Why Gen Z protests are unlikely to succeed in India

India's Generation Z, numbering more than 370 million and hyper-connected through smartphones and social media, is arguably one of the most politically aware youth cohorts in the world.

Yet, unlike their counterparts in Nepal, Bangladesh, or Indonesia-who have leveraged their digital reach to mobilize large-scale political change-India's Gen Z remains largely absent from the streets.

Experts say a combination of deep social fragmentation, economic insecurity, and a climate of political deterrence have made a nationwide youth movement improbable, says the BBC.

Fragmented identities, divided anger

India's youth are marked not by unity but by diversity-and often division. "I don't see a single force uniting us," said Vipul Kumar, a 26-year-old journalist. He noted that while Nepal's youth coalesced around common grievances, "Power in India is much more decentralised than in Nepal, and so is the anger of its youth. While I want our federal government to be challenged, many young people just want more government jobs."

This fragmentation runs deep. "Age is not the only differentiator. In India young people are also strongly aligned with regional, linguistic, and caste identities, which often put them at odds with one another," said Sudhanshu Kaushik of the Centre for Youth Policy.

Local issues-from affirmative action demands in Gujarat and Haryana to protests over the bull-taming sport jallikattu in Tamil Nadu-absorb the energy that might otherwise feed national activism. "If a Gen Z uprising occurs in India, would it be of the Dalit Gen Z, urban or Tamil-speaking?" asked Kaushik. "The truth is that there are far too diverse Gen Z communities with different intersecting interests."

The result, analysts say, is a decentralisation of anger and purpose that limits the formation of a unified national cause.

Economic pressures and fear of risk

Even for politically aware young people, economic anxiety often outweighs the urge to protest. With unemployment persistently high, many are reluctant to jeopardize job prospects by taking to the streets.

"India is generally doing a little better than the world when it comes to the economy," Kaushik said. "That being said, unemployment anxiety continues to grow… young people are taking things into their own hands, with migration abroad increasing year after year."

For others, the risk of being publicly associated with dissent is too high. "The fear of being branded 'anti-national' deters even the most aware and connected young people from taking to the streets," said Dhairya Choudhary, a 23-year-old political science graduate.

This sense of precarity is amplified by the perception that activism rarely changes outcomes but can destroy careers. "Taking to the streets feels risky and remote," one activist said.

Institutional restrictions and a culture of deterrence

Even traditional hubs of activism-India's universities-have seen their political spaces shrink. "These institutions, once centres of anti-government activism, have lost that spirit," said 23-year-old researcher Hajara Najeeb.

Authorities have also been accused of systematically discouraging dissent. "The government has demonised protest to such an extent... few people even think of protesting," said Jatin Jha, a 26-year-old youth fellow with the State Bank of India.

High-profile cases, such as that of student leader Umar Khalid-jailed since 2020 on charges he denies-have reinforced the perception that protest can come at a high personal cost.

The crackdown extends beyond individuals. Campus bans on demonstrations, the use of sedition laws, and the politicisation of television debates have all helped cultivate an environment where even peaceful dissent can be portrayed as dangerous or disloyal.

A watchful, not rebellious, generation

India's Gen Z is not apolitical. Many grew up witnessing mass movements such as the 2011 anti-corruption protests and the 2019–2020 demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act. But today, their energy is more channeled toward personal advancement and digital discourse than street mobilization.

Experts say the country's vast diversity, combined with the economic insecurities of a rapidly modernizing economy, make coordinated youth-led political upheaval unlikely in the near term.

India's youth may be "more watchful than rebellious" - acutely aware of injustice, but unwilling or unable to challenge it in unison. For now, that makes India an outlier in the global pattern of Gen Z uprisings.