Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was not the result of a single controversy but the culmination of a series of setbacks over several months. What began with the NEET-UG paper leak in May was followed by another controversy involving blurred CBSE answer sheets later that month, before escalating into one of the largest protest movements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term by July.
From two major controversies and multiple public acknowledgements of responsibility to his eventual resignation, the events unfolded over the course of nearly six months.
February: A routine change
On February 9, the CBSE issued what appeared to be a routine notification announcing that Class 12 answer sheets would be evaluated digitally instead of being physically sent to regional centres.
At the time, the decision attracted little attention. However, it would become significant just a few months later.
May 3: NEET-UG paper leak
The NEET-UG examination for medical admissions was hit by allegations of irregularities soon after it was conducted.
The government responded by cancelling the examination, transferring the investigation to the CBI and later announcing a fresh examination date.
Given that the examination involves more than two million aspirants annually, the controversy quickly became a major challenge for the Education Ministry.
May 13: CBSE results trigger fresh controversy
When CBSE announced the Class 12 results under its new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, students began reporting problems including blurred scanned answer sheets, missing pages, mismatched copies and unanswered responses being left unchecked.
An 18-year-old student who highlighted alleged irregularities in the OSM tender process on social media faced online abuse, including criticism from a Doordarshan anchor who later issued a partial apology.
The controversy over the board's handling of the complaints soon developed into a separate issue alongside the marking errors.
Late May: Pradhan accepts responsibility
On May 15, Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged the NEET-UG paper leak and said the government was taking responsibility, referring to it as a "breach in the chain of command."
Later, on May 28, he chaired a review meeting at CBSE headquarters attended by the School Education Secretary, the CBSE Chairperson and experts from IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur.
Addressing reporters, Pradhan said he accepted responsibility and assured that corrective measures would be taken.
Meanwhile, the CBSE re-evaluation portal encountered repeated delays. It missed its scheduled launch on May 29, failed to meet another deadline on June 1, and when it eventually became operational on June 2, many students reported payment-related issues.
June: NEET re-examination
Even as the CBSE controversy continued, the rescheduled NEET-UG examination was successfully conducted on June 21 for more than 20 lakh candidates.
Officials described the exercise as a coordinated effort involving both the Centre and state administrations, and the examination concluded without major disruptions.
On June 24, Pradhan again publicly accepted responsibility, saying that the events should not have occurred and that he remained accountable.
July 16: Results but continuing unrest
The NEET-UG results were declared on July 16, with many students from modest backgrounds securing strong performances.
However, public anger over the earlier paper leak had not subsided.
By then, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had emerged following the controversy, had transformed into a sustained protest movement centred at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, attracting support from Opposition parties and student organisations across the country.
July 20: The turning point
The movement reached a new phase on July 20 during the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" march from Jantar Mantar.
Large crowds gathered before clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel, with police and the Rapid Action Force using batons and tear gas. More than 100 people were reportedly injured.
Following allegations of excessive force against largely student protesters, what had initially been a persistent protest developed into one of the biggest public challenges faced by the Modi government during its third term.
From that point onwards, Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation emerged as the movement's central demand.
July 25: Resignation
On July 25, Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and simultaneously made the letter public on X.
In the letter, he accepted responsibility, thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve, and said his resignation was intended to prevent students from becoming entangled in prolonged legal complications.
After months of controversy, repeated public statements accepting responsibility and sustained political pressure, the developments that began with a seemingly routine policy decision in February ultimately culminated in Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
