP-ruled and BJP-allied states, should be withdrawn. This was also our second demand. The government has accepted that demand as well.”
The CJP sprang up as a satirical platform, providing a rallying point for millions of young Indians frustrated over high unemployment and exam paper leaks and seeking greater government accountability.
Over the past week, tens of thousands gathered in the capital Delhi demanding the resignation of Mr Pradhan over leaks of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet), India’s undergraduate medical school entrance exam, which affected some two million students in May, and have been linked to several student suicides.
The demonstrations have become one of the most visible signs of public dissent against Mr Modi’s government in recent years, with thousands returning to the streets even after police used tear gas and batons this week to disperse marchers trying to reach parliament.
The “cockroaches”, as the protesters call themselves, welcomed the move.
“We have done it,” said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of CJP, who started the movement as a mocking response to a pointed comment from India’s top judge, Justice Surya Kant, who likened India’s unemployed youth in a speech to “cockroaches”. Mr Dipke’s words were met with loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site.
India’s biggest street protests of recent years have become a political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges to Mr Modi as politicians joined youngsters’ calls to demand action.
“This is democracy. He has resigned,” said Mr Dipke.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 25, 2026
“We have two more demands. We won’t go like this. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. But the families of the children who committed suicide should receive compensation of one crore rupees (£77,700). They should get it. One crore rupees compensation to all those families. And second, these police goons who acted on the 20th (July). Action must be taken against the police officers for that. Remember, do not mess with cockroach.”
“DEMOCRACY WINS!” the Cockroach Janta Party wrote on X following the minister’s resignation.
Mr Pradhan’s resignation came even as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in the Indian capital, hours before the protest leaders’ scheduled talks with ministers.
“Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation ... I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister,” Mr Pradhan wrote in his post.
“I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”
Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread.
The government had shut down the exit of 18 metro stations closer to the protest site and suspended the internet in the area, in a bid to contain it.
Anger had boiled over since police on Monday injured many students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas to deter crowds of protesters marching on parliament.
The protests, led largely by young people and triggered by discontent over leaks of question papers for high-stakes entrance exams, reflect anger over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability.
Mr Modi’s government had earlier sought to ease tensions by announcing fast-track courts for cases involving exam paper leaks and saying it would introduce legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system.
यह केवल एक मंत्री का इस्तीफा नहीं, देश के लाखों युवाओं और छात्रों के संघर्ष की पहली बड़ी जीत है। जो सरकार युवाओं की आवाज को अनसुना कर रही थी, उसे आज झुकना ही पड़ा।
— @BharatNewsReal (@BharatnewsAds) July 25, 2026
धर्मेंद्र प्रधान ने दिया इस्तीफा pic.twitter.com/rKI0RtSHBu
Regarding the demand of compensation, union minister JP Nadda said, “On the issue of compensation, the government stated its position in very clear terms. We also have sympathy… All of us have said that honourable compensation, in accordance with the rules and regulations, and whatever maximum is possible, will be provided to them. Similarly, regarding the five-point charter that you gave me the day before yesterday and yesterday, which is related to reforms in the education examination system, our position is that we will give it serious consideration.
“We will also hold discussions with your delegation, and whatever can be deliberated upon, we will make every effort to do so. These were their demands. In my view, all the demands they presented have been accepted with sympathy and understanding.”
With the minister’s departure now confirmed and the concessions agreed, in principle at least, government ministers have appealed for an end to protests. Mr Nadda added, “My request to all of you is that those who have been leading the movement should withdraw their agitation so that we can all move forward peacefully.”
