India's Gen Z forced Modi to listen, respond and act — exposing chinks in the ruling party's armor
📰 source: cnbc_topnews · 💼 business
prime minister narendra modi's government caved to student protests — a rarity for the administration — after the cockraoch janta party (cjp) demanded education minister dharmendra pradhan's resignation over exam paper leaks. the government agreed: pradhan resigned, compensation was promised for families of students who died by suicide in may, and modi announced a high-powered task force led by nandan nilekani for exam reforms. modi even made his first instagram reel to connect with gen z.
the protests, amplified on social media, drew withering criticism from young protesters — some profane — according to atlantic council's michael kugelman. experts note gen z will dominate the electorate by 2029. the cjp, founded by boston university student abhijeet dipke, gained 22 million followers after the chief justice called unemployed youth "cockroaches." a violent police crackdown on july 20 fueled momentum. teneo's arpit chaturvedi said the movement challenges the government's "political invincibility."
a copycat group, e20 janta party, now targets road transport minister nitin gadkari over ethanol blending. indian farmers also plan protests against the us-india trade deal. kugelman sees a "galvanizing effect" on civil society. the last time modi conceded to protesters was in 2021 over farm laws.
why it matters: gen z protest success exposes vulnerability in modi government ahead of key state elections and 2029 general election, signaling shift in youth sentiment.
source: cnbc_topnews
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