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India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after weeks of Gen Z-led protests demanding that he take responsibility for an examination paper leak that affected millions of students.

The resignation marked the first major concession from prime minister Narendra Modi’s government after a movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) resulted in weeks of nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes.

Soon after, the spokespersons of the group, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, in a joint press conference with union ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda, announced the withdrawal of the agitation “in good faith”. The announcement followed CJP spokespersons meeting with the ministers for a third round of talks regarding their demands.

The government, in turn, agreed to withdraw all cases against student protesters.

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, spokespersons from Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) arrive at constitution club to hold talks with JP Nadda, India’s senior federal ministers, after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned (Reuters)

“Cockroach Janta Party declares that we withdraw the agitation in good faith, with the understanding that the agreed-upon terms will be executed within the agreed-upon timelines,” Das said. “Our second demand was that all the FIRs filed against the protesters, not just in Delhi but in all BJP-ruled and BJP-allied states, should be withdrawn. This was also our second demand. The government has accepted that demand as well.”

The CJP sprang up as a satirical platform, providing a rallying point for millions of young Indians frustrated over high unemployment and exam paper leaks and seeking greater government accountability.

Over the past week, tens of thousands gathered in the capital Delhi demanding the resignation of Mr Pradhan ⁠over leaks of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet), India’s undergraduate medical school entrance exam, which affected some two million students ​in ⁠May, and have been linked to several student suicides.

India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns after protest across the country over paper leaks (AFP/Getty)

The demonstrations have become one of the most visible signs of public dissent against Mr Modi’s government in recent years, with thousands returning to the streets even after police used tear gas and batons this week to disperse marchers trying to reach parliament.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi (AFP/Getty)

The “cockroaches”, as the protesters call themselves, welcomed the move.

“We have done it,” said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of CJP, who started the movement as a mocking response to a pointed comment from India’s top judge, Justice Surya Kant, who likened India’s unemployed youth in a speech to “cockroaches”. Mr Dipke’s words were met with loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site.

India’s biggest street protests of recent years have become a ⁠political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges to Mr ​Modi ⁠as politicians joined youngsters’ calls to ‌demand action.

“This is democracy. He has resigned,” said Mr Dipke.

“We have two more demands. We won’t go like this. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. But the families of the children who committed suicide should receive compensation of one crore rupees (£77,700). They should get it. One crore rupees compensation to all those families. And second, these police goons who acted on the 20th (July). Action must be taken against the police officers for that. Remember, do not mess with cockroach.”

“DEMOCRACY WINS!” the Cockroach Janta Party wrote on X following the minister’s resignation.

Mr Pradhan’s resignation came even as police fired ⁠tear gas to scatter young protesters in the Indian capital, hours before the protest leaders’ scheduled talks ‌with ministers.

Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) hold signs during the ongoing protests, a few days after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation (Reuters)

“Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister,” Mr Pradhan wrote in his post.

“I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”

Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 25 July 2026 (AFP/Getty)

The government had shut down the exit of 18 metro stations closer to the protest site and suspended the internet in the area, in a bid to contain it.

Anger had boiled over since police on Monday injured many students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas to deter crowds of protesters marching on parliament.

Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) queue up for free pizza sent by unknown supporters through food delivery apps (Reuters)

The protests, led largely by ⁠young people and triggered by discontent over leaks of question papers ‌for high-stakes entrance ​exams, reflect anger over ‌job scarcity, corruption and government ​accountability.

A protester holds a placard during an ongoing protest, days after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Reuters)

Mr Modi’s government had earlier sought to ease tensions by announcing fast-track courts for cases involving exam paper leaks and saying it would introduce legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system.

But protest leaders said the demonstrations would continue until Mr Pradhan stepped down. With the minister’s departure now confirmed, the demonstrations would seem likely to die down for the time being at least.