Pradhan Resigns Amid Student Uprising: Wangchuk Ends 26-Day Fast After Centre’s Written Assurances; CJP Calls Off Protest
New Delhi, July 25, 2026 — In a dramatic sequence that has drawn nationwide attention, Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union Education Minister on Saturday, marking one of the rare instances in which a senior Cabinet minister stepped down following weeks of sustained nationwide student protests. The move came after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike late Thursday night and the subsequent withdrawal of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) agitation at Jantar Mantar.
The events, unfolding over weeks of escalating protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, have raised questions about the political calculations behind the government’s engagement, even as verified facts point to a carefully managed de-escalation.
The Full Timeline
The agitation began in mid-June 2026 when the satirical, Gen Z-driven Cockroach Janta Party launched protests against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the NEET-UG medical entrance test held on May 3. That exam was cancelled after leaks were confirmed, forcing a re-test on June 21 for over 22 lakh candidates. The controversy was also linked by multiple reports to more than a dozen student suicides, further intensifying public outrage.
On June 20, CJP began an indefinite sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. On June 28, Ladakh-based engineer, educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk—widely known for inspiring the “3 Idiots” character and for earlier campaigns on Ladakh’s constitutional safeguards—joined the protest and launched an indefinite hunger strike. His principal demands broadly aligned with those of CJP: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accountability for paper leaks, systemic examination reforms, ₹1 crore compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters.
Wangchuk’s health deteriorated sharply. After 21 days without food, he was forcibly shifted from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on court orders. His wife later approached the Delhi High Court alleging inadequate care, leading to his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. By then he had lost around 11 kg.
Tensions peaked on July 20 when protesters attempted a “Sansad Chalo” march toward Parliament. Police used lathi charges and tear gas, leaving several students injured. Wangchuk later cited fears of a broader crackdown, recalling the September 24, 2025, firing incident in Ladakh.
The Turning Point at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon
Late on July 23 (into the early hours of July 24), Wangchuk ended his fast in the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, along with senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh. He broke the fast with juice and later chicken soup.
According to multiple reports, the breakthrough followed a four-hour high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah with Nadda and Singh. The meeting focused on Wangchuk’s deteriorating health and the expanding nationwide agitation. The two ministers then visited Medanta, conveyed the Centre’s written assurances, and were present when he ended the fast.
The written commitments, read out by Nadda, covered three points:
• No legal action or FIRs against those who protested peacefully at Jantar Mantar or participated in the July 20 march.
• A thorough discussion and debate in Parliament on paper leaks, examination reforms and accountability.
• Positive consideration of suitable compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the leaks.
Wangchuk emphasised he had insisted on the written form of the no-cases assurance. He noted that 65 MPs from various parties had either visited him or signed appeals urging him to stop. In a video statement, he said he ended the fast “after a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.” He made clear he had not received a firm timeline on Pradhan’s resignation, prioritising protection of students over that single demand. “If he doesn’t resign, it won’t harm the children or us; it will harm the government itself,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly afterwards wished Wangchuk a speedy recovery and urged him to follow doctors’ advice. Separately, he announced plans for stronger anti-paper-leak legislation, fast-track courts and a Cabinet discussion on examination reforms.
CJP welcomed the end of the fast but insisted its protest would continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. Talks between CJP leaders and government ministers were scheduled at the Constitution Club of India.
Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns: What He Said
On Saturday, July 25, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, announcing his decision through a detailed resignation letter and social media posts addressed to the nation’s youth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He framed the decision as one taken in the larger interest of students and the country, explicitly distancing it from personal prestige.
He wrote:
“The events of the past 10 days have saddened me. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me It is my resolve that we will not allow the country’s youth power to become trapped in a web of confusion. The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces so that the unity of the country remains intact, so that the future of no student in India gets tangled in legal complexities, and so that our children spend their time studying and focusing on building their careers Keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister.”
Pradhan defended the government’s response to the May 3 irregularities. He said the matter was handed to the CBI, the examination was cancelled, a re-examination was conducted on June 21, results were declared on July 16, and a shift to computer-based testing was announced for future NEET-UG examinations.
He added:
“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned my back on the situation. My resolve was that we will not let the future of any meritorious student be ruined by exam mafias, nor will we allow injustice to happen to any student.”
He also expressed distress that “individuals sitting in responsible positions” had attempted to mislead students.
Protest Ends, Questions Linger
Hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, CJP announced it was withdrawing its 36-day agitation “in good faith”, stating that the government had accepted its demands. The Centre further assured that FIRs filed against protesters across the country would be withdrawn. Wangchuk welcomed the resignation as “a victory for democracy” and “direct democracy that came from the streets”, congratulating CJP, Gen Z participants and peaceful citizens.
The sequence has inevitably prompted questions about the government’s political calculation in defusing a rapidly expanding Gen Z-led mobilisation over an issue that resonated nationally. The visible role of Home Minister Amit Shah in coordinating the outreach, the written assurances short of immediate resignation, and the swift subsequent exit of Pradhan have all drawn attention.
What remains less clear is the full internal decision-making process that bridged the hospital assurances on July 23-24 and the resignation the next day. Public reporting consistently attributes the key coordination to Shah’s meeting; no verified information has emerged linking the National Security Advisor or any other agency to the hospital negotiations or the final decision.
Whether there were additional strategic considerations behind the scenes, or whether the episode will ultimately be remembered as a case of pragmatic crisis management, remains unknown on the basis of the publicly available evidence. The government’s subsequent introduction of stronger anti-paper-leak legislation and the promised parliamentary debate will determine how the accountability Wangchuk sought ultimately unfolds.
