Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as India's education minister following nationwide student protests over a major exam leak scandal.
Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation as India's education minister on Saturday, marking a significant victory for a youth-led protest movement. The resignation follows weeks of nationwide demonstrations by students who demanded accountability for a series of leaks in competitive entrance exams, which forced millions of students to retake tests and led to at least a dozen student suicides. The protests were spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party, a movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke. While the administration initially ignored the protesters and attempted to vilify them, the mounting pressure from the country's massive youth population eventually forced a shift in tactics. The resignation is considered a rare defeat for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is known for his strong leadership style. Despite the victory, Abhijeet Dipke noted that the movement still has further demands, including financial compensation for the families of students who died and action against police officers who used batons and tear gas to quell the crowds.