Key facts
- Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned Saturday.
- Protests intensified due to student suicides linked to the NEET exam leak scandal.
- Activist Sonam Wangchuk's 26-day fast was instrumental in the minister's resignation.
- The protests are referred to as India's 'Cockroach' movement.
- Protesters agreed to end demonstrations after government talks.
India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following weeks of mass youth-led protests over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities. The demonstrations, dubbed the 'Cockroach' movement, were intensified by student suicides linked to the NEET exam leak scandal. Activist Sonam Wangchuk's 26-day hunger strike played a significant role in pressuring the government. Following Pradhan's resignation, Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced that protesters would end their demonstrations after government talks, stating all demands had been met. The 'Cockroach' movement began over a month ago, evolving from calls for education reforms to broader protests against unemployment and government accountability. Pradhan's resignation marks a significant concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.