Student leader to education minister: Dharmendra Pradhan's political career before NEET row
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned following widespread protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. The article details his political background, starting from his early days in student politics with the ABVP in Odisha to his ministerial tenure.
Why it matters
The resignation of a high-profile cabinet minister amid a major national examination scandal highlights significant political instability and public pressure regarding education reform in India.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Council of Ministers on Saturday amid continuing protests over the alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) paper leak.In a letter addressed to his "young friends", Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in view of the situation that has unfolded at Jantar Mantar and in different parts of the country.His resignation brings to a close a ministerial tenure during which he oversaw the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and several reforms in higher education, school education and skill development.Long before entering the Union Cabinet, however, Pradhan's political journey began in student politics in Odisha.Early life and educationDharmendra Pradhan was born on June 26, 1969, in Talcher, Odisha, into a political family.
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