NEW DELHI — India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned today after mass youth-led protests demanded his ouster in anger over a string of irregularities in potentially life-changing exams.

“I have sent my resignation letter to the prime minister,” Pradhan said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The social media-driven Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spearheaded student protests that broke out in response to exam paper leaks, and is seeking systemic reforms in the education system.

Demonstrations at the Jantar Mantar protest site in the centre of New Delhi intensified during the week and began spreading to other parts of the country.

Police fired tear gas and charged with batons at protesters as they tried to march to parliament this week.

The government held two rounds of talks with CJP leaders on Monday and yesterday but little headway was made, with the youth-led movement sticking to their demands ahead of another proposed meeting today.

Pradhan announced his resignation before that much-anticipated third round of talks.