30 July 2026 | 12:10 CAT
2-minute read

Gen Z protests force rare retreat by Modi government

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is facing a rare political retreat following youth-led protests, marked by the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and renewed scrutiny of India’s examination system.

The online-fuelled demonstrations began in mid-June after allegations of widespread leaks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), India’s highly competitive medical entrance examination. Organised by the digital-savvy Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), protesters occupied New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site for more than a month before the government accepted Pradhan’s resignation on 25 July.

Education Minister Pradhan’s departure was greeted with celebrations across several Indian cities, with many young protesters describing it as a rare victory against a government widely viewed as resistant to public pressure.

Human rights advocate and academic Walden Bello said the protests represented a significant political moment. “There is a perception that Modi never concedes to popular demands for resignation,” he said during Radio Islam International’s Asia Pacific Report.

The controversy erupted after reports emerged that question papers for the 2026 NEET examination had been leaked in multiple states. India’s Supreme Court ordered investigations, while police and federal agencies arrested dozens of suspects linked to alleged cheating networks. More than two million students sit for the examination annually, making it one of the world’s largest entrance tests.

Bello argued that the protests were part of a broader generational movement across South Asia. “The Gen Z mood, protests, is really not abating. It’s probably going to escalate more,” he said, pointing to recent youth mobilisations in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

He described the examination leak as the immediate trigger for a deeper crisis of confidence in India’s education system. “That was, you know, the powder keg,” Bello said, referring to the decision to cancel results and require many students to rewrite the examination.

Analysts say the episode has exposed vulnerabilities in India’s examination administration and intensified demands for reforms, including stronger digital security, greater transparency and independent oversight of national testing agencies. Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to protect the integrity of examinations that determine access to higher education and professional careers.

Japan earthquake exacerbates economic strain

In Japan, a recent earthquake has compounded public anxiety over inflation and the yen’s weakness. Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and authorities continue to assess the full impact of the quake. Bello linked the economic strain partly to higher global energy prices and warned that prolonged instability in the Middle East could deepen inflationary pressures across Asia.

Rubio’s visit to the Philippines

Bello also highlighted growing tensions in the South China Sea following the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Philippines. The visit coincided with maritime confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels near disputed territories. Beijing accused Washington of inflaming regional tensions, while Manila protested what it described as racist imagery circulated in Chinese media.

According to Bello, the proposed US-backed “Pax Silica” initiative, which envisions developing the Philippines into an artificial intelligence hub, has sparked debate within the country about the risks of becoming more closely aligned with Washington amid intensifying US-China rivalry.

Listen to the Asia Pacific Report with Walden Bello on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.