Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is once again at the centre of a nationwide debate over examination irregularities. Nearly three decades ago, Pradhan himself participated in a student protest against a paper leak in Odisha. The contrast between his past as a student activist and his current role as the country’s Education Minister has drawn fresh public attention. Over the years, he held key ministerial portfolios, including Petroleum and Natural Gas, before becoming Union Education Minister in 2021. NEET protests put Education Minister under pressureNearly 29 years later, Pradhan is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.