India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday following weeks of mass demonstrations. The resignation, announced via X, comes after youth-led protests demanded his removal over exam paper leaks and irregularities in the national education system. This move marks a major victory for the student movement and the first significant concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
The unrest was sparked more than a month ago by allegations of leaks in several of India's most competitive entrance exams. One specific instance involved a medical entrance question paper leak that forced over two million candidates to re-sit the test, which undermined public trust in the university testing system.
Led by the Cockroach Janta Party, the Cockroach movement employed nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes, including one activist's 26-day hunger strike. In New Delhi, police used tear gas to scatter protesters at Jantar Mantar just hours before leaders were scheduled to hold talks with ministers.
Following Pradhan's resignation and the government's agreement to other key demands, the movement announced it is ending its protests. Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka informed cheering crowds that their struggle and patience had paid off, urging them to withdraw peacefully.