Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar has welcomed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

He called it a partial victory for the ongoing student protests while emphasising that the core demand remains the complete scrapping of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Speaking to reporters in Madurai after participating in an event here on Saturday, the Minister stated that the Union government has finally been forced to listen to the voices of protesting students.

However, he asserted that a single resignation cannot serve as a complete solution or a cover-up for the systemic issues affecting the lakhs of students.

“This alone is not the solution for NEET; our stance is that NEET itself is not needed,” Mr. Nirmal Kumar said.

Criticising the timing and handling of the crisis, he noted that accountability should have been established much earlier, pointing out that recurring flaws are routinely swept under the rug year after year.

Describing the current political development as a triumph for rightful student demands, the Minister reiterated that NEET is a flawed policy decision born out of the Union government’s miscalculated approach.

He stressed that education must be returned to the State List to ensure equitable access and prevent future injustices.

“Education should be brought back to the State List, and this resignation has happened as a first step towards it. The Union government must transfer education to the State List and cancel the NEET exam completely,” he added.

Published - July 25, 2026 09:13 pm IST