India's education minister resigns after 'Cockroach' youth protests over exam leaks

India's Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigned on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following sustained youth protests across the country. The demonstrations were sparked by widespread leaks of examination papers, most notably the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a crucial entrance exam for medical schools. Authorities had invalidated the exam after its contents were found to have been leaked online, affecting approximately two million prospective students.

The protests were spearheaded by a youth movement known as the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), which originated as a satirical social media account in May 2026. The name emerged after a comment by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who reportedly referred to unemployed youth as "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a separate hearing. The CJP quickly gained significant traction, transitioning from an online presence to organizing nationwide rallies demanding Pradhan's resignation, broader education reforms, and accountability for the leaks.

Pradhan announced his resignation on social media, describing the decision as a measure to prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the unrest. Following his departure, the Cockroach Janta Party declared an end to its protests, indicating that the government had agreed to their demands, which also included compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the exam cancellations and the withdrawal of legal action against protesters. Pralhad Joshi has since been appointed with additional charge of the Ministry of Education.