Pralhad Joshi named Education Minister as CJP withdraws Jantar Mantar protest

Pralhad Joshi will assume charge as Union Education Minister on Monday after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on Saturday, the Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed. The announcement came hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) formally called off its 34-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar, declaring that the central government had agreed to its core demands "in good faith."

What we can verify

Ministerial change. Pradhan stepped down as Education Minister on July 25, 2026, after 34 days of continuous student-led protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. The President accepted his resignation the same day, and Joshi — currently Parliamentary Affairs and Coal & Mines Minister — was assigned the Education portfolio. Joshi confirmed he would take charge Monday morning.

CJP withdrawal. In a joint press conference at Jantar Mantar on Saturday afternoon, CJP national spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das announced the party was withdrawing its agitation "in good faith" following talks with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda (Health) and Jitendra Singh (Science & Technology). Ranka stated that the government had agreed to all five CJP demands: Pradhan's resignation, an independent probe into the NEET leak, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, compensation for students who lost academic years, and structural reforms in the National Testing Agency.

Protest timeline. The CJP dharna began on June 21 at Jantar Mantar, drawing daily participation from students, parents, teachers' unions, and opposition leaders. At its peak in mid-July, Delhi Police had barricaded 16 metro stations and deployed RAF companies. By July 24, Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike after the Supreme Court refused urgent hearing on a CJP petition.

Official confirmation. The Indian Express live blog recorded Nadda and Singh addressing protesters around 1:15 pm Saturday, assuring that the demands would be "examined and acted upon expeditiously." Shortly after, Ranka told the crowd: "We trust the written assurance. Pack up peacefully."

What remains unverified

• Exact wording of the government's written assurance — CJP leaders said a document would be shared publicly Monday; no copy has been released as of filing.
• Whether all FIRs against protesters will be withdrawn unconditionally, or only those related to the Jantar Mantar dharna.
• Timelines for the independent probe and NTA reforms — no notification or gazette order has been issued.

Bottom line: The NEET paper-leak agitation achieved its most visible demand — the Education Minister's exit — and secured a political commitment on the remaining points. Implementation will be watched closely by students and opposition parties alike.