After Jantar Mantar, what needs to change in education?
Following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to exam irregularities, the article examines systemic issues in India's higher education and job market. It highlights the massive disparity between the high number of applicants and the limited availability of stable government positions.
Why it matters
The piece addresses the growing frustration among Indian youth regarding education quality, exam integrity, and the scarcity of government employment opportunities.
On July 25, 2026, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down, fulfilling the central demand of a movement that began with a satirical Instagram page. The resignation addresses the immediate triggers, the 2026 NEET-UG paper leak and irregularities in CBSE’s on-screen marking. But is this enough?
According to the Ministry of Education’s AISHE survey, higher education enrolment has climbed steadily, crossing 4.5 crore students in 2023-24, a rise of roughly 31.5% since 2014-15. The aspiration, however, was never “a degree.” It was an IIT, an IIM, a central university, or a stable government job through UPSC, SSC or a state PSC — and that supply has barely moved while the queue behind it has multiplied.
Government jobs make up about 1.4% of India’s working-age population. Nearly 50 lakh students applied for for 60,000 UP police constable posts in 2024. Meanwhile close to 10 lakh sanctioned central government posts sit vacant
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