India's education minister resigns after youth protest movement secures concessions

India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on the social platform X after talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement that had organized nationwide protests over alleged exam paper leaks. The government also agreed to several of the group’s demands, leading the CJP to suspend its demonstrations.

"I hold deep respect for the aspirations, sentiments, and rightful expectations of the youth of this country," Pradhan wrote on X. "Realising the dreams of India’s young generation has been the moral resolve of our political and social life."

Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh said at a press conference that all police cases against protesters would be dropped and that compensation would be provided to families of students who died by suicide after the alleged leaks. The administration also indicated it would consider the CJP’s proposals for exam reforms.

The CJP, which began as an online parody of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, declared that its major demands had been accepted and announced the end of the protests. Participants gathered in New Delhi and other cities, waving flags and celebrating the outcome.

The protests, which started in May after leaks disrupted the NEET medical entrance exam, had spread to major urban centers and at times met with police using tear gas and batons. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had undertaken a 26-day hunger strike, ended his fast after negotiations and praised the resignation as a result of “peace, patience & perseverance.”

Prime Minister Modi later posted a video acknowledging the seriousness of the paper-leak issue and announced fast-track courts to handle related cases, though protesters said the response fell short of their broader demands for accountability.