Abhijeet Dipke leads Gen Z protests in India as youth demand accountability for education and employment failures.
Abhijeet Dipke, an Indian student, launched a satirical youth movement called the Cockroach Janta Party to protest India's education system. The movement gained momentum after the administration's medical entrance exam papers were leaked, leading to a retest and the suicide of over 20 students. The protests, which began in Delhi, quickly spread nationwide, with young people demanding better job opportunities and accountability for the government's failure to create secure, well-paid jobs. While the administration has maintained strong electoral support, the protests highlighted a growing gap between economic ambitions and the reality of the youth. In response, the administration announced a new Education Minister, Pralhad Joshi, and a task force led by Nandan Nilekani to overhaul the education system. The protests also demonstrated the public's frustration with the perceived decline of democracy and the demand for a merit-based system that rewards talent over connections.