India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after mass youth-led protests demanded his ouster in anger over a string of irregularities in potentially life-changing exams.
Protesters continuing their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, a key protest site in New Delhi on a road leading to the Parliament House, and other parts of India erupted in joy after Pradhan’s announcement.
They shouted “Jai Hind”, a patriotic slogan meaning “Victory to India”, as the national anthem played on loudspeakers and sweets were distributed among the crowd.
Dawn takes a look at some of the scenes of joy seen in New Delhi as young CJP supporters celebrated the education minister’s resignation.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026 amid the ongoing protests over alleged NEET exam irregularities. — AFP
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) break a barricade as they celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
A supporter of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrates after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
A supporter of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrates as he wears a mask depicting India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
A man hands out sweets to supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as they celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026 amid the ongoing protests over alleged NEET exam irregularities. — AFP
A man carries a child as supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — AFP
A Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporter holds a placard of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026 during the ongoing protest to demand the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET exam irregularities. — AFP
Header image: Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. — Reuters
