India Education Minister Resigns Over NEET Exam Leaks After Youth Protests

Published Jul 30, 05:47 AM UTC

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 after taking moral responsibility for NEET exam paper leaks and subsequent youth-led protests. The resignation, only the second forced in the Modi government's 12-year tenure, was driven by Gen Z protesters organized through social media. The movement, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party, centered on demands for education reform and governmental accountability. Protests spread from New Delhi's Jantar Mantar to states including Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, and Telangana. The government sent senior politicians to negotiate with young representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The article analyzes how digital dissent, satire, and viral content created a new language of protest, arguing the movement demonstrates that collective action remains effective in Indian democracy and that accountability is negotiated through public engagement beyond elections.