Explained: India’s Lessons from Nepal and Bangladesh’s Gen Z Uprisings

In ABC Research
September 14, 2025
Team ABC
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Gen Z uprisings toppled governments in Nepal and Bangladesh, fueled by unemployment, unfair policies, and censorship. India’s diversity and democracy make a regime fall unlikely, but with 103 million NEET youth and rising frustration over jobs and exams, ignoring the warning signs could risk repeated waves of unrest.

New Delhi (ABC Live): South Asia’s youngest generation is no longer just watching politics—it is reshaping it. In Bangladesh (2024), students angered by civil-service quotas and graduate joblessness forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. In Nepal (2025), an unpopular social media ban and widespread unemployment triggered violent protests that toppled Prime Minister KP Oli.

India, with 370 million young people, has so far avoided such regime-changing unrest. But given its massive youth population, persistent unemployment, and frustration over governance failures, the warning signs are clear: ignoring these lessons could one day fuel an India Gen Z Uprising.

The Numbers Behind Youth Anger

Bangladesh: Graduate unemployment rose to 13.5% in 2024, leaving nearly 900,000 young graduates jobless despite a low overall unemployment rate of 4.5%. Almost 87% of the unemployed are educated, which fueled the protests.
Nepal: Youth unemployment hovers around 20%. With more than a third of GDP coming from remittances, young Nepalis feel their only chance is to leave the country. The spark was a government attempt to block social media—something this generation relies on daily.
India: The official youth unemployment rate fell from 17.8% to 10.2% over the last five years. But in cities, it is still close to 19%, and India has over 103 million young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). That number alone is larger than Nepal’s entire population.

Why an India Gen Z Uprising Is Less Likely

India has its own pressures, but several factors make it harder for protests to topple the government:

Diversity & Federalism – With 28 states and 8 union territories, protests in one region rarely spread nationally.
Electoral Democracy – Regular state and national polls let young people channel anger into votes instead of just street protests.
State Capacity – India’s police and paramilitary strength, preventive detentions, and frequent internet shutdowns curb mobilisations.
Economic Buffers – Gig economy jobs, startups, and rural schemes (like MGNREGA) provide partial alternatives.
Narrative Power – Governments in India have a long history of blaming unrest on “foreign hands” (Pakistan, China, or Western NGOs), shaping public perception.

What India Must Learn to Prevent a Gen Z Uprising

Jobs Beyond Headlines: Announced schemes are not enough—India must generate real, quality employment that matches education levels.
Engage, Don’t Silence: Crackdowns backfire. Listening to exam protestors, student unions, and youth leaders builds credibility.
Meritocracy First: Quota anger toppled Bangladesh’s government. In India, repeated exam leaks and recruitment scams risk the same loss of trust.
Balance Narrative with Reality: Overusing “foreign hand” rhetoric without visible results erodes trust among politically aware youth.
Institutionalise Youth Inclusion: Expand the PM Internship Scheme into pathways with real absorption into government or industry roles.
Act on Flashpoints Early: States like Bihar (exam leaks) and Meghalaya (96% youth job exclusion) show how small sparks can escalate into national hashtags overnight.

The Legal Angle on an India Gen Z Uprising

Right to Protest vs. Public Order

Article 19(1)(a) & 19(1)(b) guarantee free speech and peaceful assembly, but Articles 19(2) & 19(3) allow restrictions in the name of public order and sovereignty.
In Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary (2012), the Supreme Court ruled that police action against peaceful protestors must be proportionate.
In Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India (2018), the Court held that protests are fundamental but must be balanced with the rights of the general public.

Internet Shutdowns and Digital Rights

In Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020), the Supreme Court held that indefinite internet shutdowns are unconstitutional.
But temporary shutdowns remain a common state tool — something India’s Gen Z sees as unconstitutional suppression.

Criminalisation of Protests

Authorities use Section 144 CrPC and harsh laws like UAPA to restrict dissent.
In Amit Sahni v. Commissioner of Police, Delhi (2020), the Court ruled that protests (the Shaheen Bagh case) cannot indefinitely occupy public spaces.
This creates a legal ceiling on how long Gen Z mobilisations can sustain.

Privacy and Surveillance

In PUCL v. Union of India (1997), the Court imposed safeguards on phone tapping.
In Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the Court recognised the Right to Privacy as fundamental under Article 21.
For digital-native Gen Z, state surveillance of protest organising could easily become a constitutional flashpoint.

Judicial Delays and Youth Trust

Many protests in India stem from exam leaks and recruitment disputes. Courts intervene, but delays undermine trust.
Without fast-track judicial mechanisms, millions of aspirants may see the streets as faster than the courtroom.

? A Regional Comparison

Country	Trigger of Uprising	What Happened	Lesson for India
Nepal	Social media ban + 20% jobless	PM resigned after violent clashes	Don’t silence digital spaces
Bangladesh	Civil service quota + jobless graduates	Hasina govt collapsed; Yunus interim PM	Protect meritocracy and jobs
India	Exam leaks, NEET crisis, Agnipath	Local unrest, no regime change	Scale jobs, uphold legal remedies

Conclusion

The India Gen Z Uprising scenario may not mirror Nepal or Bangladesh because of India’s diversity, elections, and strong institutions. But ignoring unemployment, meritocracy failures, and youth exclusion could spark repeated unrest.

Crucially, India must ensure that constitutional guarantees under Article 19, judicial oversight of internet shutdowns, and fair recruitment processes are respected. If courts act swiftly and the state delivers real reforms, Gen Z energy can be harnessed. If not, India risks a cycle of street mobilisations that strain both democracy and governance.

Lesson: Listen to Gen Z now — through policy and law — or risk paying a heavier price later.