Major reshuffle in the Education Ministry amid student movement, Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi removed, responsibility given to Gangwar

Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi Transferred: The central government has made a major administrative reshuffle amid the ongoing student agitation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak issue. The government has transferred Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and sent him to the Panchayati Raj Ministry. According to the government order, Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed as the new Higher Education Secretary in the Ministry of Education. He will now take charge of the Higher Education Department.

This decision has come at a time when students are protesting across the country regarding the NEET paper leak issue and agitation is going on at Jantar Mantar in the capital Delhi. The protesters are demanding reform in the examination system, fixing accountability for paper leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Naresh Pal Gangwar becomes the new Higher Education Secretary

However, in the order issued by the government, this administrative change has not been directly linked to the NEET controversy. The government has not issued any separate official statement on the reasons for the transfer. On the other hand, as the new Higher Education Secretary, Naresh Pal Gangwar will now take charge of all important matters related to higher education and administrative work of the Ministry.

Student agitation has been going on for several days

Students under the leadership of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been protesting for several days at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. The main issue of the movement is NEET paper leak. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Social worker Sonam Wangchuk also participated in this movement. He remained on fast for about 25 days and was later admitted for medical care, first to Safdarjung Hospital and later to a private hospital in Gurugram.

Also read- Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar, against police brutality on students, termed the use of force on girls as wrong.

Tension increased during Parliament march

On July 20, a large number of students took to the streets of Delhi during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organized by CJP. There were clashes between police and protesters at many places during the demonstration. The protesters allege that the police used tear gas and lathicharge, while the police say that necessary action was taken to maintain law and order.