Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday wishes to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have ignited a fresh political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of overlooking the concerns of students affected by the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

On June 26, Prime Minister Modi extended birthday greetings to Dharmendra Pradhan through social media, praising his efforts in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). The Prime Minister said the minister was playing an important role in strengthening India's education system and wished him good health and a long life.

Pradhan responded by thanking the Prime Minister, expressing gratitude for his guidance and stating that his leadership continued to inspire efforts toward national development.

Several senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Nitin Navin and chief ministers from BJP- and NDA-governed states, also conveyed birthday greetings to the Education Minister.

However, the messages drew immediate criticism from opposition leaders, who linked the celebrations to the ongoing outrage surrounding the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a social media post remembering students who reportedly died by suicide following the examination controversy. He questioned the government's handling of the issue while extending a sarcastic birthday message to Pradhan.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi amplified Khera's post and questioned whether the Prime Minister had reflected on the plight of affected students while wishing the Education Minister. Gandhi said every student represented a dream and a future that deserved accountability rather than political celebrations.

The criticism also came from members of the education community. Teacher Vijendra Chauhan alleged that the government was celebrating despite growing concerns over the credibility of examinations such as NEET, along with issues involving the National Testing Agency, CBSE and the implementation of the National Education Policy.

Educator Abhinay Sharma also questioned the government's education record, arguing that performance should be judged by outcomes rather than congratulatory messages. He raised concerns over repeated examination paper leaks, recruitment irregularities and delays in appointments while calling for greater accountability.

Meanwhile, demonstrations demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation continued in several parts of the country. Alongside the Congress, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) organised protests, including one at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

In a symbolic demonstration outside the Ministry of Education, CJP workers carried a birthday cake box bearing the slogan "Pradhan Go Back" and urged the minister to resign over the NEET controversy. The party claimed the gesture was intended to highlight what it described as the Education Ministry's poor performance.

The demand for Pradhan's resignation has remained a central issue since allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination surfaced, with opposition parties continuing to hold the Union government responsible for restoring confidence in India's examination system.