NEET paper leak row: Pralhad Joshi appointed as new Indian education minister

An official government communiqué announcing the reshuffle stated: "The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India."

It further said: "As advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing portfolio."

Joshi will continue to serve as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs while taking on the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry.

Reacting to Pradhan's resignation, Joshi wrote on X: "Shri @dpradhanbjp Ji has had an illustrious political career spanning decades. His commitment to the development of the Nation will always be remembered."

He added: "His tenure witnessed the successful implementation of NEP 2020 along with over 100 big and small reforms in the field of education. Placing larger interest above everything else, Shri Pradhan Ji's decision to step down does not in anyway stop him from contributing to the Nation's development."

Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the satirical political outfit that spearheaded the nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak, on Saturday called off its month-long protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar after meeting Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda. The ministers assured the protesters that FIRs registered against demonstrators and organisers would be withdrawn.

The decision was announced during a joint press conference addressed by CJP representatives along with the two Union ministers, just hours after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union Education Minister—a key demand of the protesters.

Announcing the decision, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said: "All our demands have been accepted. We request the protesters to peacefully withdraw the protest with immediate effect."

The meeting marked the third round of talks between the Centre and the CJP since the agitation began. What started as a sit-in at Jantar Mantar gradually evolved into a nationwide movement, with demonstrations spreading to several cities, including Kolkata and Mumbai.

Explaining the outcome of the negotiations, CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said the government had agreed to withdraw legal cases filed against protesters.

"Our second demand was that all the FIRs filed against the protesters—not just in Delhi but across BJP-ruled and BJP-allied states—should be withdrawn. The government has accepted that demand as well," Das was quoted as saying by India Today.