India’s Gen Z forced Modi to listen, respond and act — exposing chinks in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government caved under the pressure of student protests across India — a rarity in the current administration — underscoring the rising influence of Gen Zs in the world’s largest democracy.

On Saturday, India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, a key demand of the student protesters who were voicing concerns over examination test paper leaks.

The government also agreed to the other demands of the Cockroach Janta Party, the youth movement at the helm of the protest, such as providing compensation to the families of students who died by suicide due to the exam paper leak in May.

The protests that got amplified on social media, pushed 75-year-old Modi to make his first reel on Instagram as he looks to develop his presence on the platform in his bid to connect with the younger generation of voters. In his latest reel on Sunday, Modi promised a “HIGH POWERED TASK FORCE” led by Indian tech entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani to oversee examination reforms.

The protests exposed a growing disconnect between the Modi government and younger Indians, a generation that will dominate the electorate for decades to come, experts said.

“It’s very striking to see the rhetoric and the language from these protesters,” Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for the South Asian region at the Atlantic Council, told “Inside India” on Monday.

The protesters were “witheringly critical” and “profane at times toward Modi and his government,” he said, adding that it was surprising given the popularity of the Modi government.

“Don’t make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation,” Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the CJP said in a speech on Saturday, adding that the “country has been ruined because of making one person a hero,” in a veiled reference to the prime minister.

For much of the last decade, economic aspirations have been the driving factor for Modi’s electoral appeal, experts said, but added that many young people feel the promise has not materialized amid rising unemployment and lack of upward mobility.