India, July 26 -- Within just two days, two education ministers in two democracies resigned from office. While the departures came almost back-to-back, the circumstances surrounding them were markedly different.

In India, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down on Saturday (July 25) amid mounting political pressure over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and criticism of the government's handling of protests, which demonstrators described as brutal.

Earlier that week, on Thursday (July 23), Yvette Berry, the Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Australia's Australian Capital Territory (ACT), also resigned. Her decision, however, came despite an integrity investigation finding no personal wrongdoing on her par...