India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after protests over exam paper leaks, marking the biggest concession yet by the government to one of the country’s largest student movements in years.

Pradhan said he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a post on X. The recent events have left him “deeply pained,” he said.

The departure comes as Modi’s administration faces mounting public anger over unemployment and the credibility of India’s examination system. In recent weeks, the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth movement that began as an online satirical campaign, has led protests that have spread from the streets of New Delhi to Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, as well as Kolkata in the east and Kochi in the southern state of Kerala.

“Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear,” Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist whose 26-day hunger strike over the paper-leak scandal helped galvanize the youth movement, said on X.

The demonstrations, among the biggest since farmer protests in 2020–2021, reflected growing frustration over limited opportunities for educated young people. Analysts say repeated paper leaks, recruitment irregularities and delays have eroded confidence in the system.

“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned my back on the situation,” Pradhan said. “My resolve was that we will not let the future of any meritorious student be ruined by exam mafias, nor will we allow injustice to happen to any student.”

Although the Cockroach Janta Party’s key demand was Pradhan’s resignation, many demonstrators also targeted Modi, reflecting broader frustration with his government.

“The move shows that the government is finally taking accountability and responsibility for the leaks that impacted millions of youth,” said Neerja Chowdhury, a political analyst and columnist. “The government had to act as it did not expect the outpour of thousands of students on the street.”

The government had resisted calls for Pradhan to be removed, instead announcing a series of measures to address the crisis including a pledge to establish fast-track courts to prosecute those involved in exam paper leaks. But protests spread across the country, with opposition parties maintaining demands for the minister’s resignation.

“India’s youth appears to be increasingly disillusioned with the education system and the lack of employment opportunities,” said Harsh Pant, vice president at Observer Research Foundation. “Addressing these concerns will require broader course correction, something the government will need to seriously consider.”

Pradhan, 57, has held several key portfolios in Modi’s cabinet over the past 12 years, including in petroleum and natural gas, steel and skills development. He took charge of the education ministry in 2021 and retained the portfolio after the 2024 general election.

Leaders from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party stood by Pradhan, with national president Nitin Nabin saying the decision to step down reflected the “highest standards of integrity.”

Political commentators, though, highlighted the significance of the rare move.

Pradhan’s exit is “a big defeat for Mr. Modi,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of "Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times," which explores the leader’s rise. “This is the first time he has taken a step backward in the face of public protests and pressure.”

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(With assistance from Shruti Srivastava and Ruchi Bhatia.)

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