INDIA bloc Demands Education Minister's Resignation Over NEET Exam Irregularities

The INDIA bloc, comprising 25 opposition parties, convened for its seventh meeting in New Delhi on June 8, 2026, marking a significant gathering after nearly two years. A key outcome of this meeting was the unanimous demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing the ongoing controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and other national examinations. According to reports, INDIA bloc leaders accused Minister Pradhan of presiding over a "betrayal of lakhs of youth" due to the alleged irregularities and paper leaks that have plagued recent examinations. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking at a press conference after the meeting, stated that the alliance had reached a consensus on five major issues, with the demand for Pradhan's resignation being a prominent one. This sentiment was echoed by other prominent leaders present, including Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. The bloc's resolution highlighted the perceived failure of the government in ensuring the integrity and fairness of competitive exams. The NEET-UG 2026 examination, held on May 3, 2026, for over 2.27 million aspirants, was later cancelled on May 12, 2026, due to investigations revealing overlaps between a pre-circulated guess paper and the actual question paper. This cancellation led to widespread protests by students and parents, with reports of at least three student suicides following the paper leak. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, has been under intense scrutiny. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had previously acknowledged a "breach in the command chain" and announced plans to move NEET to a computer-based exam format from 2027. However, the opposition argues that these measures are insufficient and that the Minister should take moral responsibility by resigning. Beyond the NEET controversy, the INDIA bloc also resolved to write to the Chief Justice of India regarding concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the fairness of the election process. This indicates a broader political strategy by the opposition to challenge the ruling government on multiple fronts. The meeting also decided that the INDIA bloc would convene every two months to discuss critical national issues such as inflation, unemployment, and the state of the economy. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on August 8, 2026. The opposition leaders also expressed their intention to coordinate closely during the upcoming Parliament Monsoon Session. The demand for Pradhan's resignation is not new; opposition leaders have consistently targeted him over examination irregularities. Earlier, on July 30, 2024, Pradhan had acknowledged challenges and committed to reforming the NTA, including the appointment of a new director and the formation of a committee to ensure a transparent examination system, with a report expected by August 31, 2024. However, the opposition's stance indicates that these reforms have not been seen as adequate. The article's claims are corroborated by multiple news sources that report on the INDIA bloc meeting and their demands concerning Dharmendra Pradhan and the NEET controversy. The core facts—the INDIA bloc meeting, the demand for resignation, and the reasons (NEET irregularities)—are consistently reported across various outlets. There is no significant misinformation or exaggeration identified in the central claims of the article.

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