India's Gen Z Faces Deepening Employment Crisis Amid Exam Leak Protests
A recent leak of India’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) papers sparked nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth movement on social media. While the exam scandal was the immediate trigger, experts highlight that rising unemployment and limited access to secure, well-paid jobs are at the heart of Gen Z's frustration in India. India has the world’s largest youth population but struggles with graduate unemployment rates near 40%, according to a recent report. Many young Indians rely on highly competitive entrance exams for medicine, engineering, or government roles as their primary path to stable employment. The NEET exam alone saw applications surge by 50% between 2019 and 2026. The protests reflect broader economic challenges facing the Modi administration, exposing a gap between India’s growth ambitions and the reality for millions of young graduates. With limited job opportunities in both private and public sectors, youth unemployment has become one of the country's most pressing vulnerabilities.
Topics: education system Gen Z India student protests unemployment