Higher Education Secretary Replaced Amid CJP Protest Over NEET Exam Paper Leak
Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, replacing Vineet Joshi.
The appointment comes amid ongoing nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and persistent demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The administrative reshuffle was part of a broader transfer and promotion of senior bureaucrats announced by the central government.
According to Financial Express, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet issued orders late on 24 July 2026, transferring 17 senior officials, including the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as Secretary for Higher Education. Gangwar was previously serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and brings over three decades of administrative experience to his new role.
As reported by Hindustan Times, Gangwar holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communications from IIT Roorkee, a Master’s in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT Delhi, and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Rajasthan.
He has previously served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and as Principal Secretary to the Government of Rajasthan.
Coverage revealed that the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and its supporters have maintained their demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the NEET-UG paper leak and related examination issues. The CJP has organised protests at Jantar Mantar and other locations, insisting that the minister’s resignation is non-negotiable.
