Why Are Young People in India Protesting?

Young people in India — 40 percent of the world’s biggest country — have been taught that they are inheriting a country that is shining brightly, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Their disillusionment, with a lack of jobs and a troubled education system, now poses one of the biggest challenges to his popularity in 12 years in power.

These long-simmering frustrations have spilled into the open in recent days, with thousands of people from around the country protesting on the streets of New Delhi, the capital.

The demonstrations were triggered by the canceling of medical school entrance exams after a question paper leaked, but they are about something much deeper: holding the government to account.

Ignoring their demands brings political risk for Mr. Modi, because India’s largest single demographic is under 25 years of age — a voting bloc too big to ignore.

But the protests aren’t like the Gen Z uprisings that shook India’s neighbors, Bangladesh and Nepal, where joblessness was also a common underlying cause. The two smaller countries underwent uprisings that quickly spiraled into bloodshed and violence, but toppled governments and installed new leaders; Indian protesters have been deliberate and clear about taking a peaceful approach. Also, in a country as large and diverse as India, with multiple states, political parties and agendas, overarching issues rarely unify enough people to bring that kind of threat.

Thousands of protesters remained camped out in Delhi on Wednesday with a list of demands for the government, which has made no concessions so far. Here’s what to know.

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