'Friends...': PM Modi Posts 1st Video After Pradhan's Resignation, Announces High Powered Exam Reform Task Force

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday posted his first video message on social media after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union Minister of Education amidst intensifying students' protest against NEET-UG paper leak and other examination irregularities.

Starting the video by addressing his viewers as “friends”, PM Modi announced the introduction of High Powered Task Force on examination reforms under the leadership of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.

‘Accused Rotting In Jail’

The PM assured the public that the government is continuously taking several steps to safeguard the furutre of students: “Friends, vidyarthiyo ke bhavishya ke liye, Bharat sarkar lagatar anek kadam utha rahi hai."

He added that those who played with the future of students are rotting in jails: “Jin logo ne vidyarthiyo ke bhavishya ke saath khilwaad kiya, woh jailo me sad rahe hai.”

The Prime Minister further said that the government has created fast-track court to hear paper leak cases, adding that a new legislation with stringent legal provisions will be introduced in the Parliament on Monday.

'Exam System Must Be Transparent’

Noting that India's examination system needs to be reliable and transparent, PM Modi said, “We must look to the future. Our examination system…must make maximum use of technology. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani."

He explained that the task force will focus on examination reforms, and based on its report, steps will be taken to ensure the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest.

PM Matching Gen Z Wavelength

The 1-minute-19-second video is the third short video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past four days. The informal tone and vertical format of the self-recorded video make it feel like a regular Instagram reel, helping it connect more easily with students.

The video amassed around 4 million views in one hour.

The earlier two videos were posted after 11 pm, when many young people usually use their phones to watch short videos. Hence, PM Modi's videos reached youngsters' feeds at peak-scrolling time. Moreover, the videos felt like a normal post instead of a formal government announcement because of its casual video style and smart timing.

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Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation marked a rare instance of the Central government yielding to street pressure and public agitation. His resignation was the key demand of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, whose supporters had been continuously protesting at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, for 37 days.

In his resignation letter, Pradhan said his decision was driven by concern for students rather than personal considerations. 

He wrote, "I deeply respect the aspirations, emotions and legitimate expectations of the youth of the country. Turning the dreams of India’s young generation into reality has been a moral commitment of all of us in political and social life. I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership. However, irregularities came to light regarding the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026."

He added that he took “full responsibility” from day one and “never turned away from the situation”. “However, even during this time, individuals holding responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students—an act that caused me deep distress," he added.

He further said, "I have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and have deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely India's future; they are the torchbearers, creators, and architects of a new and developed India. I am pained by the events of the past ten days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.

India's youth power is the true strength of this nation. It is my resolve not to let the country's youth get ensnared in a web of confusion.

Considering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country—with the aim of preventing anti-national forces from exploiting it, preserving national unity, ensuring that not a single Indian student's future gets entangled in legal complexities, and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers—I have submitted my resignation."

Pralhad Joshi Appointed New Education Minister

Senior Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Pralhad Joshi on Sunday took charge as the new Union Education Minister.

Joshi is holding charge of the Ministry of Education along with exercising his duties as the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy.