{"text":[[{"start":5.9,"text":"After a string of regional election victories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party boasts a dominance of Indian politics not seen since the Gandhi premierships of the 1980s. But it now faces one of the biggest tests of its 12-year reign. Gen Z protests, which have been smouldering for weeks, erupted on Monday, as thousands of supporters of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement rallied in New Delhi demanding changes to the education system. They were met by police who fired tear gas and struck attendees with batons. Then, on Tuesday, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who protested outside Modi’s residence in solidarity, was briefly detained. The heavy-handed response will only deepen resentment among a powerful demographic that is increasingly anxious about its prospects."}],[{"start":56.05,"text":"The protest movement spawned online after India’s chief justice likened some unemployed young people to “parasites” and “cockroaches” in May. Its recent rallies, including this week’s march on the capital, have centred on a botched undergraduate medical entrance examination that 2.3mn sat earlier in the summer. Following reports that the questions were leaked, the applicants had to retake the high-stakes test a few weeks later. With the suicides of several students linked to the scandal, demonstrators are demanding reforms and the resignation of the education minister."}],[{"start":91.69999999999999,"text":"But the controversy and protests have also become a channel for young people’s broader frustrations. Examinations to enter prestigious courses and the civil service are fiercely competitive and intentionally gruelling — with students often investing years and large sums of money in preparation — as institutions attempt to filter candidates in the world’s most populous country. About 30 per cent of India’s college age population pursue some form of higher education, but only 1 to 2 per cent of applicants find a place in the top-tier universities and colleges. Even then, well-paying job opportunities are slim. One recent study estimated that 40 per cent of young graduates are jobless."}],[{"start":131.54999999999998,"text":"The best approach for Modi’s government would be to quickly address young people’s grievances. It should press on with efforts to overhaul the National Testing Agency — which has suffered from repeated leaking scandals — to ensure it has tighter security protocols and accountability. The examination system itself needs to be reformed, too, by shifting towards year-round tests that assess a broader range of competencies rather than one-off exams often based on rote memorisation. Public funding also warrants review as it is disproportionately skewed towards the most elite tertiary institutions. "}],[{"start":165.39999999999998,"text":"But these efforts would have to be paired with broader economic measures to support private sector hiring and non-university pathways. This should include easing regulations and tackling the corporate favouritism that hinders business expansion, foreign direct investment and start-up activity across the country."}],[{"start":183.29999999999998,"text":"The BJP needs to show it is taking the concerns of India’s young people seriously. Opposition politicians, celebrities and popular activists including Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike, are pitching in with their support for the satirical Cockroach Janta Party — the official name for the movement. The Modi administration will be conscious of how rapidly social media-powered Gen Z protests spread in Bangladesh in 2024 and Nepal in 2025."}],[{"start":211.45,"text":"Rather than meeting the frustrations of its young people with batons and detentions, the world’s largest democracy would do better to respond with dialogue and reform. India’s youth are not only a major constituency — they are also the country’s greatest asset."}],[{"start":233.54999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784777989_1153.mp3"}