India’s education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has resigned after a week of mass demonstrations, handing a major victory to a new youth movement that has posed an unprecedented challenge to Narendra Modi’s government.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, Pradhan said he had submitted his letter of resignation to the prime minister after student pressure.

“Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and ‌across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to the prime minister,” Pradhan wrote in a social media post.

He said he had been “saddened by what unfolded over the last 10 days”, but added: “I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations ‌of the country’s youth.”

During his 12 years in power, Modi has cultivated a strongman image and has maintained his ministers are not accountable to public pressure. This was the first time a mass uprising had forced one of his most loyal ministers to resign.

The protests were organised by a newly formed youth political movement, the Cockroach Janata party (CJP), which has escalated into a nationwide uprising of youth dissent this week.

The core demand of the CJP and its supporters was the resignation of Pradhan over an exam leak scandal that has devastated the lives of millions of students and led to more than a dozen students taking their own lives.

The refusal by Modi to sack his minister over the scandal was widely seen as symbolic of the alleged lack of accountability of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and its repeated failure to address the issues faced by young people, particularly in the country’s flawed education system.

CJP organisers confirmed they had called off their demonstration after Pradhan’s resignation and a meeting with senior BJP ministers on Saturday afternoon.

In a speech to the crowds gathered at the Delhi Jantar Mantar protest site, CJP’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, saluted the “courage” of students who had turned out in huge numbers, even when they were subjected to police violence.

“We have done it,” he said, to cries of “victory to India” and “long live the revolution”. But Dipke also emphasised Pradhan’s resignation was “just the beginning” in the movement’s push for systemic education reform and its fight for democratic rights.

He also cautioned against people making a hero of him. “Do not make this mistake,” said Dipke. “The country has been ruined by making one person a hero.”

Faria Asif, 26, a lawyer who was in the crowd, said: “I am extremely joyous. This is a huge victory, not just for the students, for the constitution and for the entire nation. Being part of this movement has been extremely empowering for all of us. I think it’s the beginning of change.”

The news of Pradhan stepping down was met with ecstatic cheers by tens of thousands of CJP supporters gathered in Delhi, who have been demanding accountability from the government.

“This is one of the most historic days for our country,” said Rochelle Cope, 27. “For the first time in 12 years, someone from the government has been held accountable for wrongdoing. And it wasn’t political parties that did this; it was the people.

“This is a movement of unity, love, solidarity, peace, justice and power. Being here has made me proud to be a citizen of India. This is only the beginning – this government will not be able to rule like it did before.”

For many of those present, this week was the first time they had taken part in a political protest and the movement was described as a “gen Z political awakening” in India.

Among them was 16-year-old Kanishka Dabla, who said she hoped to become a doctor one day. “It’s wonderful that he has resigned,” she said. “It has made us all feel very powerful. And this also feels like justice for those students who committed suicide because of the exam leaks. It’s made me hopeful for my future again.”

In a statement, the CJP said the resignation was a victory for democracy. “We have a free country where we are free to express ourselves, dissent, criticise the government we elect. We will never let anyone take that away from us,” it read.

The statement added: “Remember, do not mess with cockroaches.”

Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned Indian engineer and activist who had galvanised the movement as he went on a 26-day hunger strike, celebrated the “victory of democracy, straight from the streets”.

The CJP demonstrations had taken a dramatic turn on Monday, when hundreds of thousands of young people and students took to the streets of Delhi in the largest youth-led protest seen in years. The police had hit back against the peaceful gatherings with brutality, including teargas and baton charges, leaving hundreds injured.

Widespread anger erupted at the violent police response, prompting more people to come out in support of the movement. Throughout this week thousands had flocked to the CJP’s Delhi sit-in to chant slogans against the government and call for Pradhan’s resignation. Demonstrations also broke out across the country, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Kolkata and Mumbai.

For weeks, the Modi government had ignored the CJP protesters, but as support grew into ahuge mass movement this week, the government agreed to have a dialogue.

Modi had agreed to fast-track justice for the exam leaks, but had made no mention of the CJP’s core demand, the resignation of Pradhan, who was seen as one of his most important and loyal ministers.

However, the CJP’s leadership had made it clear the resignation of Pradhan was a non-negotiable demand for the movement. As more protests erupted over the weekend and negotiations were at a deadlock, the BJP government appeared to be backed into a corner.

Not all those who took part in the protests were gen Z. Annie Raja, 62, beamed as she looked out at the celebrating protesters. “I feel enthusiastic and happy,” she said.

“The young people came out on the streets and they saved our democracy. Previously the government thought they had all the power, and the people were living only in fear. Now the Modi government is scared of us.”