In a significant cabinet reshuffle, President Droupadi Murmu has officially appointed Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to lead the Ministry of Education. This transition follows the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, a move prompted by mounting public pressure and widespread demonstrations regarding the NEET examination controversy. Pradhan’s departure comes as the government aims to restore stability following intense agitation led by the Gen Z-driven movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

The administration moved quickly to de-escalate the situation, with senior ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh holding formal discussions with CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. During these negotiations, the government agreed to meet key demands, including the withdrawal of FIRs filed against protestors and compensation for families impacted by the paper leak crisis. With the government also committing to review a five-point roadmap for comprehensive educational reform, the CJP has officially called an end to the protests, urging participants to return home.