Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid Intense NEET Protests..
The demands of the students and CJP protesters who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past month have finally been met. India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned today. He has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. News of the Education Minister’s resignation sparked jubilation at Jantar Mantar, while protesters have been celebrating ever since. Dharmendra Pradhan himself posted the news of his resignation. He released a letter in the post. In the letter, he wrote, “From day one, I took responsibility for the NEET paper leak and never turned my back on this situation. My resolve was to ensure that no meritorious student’s prospects were jeopardized by the exam mafia and that no injustice was done to any student. However, even during this time, individuals in responsible positions attempted to create obstacles, misleading many students, which deeply distressed me. I am determined not to allow the youth power to fall into the vicious cycle of confusion.” On Friday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) had dismissed 47 officers in the NEET paper leak case and it was also said that a criminal case would be registered against the dismissed officers. The officials also talked about taking action to bring about quick reforms in NTA.
Fire Breaks Out at Education Ministry Office in Delhi’s ITO Area, Building Evacuated; No Casualties Reported
An incident involving a fire at the Ministry of Education’s office, located within the campus of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi’s ITO area, was reported on Monday. The fire broke out on the second floor of the Ministry’s office, where several administrative and policy-related branches operate. Following the incident, a commotion ensued in the area, and the office building was evacuated as a precautionary measure. The Delhi Fire Service received a report regarding the fire at approximately 9:37 AM. Upon receiving the information, eight fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, and operations to bring the fire under control were initiated. According to officials, no casualties have been reported so far. This incident occurs at a time when the Ministry of Education is actively addressing various administrative and legal issues related to the high-profile NEET paper leak case of previous years. However, officials have clarified that no link between the fire and the NEET case has been confirmed thus far. According to preliminary information, an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire. Authorities are also assessing whether any critical documents, records, or digital assets have sustained damage. Currently, the fire department and relevant agencies are working to bring the situation completely under control and to assess the extent of the damage. Officials have stated that detailed information regarding the actual cause of the fire and the resulting damage will only become available once the investigation has been concluded.