India's Education Minister Pradhan resigns after NEET paper leak protests

Last week’s notable developments include Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as protests spread nationwide following a police crackdown on students that left several injured, the U.S. applying 10% tariffs on 60 countries including India, and more. Here are the top developments in charts and graphics.

Published – July 29, 2026 06:33 pm IST By The Hindu Bureau

(1) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns, a Win for CJP

In a significant win for protesters from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following massive protests calling for his removal after the NEET UG paper leak and bungled CBSE on-screen marking.

Not security concerns, but erosion of political capital of the ruling party led to Pradhan’s resignation

The development marked the culmination of a 36-day protest in Delhi and reports of police brutality. Since its inception in May this year, the CJP has grown from a small community into an organisation with a nationwide footprint and empathetic supporters across the country who demand accountability from the government for several policy failures.

A timeline tracking its inception, the protest, how the government and security forces responded, and its aftermath is provided below.

(2) U.S. and Saudi Arabia Sign Civilian Nuclear Deal

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark civilian nuclear deal that gave U.S. nuclear equipment suppliers and manufacturers a stronger foothold in the West Asian country, which is looking to expand its nuclear power facilities.

While the U.S. has pitched the deal as one that would bolster the U.S. economy as well as promote clean energy, critics have cautioned that Saudi Arabia could use the deal to start a nuclear weapons program and trigger a weapons race in the region.

• Uranium enrichment is hardest in the initial stages. Weapons-grade enrichment is relatively easier to achieve past initial enrichment challenges, and with American support, Saudi Arabia will have the technology and expertise to handle the latter.
• The lack of an "Additional Protocol" in the deal means the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will not have enhanced permissions to conduct more extensive audits of nuclear facilities and uranium use.
• The U.S. has stated that uranium enrichment within Saudi Arabia will only proceed after a joint study to determine whether such a measure is warranted.
• Such assurances aside, the deal could complicate talks with Iran.

Understanding the Saudi-U.S. nuclear agreement | Explained

(3) U.S. Applies 10% Tariffs on Indian Imports

The U.S. announced on Friday, July 24, 2026, that it will apply 10% tariffs on Indian imports as a measure against countries that allow forced labour within their borders. India was one of 60 such countries identified in an earlier U.S. report.

• India is one of 18 countries that now face the 10% "forced labour" tariffs, while other countries identified in the report face 12.5% tariffs.
• Goods including engineering goods, textiles and garments, chemicals, machinery, plastics, and other products amounting to 70% of India’s exports will face the 10% tariffs.
• These tariffs are applied on top of those the products already face under Most-Favoured-Nation rates.

The 10% tariffs come on the back of several previous tariff announcements and continuing talks for a trade deal between the two countries.

All you need to know about Trump’s 10% tariff on India and other countries over forced labour concerns