'Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Not On Cards, Easiest Decision To Make': Sources

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government is firm that Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is not on the cards, top government sources have told NDTV even as the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, insists that the Minister's resignation is a must for it to call off protests.

The student protesters, camping at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and led by the CJP, have been demanding the 57-year-old Minister's resignation over the NEET paper leak.

The sources say the government feels "resignation is the easiest decision to take", adding that it "stands with the Minister". 

"People have given us the mandate, and we will deliver," the government source, who did not wish to be named, told NDTV.

"The government is preparing a list of problems in the National Testing Agency, and these issues will be resolved soon. We have busted many gangs involved in paper leaks. More actions are in the pipeline," the source added.

On Monday, protests snowballed after police fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators as they tried to march to Parliament. The protest movement has been backed by opposition parties who are also insisting on the Minister's resignation.

The Jantar Mantar protest site has seen bouts of unrest and violence during the week.

Meanwhile, Dharmendra Pradhan, the leader from Odisha, is active on X, where he has condoled the death of a freedom fighter, a senior journalist and reshared the Prime Minister's post, among others.

"Jai Jagannath. Heartfelt best wishes for the sacred 'Bahuda Yatra'. Praying at the feet of Mahaprabhu for the welfare of the world along with a healthy life for all," he posted on X 9 hours ago.

He also reshared the Prime Minister's late night video where he said more "strict actions against paper leaks" are in the offing. 

In another post, the Minister says he also discussed with MPs from Odisha the "need for special assistance in the education of children affected by learning disability".

ସଂସଦ ଅଧିବେଶନ ଅବସରରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଆମ ଦଳର ସାଂସଦମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ରାଜ୍ୟର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ବିକାଶମୂଳକ ବିଷୟ ସହ ଲର୍ଣ୍ଣିଂ ଡିଜାବିଲିଟି ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶୀକାର ହୋଇଥିବା ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କ ପାଠପଢାରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ସହାୟତାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ଉପରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କଲୁ ।

ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଙ୍କ ଦୂରଦୃଷ୍ଟିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଜାତୀୟ ଶିକ୍ଷା ନୀତି ଅଧୀନରେ… pic.twitter.com/QYhT6DIm1A

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 22, 2026

On July 22, two days after the protesters marched to Parliament seeking his resignation, the Minister addressed a two-day conference of Education Ministers from various states.

आज @EduMinOfIndia द्वारा आयोजित विभिन्न राज्यों के शिक्षा मंत्रियों के दो दिवसीय सम्मेलन को संबोधित किया। इस अवसर पर आगामी 29 जुलाई को राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति (NEP) 2020 के क्रियान्वयन के छह वर्ष पूर्ण होने के संदर्भ में समग्र शिक्षा, PM SHRI, PM POSHAN, NIPUN सहित School Education… pic.twitter.com/sfsfjaW03l

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 22, 2026

Earlier today, the CJP held Round 2 of talks with the Centre and reiterated its demand for Pradhan's resignation.

The Centre has sought time till Saturday afternoon over the resignation demand, the CJP said after the meeting at the Constitution Club Of India.

At the talks, the government was represented by Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, while the CJP was represented by its national spokesperson Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

Read | 'Centre Sought A Day's Time': CJP Firm On Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation

"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon. The government has expressed in-principle approval on the two demands of compensation (for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide) and withdrawal of FIRs, legal cases on students," CJP's Ashutosh Ranka said.

The CJP agreed to the dialogue after the government reportedly accepted two of their conditional demands: that no legal action would be taken against peaceful protesters and that adequate compensation would be provided to the families of students affected by the recent exam irregularities.

Ahead of the meeting today, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke too underlined that nothing short of the resignation of the Education Minister over the NEET paper leak will do.

"If the government wants a solution to the protest, it is only the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,"Dipke, the 30-year-old  leader, had said.

Abhijeet Dipke flanked by CJP spokespersons Saurav Das (left) and Ashutosh Ranka

Read | "Dharmendra Pradhan Must Quit": Abhijeet Dipke As CJP, Centre Hold Talks

The Friday meeting came hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began a hunger strike on June 28 in support of the protesters, announced after midnight that he had ended his fast after "long negotiations on various conditions" and to avert "possible violence in the country". 

Read | Inside Story: How Centre Got Sonam Wangchuk To End His Hunger Strike

In another outreach to protesters, the Centre has shifted Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and appointed new officials to top positions in both the school education and higher education departments.

The Ministry of Education has been at the centre of a controversy due to the NEET paper leak and alleged irregularities in the CBSE's evaluation of board exams.