By_Suraj Karowa/ ANW News
October 23 2025
India’s Generation Z – over 370 million strong, born between 1997 and 2012 – forms nearly a quarter of the nation’s 1.4 billion people. Hyper-connected via smartphones and social media, they are acutely aware of corruption, inequality, and political scandals. Yet, unlike their peers in Asia and Africa who have toppled governments, India’s young remain largely absent from the streets. Fear of “anti-national” labels, deep societal divides, economic woes, and scepticism about impact keep protests at bay.
In Nepal last month, youth orchestrated a 48-hour uprising via encrypted apps, forcing a government collapse over corruption and social media bans. Madagascar saw a youth-led movement oust its leader; Indonesia’s Gen Z extracted concessions on jobs and costs; Bangladesh’s 2024 quota protests ended in regime change. These decentralised revolts, amplified online, target cronyism and unemployment.
India shows flickers of unrest. In September 2025, Ladakh erupted in clashes over statehood demands, with activist Sonam Wangchuk calling it “Gen Z frenzy”. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that youth would “prevent voter fraud and save the Constitution”, citing Karnataka irregularities. Delhi police now prepare for potential capital demonstrations, inspired by Nepal.
Online, division reigns. Reddit and X users debate emulation, some romanticising leaderless revolts, others fearing violence or foreign interference. Fact-checker Boom live notes an “internal battle”: justice seekers versus manipulation sceptics.
Historically, Indian students sparked change – from 1970s anti-Indira protests to 2010s anti-corruption and Delhi rape demonstrations. Gen Z led 2019 CAA protests against perceived Muslim discrimination, with campus clashes at Jamia Millia and Aligarh. Police raids jailed leaders like Umar Khalid, still detained after five years on riot conspiracy charges (which he denies). The government framed actions as law enforcement against “anti-national” elements.
Experts doubt a national Gen Z revolution. “Power and anger are decentralised,” says Bihar journalist Vipul Kumar, 26. Youth crave federal challenges but prioritise local jobs.
Sudhanshu Kaushik, Centre for Youth Policy, calls India an “outlier”. “Age alone doesn’t unite; caste, region, language fracture them.” Urbanites protest infrastructure; Dalits, discrimination; Tamils, traditions like jallikattu bans. Gujarat and Haryana upper-castes demand quotas; Ladakh seeks statehood; Kolkata youth rally against Gaza war.
Fear deters action. “Anti-national” slurs from politicians and media silence dissent, says political science graduate Dhairya Choudhary, 23. Top universities ban protests, eroding activism hubs, notes researcher Hajara Najeeb, 23.
The government channels youth via schemes, claiming priority. The economy outperforms global averages, but unemployment drives migration. Only 38% of 18-year-olds registered for 2024 votes; 29% shun politics per survey . CSDS-Lokniti shows BJP holding 40% youth support, down marginally from 2019, bolstered by religious-cultural identities.
Sociologist Dipankar Gupta sees fleeting youth energy; each generation reinvents causes. Arab Spring to Bangladesh: regimes fall, but youth gains lag.
Jatin Jha, 26, SBI youth fellow: “Protest is demonised; few dare.”
India’s Gen Z watches warily – aspirations high, rebellion subdued. Sparks exist, but unity eludes. In a diverse democracy, local fires burn bright, national inferno unlikely.