Dharmendra Pradhan was Union Education Minister for 5 years and 18 days, know about his achievements and controversies

Dharmendra Pradhan : Following the NEET paper leak scandal and mounting political and social pressure across the country, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post. He has clarified that he is taking the moral responsibility of this entire matter from day one. Notably, students led by CJP have been hitting the streets demanding his resignation for over a month. Renowned social activist Sonam Wangchuk also went on hunger strike in support of the students. Amidst these events, let’s take a look at the major achievements and major controversies of Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure.

During his tenure, the Indian education system saw many major and far-reaching changes, while allegations of malpractice and policy controversies in some national examinations also raised concerns for the government. Let’s explore the major successes and controversies of Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure.

Major achievements of Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure

Introduction of CUET: The Common University Entrance Examination (CUET-UG) was implemented to ensure equitable and transparent undergraduate admissions to central and major universities across the country.

Expansion of Textbooks: Under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), new NCERT textbooks were developed. Printing capacity tripled, prices came down and parents got relief.

Approval of foreign campuses: Under NEP 2020, 19 foreign universities were allowed to open campuses in India to raise the level of higher education in the country.

Single Regulatory Bill: To improve higher education, the ‘Developing India Education Foundation Bill, 2025’ was introduced to merge bodies like UGC, AICTE and NCTE into a single regulator.

Changes in Higher Education System: During the tenure of Dharmendra Pradhan, several important reforms were implemented in the higher education sector under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). Special emphasis was laid on implementation of Multiple Entry-Exit System, Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and Four-Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP). In addition, several steps were taken to promote digital learning and skill-based education in universities.

Controversies over Dharmendra Pradhan

NEET-UG 2024: The NEET-UG 2024 exam was mired in controversies due to allegations of paper leaks and other malpractices. The matter reached the Supreme Court, raising serious questions on the examination process and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

NEET-UG 2026: The paper leak of major exams like NEET-UG 2026 affected the future of lakhs of candidates, leading to widespread outrage across the country. The issue raised the concerns of millions of students and parents, leading to protests across the country.

Flaws in digital assessment: Technical glitches in the CBSE Class 12 exam and the fuzzy answer sheets, which were implemented for the first time, raised questions on the evaluation process.

Opposition to trilingual formula: Several non-Hindi speaking states, including Tamil Nadu, accused the central government of imposing Hindi on implementing the trilingual policy for class 9.

UGC Equity Regulations 2026: The UGC Equity Regulations 2026 introduced to promote equity in higher education institutions have met with widespread opposition in the education sector and social circles. Amidst these achievements and controversies, Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure has long been a topic of debate in the education sector.

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