From Lal Bahadur to Dharmendra Pradhan: Famous ministerial resignations in India
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following massive student protests over the NEET exam paper leak scandal. The article provides historical context on previous Indian cabinet ministers who resigned due to scandals.
Why it matters
The resignation reflects the impact of public accountability movements on Indian governance and sets a precedent for ministerial responsibility.
In a historic culmination of weeks of massive, student-led nationwide protests, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation on July 25, 2026, over the widespread NEET exam paper leak scandal.
The agitation gained unprecedented momentum after renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk joined forces with the student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) , leading a 26-day hunger strike to demand institutional accountability. Alongside the Congress and various student groups, the movement made the resignation of Mr. Pradhan a non-negotiable term.
This immense public pressure ultimately led Mr. Pradhan to officially step down from his post. As the country processes this massive political shift, it has fundamentally revived the debate over political accountability in India.
But have cabinet ministers in India resigned from their positions under the weight of scandals in the past? Let’s dive into it.
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