- Across the world, the power of the young generation, especially students, unemployed, and increasingly aspirational youths, has made it abundantly clear that they cannot be taken for granted. The number of instances of youth taking to the streets to protest government policies is on the rise around the world. Nearer home, Bangladesh and Nepal witnessed the uprisings, which were not only unprecedented but also catalyzed regime changes in the face of sustained pressure from Gen Z demanding their voices be heard and acted upon. Of course, the power of social media platforms in the present-day world needs no elaboration, as literally every aspect of our lives is intertwined in more than one way.
PC: ThePrint
- India too witnessed what began as an innocuous social media banter/humour when the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) came into existence in May 2026. Mind you, people closely following the fortunes of what’s happening with the pedigreed higher educational system in the country would have felt flabbergasted with the turn of events surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate admissions to some of the most sought-after medical institutions conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The paper leaks for the prestigious entrance test not only left millions of students disheartened, frustrated, and antagonized but also made their families endure the suffering and pain of being cheated by the system repeatedly.
PC: NewsBytes
- To add to the miseries of the students/parents, a few of the students committed suicide, unable to overcome feelings of being completely let down by the system, which is meant to support their avowed endeavours to get enrolled into those marquee medical institutions. The disgruntlement against the prevailing education system, where paper leaks were perpetrated with such nonchalance by all stakeholders, was riling the student community and their parents. When the paper leaks for the NEET-UG tests were again reported, the backlash from the affected lot was expected. What was not expected by the Union Government was how the deep-rooted malaise strengthened the resolve of the youths to take up the cudgel against the system with great resolve.
PC: Mid-Day
- What followed during the last two months has been an eye-opener for the government authorities and other stakeholders. Even though the Union Government initiated a few precipitative measures to overcome the immediate fallout of repeated paper leaks by identifying the culprits behind the same, the brewing discontentment among the student community started gaining ground, what with the CJP founder launching a peaceful agitation using the social media platforms. Yes, activist Sonam Wangchuk joining the agitation demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and compensation for the students’ suicide also aided the agitation. The power of the Gen Gs cannot be ignored or taken lightly has been proved decisively.
