New Delhi — As Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation on Saturday amid widespread student protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other examination irregularities, questions are being raised about the role and accountability of the two Ministers of State for Education. Advocate and activist Harnoor Singh (@harnoor95) posted on X: “Why is no one questioning Sukanta Majumdar and Jayant Chaudhary? They are Ministers of State for Education and equally accountable for every paper leak.”Sukanta Majumdar (BJP, Balurghat MP) and Jayant Chaudhary (RLD) have served as Ministers of State in the Ministry of Education since June 10, 2024, in the third Modi government.
Majumdar also holds charge in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, while Chaudhary has independent charge of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Cabinet Minister’s exit comes after weeks of youth-led agitation, largely organised under the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) banner at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and elsewhere. Protesters demanded systemic reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), compensation for affected students and families, and ministerial accountability following the cancellation and re-conduct of NEET-UG 2026 due to a significant paper leak. Critics argue that while the Cabinet Minister bears primary responsibility, the Ministers of State share collective accountability for the functioning of the education ministry, including oversight of examination bodies.
Majumdar recently informed the Rajya Sabha that 15 of the 39 sanctioned posts in the NTA remain vacant, with the agency relying heavily on deputation and contractual staff. This disclosure came amid the ongoing controversy. Both ministers have previously spoken on examination integrity. Majumdar has welcomed the government’s move toward fast-track courts for paper-leak cases, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and earlier backed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Chaudhary has also commented on the need for greater use of technology to prevent leaks in exams such as those conducted by CBSE.
With the Cabinet post now vacant, speculation has already begun about possible successors, with both serving Ministers of State mentioned among potential interim or permanent options for continuity in the ministry.As protests continue and the government signals further reforms, including faster judicial processes and possible shifts toward computer-based testing, voices like Singh’s highlight that demands for accountability may not end with the resignation of the senior-most minister. The broader conversation now includes the full ministerial team responsible for safeguarding the integrity of India’s high-stakes public examinations.