India's "Cockroach" movement on Saturday announced an end to its weeks-long nationwide protests after the government accepted its key demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities in the country's education system.

Pradhan confirmed his resignation in a post on X, delivering a major victory to the youth-led movement that organized demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes across India. The resignation marks one of the most significant concessions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in response to sustained public protests during his more than 12 years in office.

The movement began over a month ago following allegations of paper leaks in several major entrance examinations. Initially focused on education reforms, it soon expanded into a broader campaign demanding greater government accountability, more employment opportunities and improved economic prospects. Students, professionals, parents and activists participated in protests in New Delhi and several other cities.

Following the minister's resignation, organizers said the government had also agreed to implement wider education reforms, compensate the families of students who died by suicide in connection with the exam leak controversy, and refrain from taking legal action against those who took part in the demonstrations.

"We urge everyone to peacefully withdraw from protest sites," Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the movement, told reporters in New Delhi.

Thousands of protesters gathered at the main protest site in the capital celebrated the announcement, waving Indian flags and embracing one another after learning of Pradhan's resignation.

Prachi Kumar, a corporate employee who joined the demonstrations, said the minister's departure was essential to ensure accountability within the education system.

The Cockroach Janta Party also declared victory in a message posted on X, “DEMOCRACY WINS!”

The protests emerged as one of the most sustained challenges to Modi's administration in recent years. Demonstrators continued their campaign despite police using tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, including during a march toward Parliament earlier this week that left several students injured.

In an effort to defuse the unrest, the government had earlier announced plans to establish fast-track courts for exam paper leak cases and introduce stricter anti-cheating legislation. Protest leaders, however, maintained that those measures failed to address concerns over political accountability.

Opposition parties backed the demonstrations throughout the campaign, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi describing Pradhan's resignation as an important step toward overhauling India's education system.