The Gen-Z protest, which led to resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET paper leak allegation, has sent a clear warning that youth’s grievances can’t be ignored.
The Gen-Z protest, which virtually forced the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of examination paper leak, appears to have sent a clear warning to India’s political establishment that the aspirations and grievances of the country’s youth can no longer be taken for granted. Since then, all major political parties are now burning the midnight oil to devise strategies to woo the younger generation. Union Ministers have become increasingly active on various social media platforms, seeking to establish a direct connection with young people and win their support. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, too, has launched ‘Chatro Ki Gunj’, an interaction programme with youths and students. Significantly, instead of lecturing the younger generation, he has sought to listen to their concerns and aspirations. However, such political outreach campaigns may ultimately prove futile if they remain confined to social media interactions, public meetings and carefully crafted political messaging. What India’s youth need today is not merely greater political attention but tangible solutions to the problems that are making them increasingly restless. The political class must understand that the anger visible among young people is rooted in substantive socio-economic concerns and cannot be addressed through symbolism alone.
At the heart of this growing discontent is the acute shortage of adequate and meaningful employment opportunities. The country’s youth are entering the labour market in large numbers, but the economy is struggling to create jobs at a pace commensurate with their aspirations and educational qualifications. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey estimates based on the Current Weekly Status, young people in the 15–29 age group remain among the worst affected in the job market. While the overall unemployment rate stood at 5.4 per cent during April-June 2026, unemployment among those aged 15–29 was as high as 15.9 per cent. These figures should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers. Unemployment among the young is not merely an economic statistic; it has serious social and political consequences. A generation that spends years acquiring education and skills only to encounter uncertainty, inadequate opportunities and insecure livelihoods is bound to experience frustration and disillusionment. If such grievances remain unaddressed, sporadic protests can easily develop into wider movements of social discontent.
Political parties, therefore, need to look beyond the electoral arithmetic of courting young voters. The youth cannot be won over indefinitely through social-media campaigns, catchy slogans or interaction programmes. They are more likely to respond to a credible vision of their future—one that promises productive employment, quality education, skill development, entrepreneurship opportunities and greater economic security. Every political party seeking the support of India’s young population should consequently come prepared with a concrete and time-bound roadmap for tackling unemployment. They must explain where the jobs will come from, which sectors will generate them, how skills will be aligned with industry requirements and what measures will be taken to make the labour market more inclusive and secure. Such an exercise will decide whether India’s demographic dividend can become its greatest strength or a source of profound social instability.